Fishing Upper Dry Fork Reservoir in Sanders County, Montana

• Overview

  Upper Dry Fork Reservoir is set in Sanders County, Montana. The bank is 2,917 feet above sea level. The water covers some 200 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. There is roughly 2.2 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. It is among the larger waters listed here for Sanders County. For supplies, Plains is 22 miles out. It is 127 miles to Spokane, the nearest city. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Upper Dry Fork Reservoir

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Open biodiversity records for Sanders County list rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and sockeye salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Upper Dry Fork Reservoir that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 24°F in January to roughly 64°F in August. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Count the season from break-up, usually late March. On average, late March opens the water and early December closes it again. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Plan around that when you fish Upper Dry Fork Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Dry Fork Reservoir sits 3.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Upper Dry Fork Reservoir locally before you travel.