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Best smallmouth bass lakes in Montana

126 Montana waters list smallmouth bass (official records or labelled estimates), 124 mapped with survey or official-chart depth data. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. Current- and rock-loving fighter. Lives around gravel, boulders and hard-bottom structure.

1. Flathead Lake — 380 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
2. Canyon Ferry Reservoir — 130 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 9 public access sites
3. Yellowstone River — 10 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, Rainbow Trout, Common CarpWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 10 public access sites
4. Mcgregor Lake — 220 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake TroutWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
5. Little Bitterroot Lake — 260 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
6. Bull Lake (Lincoln) — 60 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
7. Echo Lake (Flathead) — 70 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
8. Hubbart Reservoir — 60 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brook TroutWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
9. Lake Mary Ronan — 40 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
10. Glen Lake — 30 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
11. Thompson Lake, Middle — 160 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
12. Peterson Lake — 39 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
13. Castle Rock Reservoir — 40 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
14. Canyon Lake (Carbon) — 80 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
15. South Sandstone Reservoir — 20 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
16. Thompson Lake, Upper — 100 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
17. Half Moon Slough — 21 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
18. Lake Josephine — 8 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
19. Horseshoe Lake (Lake) — 25 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Yellow Perch, PumpkinseedWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
20. Dickey Lake (Lincoln) — 70 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
21. Loon Lake (Lake) — 52 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
22. Abbot Lake — 26 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
23. Gartside Reservoir — 18 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
24. Tepee Lake — 28 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
25. Rock Lake — 30 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached

…plus 101 more Montana waters holding smallmouth bass.

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When to fish smallmouth bass in Montana

• Spring 3–12 ft — Gravel and rock flats near deep water; spawning happens on hard bottom.
• Summer 10–30 ft — Offshore rock humps and deep points; smallmouth suspend near bait.
• Fall 8–25 ft — Feeding hard for winter — long tapering points and rocky drops.
• Winter 20–45 ft — Deep, vertical presentations near rocky wintering holes.

Also in Montana: best largemouth 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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