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Best cutthroat trout lakes in Montana

158 Montana waters hold cutthroat trout, 155 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. The native trout of the West, named for the orange slash under its jaw. A shoreline cruiser that hunts drop-offs, inlets and rocky points for baitfish and insects.

1. Flathead Lake — 380 ft max · survey depth data · Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Lake WhitefishWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
2. Canyon Ferry Reservoir — 130 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 9 public access sites
3. Hungry Horse Reservoir — 500 ft max · Lake Whitefish, Cutthroat TroutWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
4. Hebgen Lake — 75 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Lake Whitefish, Arctic GraylingWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
5. Hauser Lake — 65 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
6. Swan Lake — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake TroutWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
7. Whitefish Lake — 220 ft max · survey depth data · Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Brook TroutWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
8. Gibson Reservoir — 165 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Arctic Grayling, Cutthroat TroutWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
9. Ashley Lake — 200 ft max · survey depth data · Yellow Perch, Kokanee, Cutthroat TroutWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
10. Seeley Lake — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
11. Gallatin River — 8 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Lake Whitefish, Cutthroat TroutWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
12. Georgetown Lake — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Brook Trout, KokaneeWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
13. Lindbergh Lake — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Brook TroutWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
14. Blackfoot River — 8 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Lake Whitefish, Cutthroat TroutWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 5 public access sites
15. Salmon Lake — 65 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
16. Tally Lake — 450 ft max · survey depth data · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Brook TroutWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
17. Nevada Reservoir — 65 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Cutthroat TroutWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
18. Newlan Reservoir — 87 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, KokaneeWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
19. Lake Helena — 12 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
20. Holland Lake — 140 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, KokaneeWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
21. Lake Inez — 72 ft max · survey depth data · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brown TroutWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
22. St Marys Lake — 240 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
23. Mcdonald Lake — 100 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
24. Placid Lake — 93 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brown TroutWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
25. Spar Lake — 200 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Brook Trout, KokaneeWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached

…plus 133 more Montana waters holding cutthroat trout.

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When to fish cutthroat trout in Montana

• Spring 3–15 ft — Pre- and post-spawn cutthroat gang up at tributary mouths and cruise gravel shorelines — swing a spinner or fly through the inlet current.
• Summer 10–35 ft — Summer cutthroat hold along the first shoreline drop and off rocky points, sliding deeper as the surface warms — troll or cast the 15-30 ft edge.
• Fall 5–25 ft — Cooling water brings cutthroat back onto rocky points and gravel shoals to feed hard before winter.
• Winter 10–40 ft — Cold-tolerant like all trout — cutthroat hang on the deep shoreline drops and basin edges through the cold months.

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 common carp 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 pumpkinseed lakes

Cutthroat Trout elsewhere: British Columbia · Wyoming · Washington · Alberta · Utah · Colorado · New Mexico · Idaho · Nevada