Fishing at Twin Lakes, Pondera County, Montana

• Overview

  In Montana, Twin Lakes falls inside Pondera County. Height above sea level is 4,462 feet. Small at around 18 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. South Browning is the closest place, 16 miles off. For a city, Lethbridge is 96 miles off. Others close at hand: Horn Lake about 2.2 miles, Mitten Lake roughly 3.5 miles, Minnie White Horse Lake about 6.5 miles, Slippery Hoof Lake roughly 7 miles and Four Horns Lake about 9.3 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Twin Lakes

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in Pondera County include rainbow trout, northern pike and yellow perch. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. The shape of Twin Lakes rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 23°F and July at about 63°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early April. Average temperatures cross freezing around early April in spring and again near late November in autumn. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Plan around that when you fish Twin Lakes.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Horn Lake, 2.2 miles out. Treat access at Twin Lakes as something to verify.