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Fishing Hauser Lake: what the data says
3,800-acre lake near Helena. The lake tops out around 65 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.
Brook Trout fishing at Hauser Lake
Start shallow in spring: brook trout sit in 2 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 3 to 20 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for brook trout in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Kokanee fishing at Hauser Lake
Start shallow in spring: kokanee sit in 10 to 30 ft that time of year. They move out to 20 to 65 ft in summer and finish the year down in 16 to 65 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 48 ft that scores prime in summer. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 20 to 65 ft | dawn | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 16 to 65 ft | dawn | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Walleye fishing at Hauser Lake
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. They move out to 15 to 35 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 40 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 23 ft, rated prime for fall walleye. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Lake Whitefish fishing at Hauser Lake
Start shallow in spring: lake whitefish sit in 15 to 45 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 20 to 65 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 65 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 48 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 20 to 65 ft | dawn | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 20 to 65 ft | midday & dawn | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Common Carp fishing at Hauser Lake
Start shallow in spring: common carp sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 30 ft. The spot to know is Back-bay flat, a weed flat in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for common carp in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | midday | |
| Winter | 10 to 30 ft | midday |
Burbot fishing at Hauser Lake
Spring burbot on Hauser Lake hold shallow, usually 20 to 65 ft. Summer fish stay in 20 to 65 ft, and winter fish hold in 15 to 60 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 48 ft, rated prime for spring burbot. Best bite is after dark and midday. Tie on a heavy jig + cut bait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 65 ft | night & dusk | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 20 to 65 ft | night & midday | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 20 to 65 ft | night & dusk | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Hauser Lake also holds northern pike (8 to 20 ft in summer), yellow perch (10 to 30 ft in summer), brown trout (25 to 60 ft in summer), cutthroat trout (10 to 35 ft in summer), rainbow trout (8 to 30 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 48 ft
- Deepest basin: deep basin, around 46 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 26 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 23 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 23 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 23 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 15 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 14 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 12 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 9 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 5 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 3 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 2 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 2 ft
Common questions
How deep is Hauser Lake?
Hauser Lake is about 65 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Hauser Lake?
Anglers target walleye, northern pike, rainbow trout, yellow perch, common carp, brown trout, brook trout, kokanee, lake whitefish, burbot, cutthroat trout on Hauser Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Hauser Lake?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 48 ft of water that rates prime for kokanee in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Hauser Lake?
For brook 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.
Nearby waters
Lake Helena · Spring Meadow Lake · Canyon Ferry Reservoir · Hound Creek Reservoir · Missouri River · Gollaher Reservoir
See how Hauser Lake stacks up: best walleye lakes in Montana · best northern pike lakes in Montana · best rainbow trout lakes in Montana · best yellow perch lakes in Montana
Browse all Montana fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.