Montana’s blue-ribbon trout streams rightly garner the attention of anglers worldwide. Fueled by mountain snowmelt and artesian springs, the rivers and creeks of Montana are among the most fertile on the planet. They hold abundant trout populations, produce staggering insect hatches, and flow through some of the prettiest country anywhere.
In contrast, Montana’s mountain lakes and streams are an enigma. These fortified water bodies are only accessible during the summer months after snowmelt and ice off. They vary widely in productivity both in terms of aquatic insect life and trout populations. Learning to fish them is a lifetime pursuit.
All that considered, high country fly fishing provides adventure and scenery that’s hard to beat. Dusty trails, fields of wildflowers, and alpine meadows give way to crystalline lakes and snow-capped cirques, some teeming with picture-perfect trout. Each trip into the mountains of Montana creates memories that last forever.
Preparation is Paramount
It’s important to be prepared for any trip into the backcountry, and Montana mountain lake fishing is no exception. Indeed, some of the great aspects of backcountry fly fishing begin before you ever cast a fly. Determining your route and mode of travel, learning a bit about the destination fishery, and planning your trip with friends and family not only builds excitement for the outing, but helps to ensure a successful expedition.
Perhaps the first element to consider in your search for mountain trout is where you want to be. The map of southwest Montana from Bozeman to Missoula is laced with ranges from the Beartooths to the Bitterroots, so where to begin?
While not detailed enough for serious backcountry travel, an excellent place to start your research is the Montana State Highway Map. Available for free from the State, the map gives an overview of Montana’s terrain, its mountain ranges, wilderness areas, and public lands.
For a bit more detail, DeLorme’s Montana Atlas & Gazetteer provides topographical maps that give a sense for access into the mountains including primitive roads and trails, and will give you a feel for which ranges harbor lakes and their elevations. Some mountains, such as the Beartooths and Absarokas near Yellowstone National Park are dotted with hundreds of lakes that hold trout. Others, such as the Bridger Range outside Bozeman, the Gallatin Range near Big Sky hold few lakes at all and even fewer with fish.
While much remains a mystery about Montana’s mountain fisheries, several books and online resources offer a primer for exploration.
“Flyfisher's Guide to Southwest Montana's Mountain Lakes” by Joshua Bergan details the waters of 250 lakes from the Absaroka Range to the Idaho border. The book covers the Gallatin Range, Madison Range, Gravelly Range, Tobacco Root Mountains, Pioneer Mountains and the Beaverhead Mountains as well as several other ranges. Bergan provides first-hand accounts, lessons learned and historical antidotes gleaned from many of the region’s premier mountain fisheries.
“Fishing the Beartooths: An Angler's Guide To More Than 400 Prime Fishing Spots” by Patrick Marcuson covers fishing in Montana’s highest mountain range. The Beartooths straddle the northern border of Yellowstone National Park and hold good numbers of the rare golden trout. “Fishing the Beartooths” breaks the range down by drainage and provides the backstory of how the lakes were populated with trout.
Another excellent resource for backcountry fishing in southwest Montana is Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. FWP keeps updated data on its mountain lake stocking program. Users can search by waterbody name to learn the stocking schedule for lakes throughout the state.
FWP also publishes detailed guides on fish populations in the Absaroka-Beartooth and Crazy mountain ranges. A guide to Dillon Area Mountain Lakes covers the waters of the Ruby, Beaverhead, and Red Rock River drainages.
Once you’ve got a destination in mind it’s a good idea to pick up a detailed topographical map of the area. USGS quads are available at most U.S. Forest Service offices and some outdoor shops. Mapping apps that employ GPS technology, such as onWater Fish, Topo Maps+, Backcountry Navigator, and Gaia GPS Hiking, offer an alternative to paper maps. Just be sure you’ve got a power source for your device before you hit the trail.
As for flies and tackle, a few modifications to the standard Montana playbook are warranted. First and foremost, you’ll likely want to limit the gear you’re packing into the mountains. Extra weight on the trail is a real drag, so forget about bringing your complete fly collection and three rods.
Packing List: Focus on the Essentials
The same 4-piece, 9-foot 6-weight rod you’d fish on the Yellowstone or Madison River is an adequate mountain lake rod, though experienced high-country anglers often prefer a 10-foot rod. The added reach and ability to launch a roll cast when shoreline trees limit a proper backcast can be a gamechanger. Likewise, a sinking line can be an advantage when fishing deep drop-offs for trout feeding well below the surface.
When it comes to flies, a few standards will serve you well in the mountains. Classic patterns such as the Parachute Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, Griffith’s Gnat, and Wooly Bugger are essential, but also be sure to bring a variety of flies that mimic insects that thrive in the alpine environment. Terrestrial patterns like flying ants and beetles can draw fish to the surface. Chironomids play a critical role in many mountain lake fisheries, so bring an assortment of midge patterns for both dry and subsurface angling.
Expect the Unexpected
When you arrive at your destination fishery you may find yourself a bit bewildered (as well as awestruck) by the water before you. Mountain lakes are generally crystal clear and can vary in depth from a few feet to a few hundred. Some are in broad mountain valleys surrounded by wetlands; others exist in cirques rimmed by craggy peaks. You may arrive to see trout rising voraciously, or to a lake that by all impressions appears sterile.
Regardless of the character of your chosen lake, look for inlet and outlet streams as a starting point. Even a little bit of flow is enough to draw trout and these areas are frequently productive starting points.
Many lakes have a fair bit of structure including boulders and fallen logs, and these areas will also hold trout. If the lake allows, circumnavigating the lakeshore is a fun and productive way to learn a lake. You’ll get a chance to discover any drop-offs, shallow feeding areas, and unique features along the way.
If you are lucky enough to hook up, be prepared for a stunning specimen of your chosen quarry. Whether the pristine environment, pure genetics, or lack of pressure, mountain trout are a sight to behold.
Southwest Montana’s mountain lakes and streams are an incredible resource that add to the state’s appeal as a fly-fishing Mecca. With a bit of planning and effort the rewards of exploring the high country are plenty. Give it a shot next time you’re in Montana.