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71-acre lake in Fergus County, Montana. The lake tops out around 10 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. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
There are 1.8 miles of drawn shoreline to work. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.8) — enough points and pockets to pattern. The whole water is littoral — nothing here runs deeper than ~15 ft, so it's all weed-and-bait territory. Tip to tip the water measures near 0.7 mi with a 0.3-mi widest point. The water lies in Fergus County. For a second option, Ackley Lake lies 23 mi northwest.
Spring puts rainbow trout in skinny water — 3 to 10 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 10 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for winter rainbow trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (10 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (6 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 10 ft | dawn | Break off the point (10 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 10 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
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 Crystal Lake (Fergus) specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Montana fishing regulations →
Crystal Lake (Fergus) is about 10 ft (3 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 on Crystal Lake (Fergus).
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. The interactive chart above rates every 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 Crystal Lake (Fergus) 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.
Ackley Lake 23 mi · Big Wall Pond 54 mi · Kolar Reservoir 2 56 mi · Lake Sutherlin 59 mi · Newlan Reservoir 68 mi · Yellowstone River 76 mi · Lake Elmo 83 mi · Joels Pond 85 mi · Laurel Pond 86 mi · Lake Josephine 87 mi · Current Reservoir 89 mi · Wadsworth Lake 101 mi
See how Crystal Lake (Fergus) stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Montana
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.