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Best rainbow trout lakes in Montana

232 Montana waters hold rainbow trout, 218 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 classic stocked cold-water trout. Depth is everything: rainbows follow the temperature layer they like.

1. Tiber Reservoir — 110 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Sauger, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
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. Bighorn Lake — 447 ft max · Walleye, Sauger, Crappie, Channel CatfishWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
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. Yellowstone River — 10 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, Rainbow Trout, Common CarpWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 10 public access sites
8. Beaverhead River — 10 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Lake WhitefishWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 7 public access sites
9. Clark Canyon Reservoir — 91 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Common Carp, Brown Trout, Brook TroutWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
10. Lake Frances — 43 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
11. Gibson Reservoir — 165 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Arctic Grayling, Cutthroat TroutWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
12. Lake Sherburne — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, KokaneeWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
13. Lake McDonald — 162 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brown Trout, Brook TroutWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
14. Madison River — 6 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown TroutWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 8 public access sites
15. Mcgregor Lake — 220 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake TroutWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
16. Little Bitterroot Lake — 260 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
17. Seeley Lake — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
18. Gallatin River — 8 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Lake Whitefish, Cutthroat TroutWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
19. Quake Lake — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Lake WhitefishWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
20. Pishkun Reservoir — 78 ft max · survey depth data · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brook TroutWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
21. Bull Lake (Lincoln) — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
22. Georgetown Lake — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Brook Trout, KokaneeWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
23. Lindbergh Lake — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Brook TroutWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
24. Willow Creek Reservoir — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Brook TroutWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
25. Red Rock Lake, Upper — 5 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached

…plus 207 more Montana waters holding rainbow trout.

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When to fish rainbow trout in Montana

• Spring 5–20 ft — Post-ice-out trout roam shallow; fish inflows and windblown shorelines.
• Summer 8–30 ft — Rainbows hold near cold inflows, current seams and the thermocline — find the cool water and you've found the fish.
• Fall 10–35 ft — Fall feeding on rock shoals, current and channel edges as water cools.
• Winter 8–40 ft — Trout are comfortable in cold water — one of the best winter targets; streams and tailwaters fish shallow, deep lakes hold on basin edges.

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 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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