Woodward Lake Fishing Guide, Missoula County, Montana

• Overview

  In Montana, Woodward Lake belongs to Missoula County. The ground around here is rolling bush. It runs to roughly 65 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The edge runs 1.4 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Size puts it in the front rank of our Missoula County list. The closest town, Seeley Lake, is 22 miles distant. Ronan follows at 26 miles, then Pablo at 27 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Woodward Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Missoula County records list rainbow trout, brook trout, cutthroat trout, northern pike and sockeye salmon among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Fish Woodward Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August runs about 56°F on average, December about 18°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early May. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early May until roughly mid November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Time your trip to Woodward Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Necklace Lakes, 0.9 miles away. Treat access at Woodward Lake as something to verify.