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Fishing Hungry Horse Reservoir: what the data says
23,800-acre reservoir near Hungry Horse. A 34-mile wilderness reservoir on the South Fork Flathead. Pure westslope cutthroat water ringed by the Bob Marshall front. The lake tops out around 500 ft. Depth here is modeled from the true shoreline and max depth rather than surveyed; use it to plan, not to navigate. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
On the chart, Hungry Horse Reservoir draws 23,131 acres inside 130 miles of shoreline, with 14 islands in the mix. A development index of 6.1 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. Roughly 22% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives.
Cutthroat Trout fishing at Hungry Horse Reservoir
Come spring, look for cutthroat trout tight to the bank in 3 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 10 to 40 ft. Start at Sullivan Creek inflow. It's a inflow / creek mouth holding about 8 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A trolled spoon (small) or a inline spinner is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Sullivan Creek inflow (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (9 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (9 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Rock reef (9 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Lake Whitefish fishing at Hungry Horse Reservoir
Early season lake whitefish use the shallows, holding in 15 to 45 ft. Summer is a 40 to 90 ft game here, winter a 25 to 70 ft one. The chart's best answer is Rock reef — rock pile, 9 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Rock reef (9 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (53 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Rock reef (9 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Offshore hump (53 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 425 ft
- Old creek channel: creek channel, around 250 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 125 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 125 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 86 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 54 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 53 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 9 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 9 ft
- Sullivan Creek inflow: inflow / creek mouth, around 8 ft
- Shallow flat: weed flat, around 8 ft
- Shallow flat: weed flat, around 8 ft
- Shallow flat: weed flat, around 8 ft
- Shallow flat: weed flat, around 7 ft
Hungry Horse Reservoir fishing regulations
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 Hungry Horse Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Montana fishing regulations →
Common questions
How deep is Hungry Horse Reservoir?
Hungry Horse Reservoir is about 500 ft (152 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Hungry Horse Reservoir?
Anglers target lake whitefish, cutthroat trout on Hungry Horse Reservoir.
Where is the best fishing spot on Hungry Horse Reservoir?
Sullivan Creek inflow is the top-rated area: a inflow / creek mouth in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Hungry Horse Reservoir?
For cutthroat 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.
What are the fishing regulations for Hungry Horse Reservoir?
Fishing on Hungry Horse Reservoir 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.
Nearby waters
Handkerchief Lake 3 mi · Cliff Lake (Flathead) 4 mi · Black Lake 6 mi · Pilgrim Lake 6 mi · Birch Lake 6 mi · Big Hawk Lake 6 mi · Margaret Lake (Flathead) 6 mi · Wildcat Lake 7 mi · Dickey Lake (Flathead) 8 mi · Marion Lake 8 mi · Strawberry Lake 8 mi · North Biglow Lake 9 mi
See how Hungry Horse Reservoir stacks up: best lake whitefish lakes in Montana · best cutthroat trout lakes in Montana
Browse all Montana fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.