Fishing at White Horse Lake, Missoula County, Montana

• Overview

  Look for White Horse Lake in Missoula County, Montana. The land about it is lake country bush. Small at around 12 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Start from Seeley Lake, 18 miles down the road. Then Bonner-West Riverside, 20 miles, and Frenchtown, 20 miles. If this one is busy: Meadow Lake (0.5 miles), Lake Sa-ol-Sooth some 4.2 miles off, Crazy Fish Lake (4.5 miles), Wapiti Lake some 5.2 miles off and Fly Lake (5.5 miles). Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on White Horse Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Missoula County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, brook trout, cutthroat trout, northern pike and sockeye salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On White Horse Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 55°F in August and bottoms out near 19°F in December. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Count the season from break-up, usually early May. On average, early May opens the water and mid November closes it again. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That is the shape of the year on White Horse Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Meadow Lake is 0.5 miles off. Confirm access to White Horse Lake locally before you travel.