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Best largemouth bass lakes in Montana

43 Montana waters hold largemouth bass, 43 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. Ambush predator that relates to cover — weeds, timber, docks — and moves shallow to feed.

1. Canyon Ferry Reservoir — 130 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 9 public access sites
2. Little Bitterroot Lake — 260 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
3. Seeley Lake — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
4. Salmon Lake — 65 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
5. Placid Lake — 93 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brown TroutWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
6. Lake Mary Ronan — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
7. Glen Lake — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
8. Blanchard Lake — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Yellow PerchWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
9. Beaver Lake — 100 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brook TroutWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
10. Peterson Lake — 39 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
11. Castle Rock Reservoir — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
12. Canyon Lake (Carbon) — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
13. South Sandstone Reservoir — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
14. Bailey Reservoir — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
15. Upsata Lake — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
16. Savage Lake — 65 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Brook Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
17. Lake Josephine — 8 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
18. Murphy Lake — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
19. Lake Elmo — 16 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
20. Loon Lake (Lake) — 52 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
21. Frenchtown Pond — 14 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, PumpkinseedWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
22. Abbot Lake — 26 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
23. Wadsworth Lake — 16 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
24. Gartside Reservoir — 18 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
25. Skyles Lake — 15 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Cutthroat TroutWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented

…plus 18 more Montana waters holding largemouth bass.

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When to fish largemouth bass in Montana

• Spring 2–10 ft — Pre-spawn through spawn: target shallow flats, pockets and cover near deep access.
• Summer 8–20 ft — Fish the edges: weedlines, drop-offs, and deep cover close to shallow feeding areas.
• Fall 4–15 ft — Follow the baitfish: points and creek channels leading into pockets.
• Winter 15–35 ft — Slow and deep: steep drops and channel bends near wintering basins.

Also in Montana: 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 cutthroat trout lakes · best pumpkinseed lakes

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