Fishing at Upper Thompson Lake, Lincoln County, Montana

• Overview

  Upper Thompson Lake sits in Lincoln County, out in Montana. The ground around here is pine and birch. Roughly 300 acres of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. Shoreline length is close to 5.6 miles, and each section fishes a little differently. On our Lincoln County list it sits near the top for size. Some 31 miles away sits Libby, the nearest settlement. Thompson Falls lies 33 miles off, Kalispell another 38 miles.

• Where to Fish on Upper Thompson Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Lincoln County include rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, brook trout, northern pike and largemouth bass. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Upper Thompson Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year August sits at 63°F and January at 23°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Winter locks it down, and late March brings it back. The water is typically free of ice between late March and late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Plan around that when you fish Upper Thompson Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is a slipway on the shore, half a mile from the water we list. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Rainbow Lake is 0.7 miles distant. Ask locally about Upper Thompson Lake if anything is unclear.