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Best common carp lakes in Montana

13 Montana waters hold common carp, 11 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. 20-pound freight trains in every water. Feed on shallow mud flats — sight-fish them like bonefish.

1. Canyon Ferry Reservoir — 130 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike
2. Hauser Lake — 65 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
3. Yellowstone River — 10 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, Rainbow Trout, Common Carp
4. Clark Canyon Reservoir — 91 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Common Carp, Brown Trout, Brook Trout
5. Lake Helena — 12 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
6. Yellowtail Afterbay Reservoir — 46 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Sauger, Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout
7. Missouri River — 11 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Common Carp, Brown Trout
8. Boxelder Lake — 18 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, Rainbow Trout
9. Lake Josephine — 8 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
10. Lake Elmo — 16 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
11. Wadsworth Lake — 16 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
12. Gartside Reservoir — 18 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike
13. Spotted Eagle Lake — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger

When to fish common carp in Montana

• Spring 2–10 ft — The best sight-fishing of the year — mudding fish in warm bays.
• Summer 3–15 ft — Chum a spot and wait — carp patrol the same flats daily.
• Fall 5–18 ft — Heavy feeding before winter; find the warmest water.
• Winter 10–30 ft — Podded up in deep, slow water.

Also in Montana: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best sauger lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best muskellunge lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best lake trout lakes · best brown trout lakes · best brook trout lakes · best kokanee lakes · best lake whitefish lakes · best burbot lakes · best arctic grayling lakes · best cutthroat trout lakes · best pumpkinseed lakes

Common Carp elsewhere: Minnesota · Michigan · Washington · North Dakota · Iowa · Indiana · Connecticut · Nebraska · Ohio · Utah · Colorado · New York · Wisconsin · Kentucky · Arizona · Texas · Illinois · Kansas · Tennessee · Missouri · Delaware · New Jersey · Virginia