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Best cutthroat trout lakes in Montana

68 Montana waters hold cutthroat trout, 68 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. Canyon Ferry Reservoir — 130 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike
2. Hebgen Lake — 75 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Lake Whitefish, Arctic Grayling
3. Hauser Lake — 65 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
4. Swan Lake — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout
5. Whitefish Lake — 220 ft max · survey depth data · Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Brook Trout
6. Gibson Reservoir — 165 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Arctic Grayling, Cutthroat Trout
7. Ashley Lake — 200 ft max · survey depth data · Yellow Perch, Kokanee, Cutthroat Trout
8. Georgetown Lake — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Brook Trout, Kokanee
9. Seeley Lake — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
10. Salmon Lake — 65 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
11. Tally Lake — 450 ft max · survey depth data · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Brook Trout
12. Lake Helena — 12 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
13. Lindbergh Lake — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Brook Trout
14. Placid Lake — 93 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brown Trout
15. Lake Mary Ronan — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout
16. Nevada Reservoir — 65 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Cutthroat Trout
17. Newlan Reservoir — 87 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Kokanee
18. Sophie Lake — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout
19. Holland Lake — 140 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Kokanee
20. Lake Inez — 72 ft max · survey depth data · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brown Trout
21. St Marys Lake — 240 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Cutthroat Trout
22. Lake Alva — 90 ft max · survey depth data · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brook Trout
23. Mcdonald Lake — 100 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Cutthroat Trout
24. Spar Lake — 200 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Brook Trout, Kokanee
25. Coopers Lake — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Brook Trout, Cutthroat Trout

…plus 43 more Montana waters holding cutthroat trout.

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: Wyoming · Washington · Utah · Colorado · Nevada · Idaho