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20-acre lake in Carbon County, Montana. The lake tops out around 55 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Traced from the shoreline, Big Butte Lake runs 23 acres with 1.2 miles of edge. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.8) — enough points and pockets to pattern. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 45% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Figure 0.3 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.2 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Carbon County. For a second option, Anchor Lake lies 0 mi southwest.
Spring puts rainbow trout in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 30 ft, wintering in 8 to 40 ft. Winter rainbow trout concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 12 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (13 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (12 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (13 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (12 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Come spring, look for yellow perch tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 12 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (12 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (12 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (54 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: largemouth bass in 2 to 10 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 20 ft before dropping to 15 to 35 ft for winter. The spot to know is Main-lake point, a point in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (12 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (13 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (12 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Spring puts common carp in skinny water — 2 to 10 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 3 to 15 ft, wintering in 10 to 30 ft. Winter common carp concentrate at Deep basin, a good-rated deep basin around 54 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | open water | |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | midday | open water | |
| Winter | 10 to 30 ft | midday | Deep basin (54 ft) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 3 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 54 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Montana waters are set by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — and special regulations can apply to Big Butte Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Montana fishing regulations →
Big Butte Lake is about 55 ft (17 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target rainbow trout, yellow perch, largemouth bass, common carp on Big Butte Lake.
Main-lake point is the top-rated area: a point in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Big Butte Lake is regulated by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Check the official Montana regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Anchor Lake 0 mi · Desolation Lake 1 mi · Till Lake 1 mi · Jordan Lake (Carbon) 1 mi · Erratic Lake (Carbon) 2 mi · Farley Lake (Carbon) 2 mi · Rock Tree Lake 2 mi · Lake Elaine (Carbon) 2 mi · Bergschrund Lake 2 mi · Castle Lake 2 mi · Green Lake (Carbon) 3 mi · Lake Of The Winds 3 mi
See how Big Butte Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Montana · best rainbow trout lakes in Montana · best yellow perch lakes in Montana · best common carp lakes in Montana
More water nearby: Carbon County fishing maps (65 charts). Browse all Montana fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.