Lake Elsina Depth Map & Fishing Spots (MT)

Hatch outlook

Grasshoppers (east-side summer)Active window

Typical here: Jul 1 – Oct 15 · until the hard frosts of mid-October; on the Missouri, August hoppers fish mid-river, not the banks

adultall day in high summer, best when afternoon wind knocks bugs onto the water

Pulls fish to the windward grassy banks and edges for months — fish the bank the wind blows ONTO.

The friendliest crossover of the summer: on lakes, drift the windward bank with a bubble-and-foam-hopper — the bubble's splash doesn't hurt a hopper presentation. On rivers, the same rig dead-drifted along the undercut grass banks, or small gold spinners under the banks between rises.

The event happens over grassy banks, undercut edges and windward shorelines

Spruce MothActive window

Typical here: Jul 20 – Aug 31 · a conifer-forest event — it needs fir and lodgepole on the banks, so it's a Rock Creek / Blackfoot / upper Bitterroot specialty

adultmorning through midday — moths don't enter the water willingly — landings are sporadic and near the conifer banks; fish the imitation LOW in the film with minimal floatant, even fully drowned, with a little movement

When the moths show, just about every run produces — large trout key on them so hard that one pattern carries the whole box for two weeks.

Honest limit: a small drowned-surface moth has no lure analog. The workable rig is a casting bubble with a drowned moth pattern along the timbered banks in the morning; otherwise fish spinners early and late and leave the moth window to the film.

2–3 weeks at best, and day-to-day — fish key on the moths when they show and vanish with them

The event happens over banks under conifers — the moths rarely reach mid-river

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours here are interpolated from real agency depth surveys (state DNR / USACE). Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

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Recent catches at Lake Elsina

Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.

No shared catches here yet — be the first.Log a catch from the map above and share it to put Lake Elsina on the board.

Fishing Lake Elsina: what the data says

12-acre lake in Missoula County, Montana. The lake tops out around 17 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. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:

Shoreline on the chart totals 1.1 miles. With a 1.9 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. Every acre of it sits shallower than ~15 ft: one big littoral zone, cover and forage throughout. Call it 0.4 mi long. It sits in Missoula County. If the bite dies, Lake Marshall is 4 mi to the northeast.

Cutthroat Trout fishing at Lake Elsina

In spring, cutthroat trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 5 to 17 ft before dropping to 4 to 17 ft for winter. Fall cutthroat trout concentrate at Main-lake point, a prime-rated point around 2 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner most summer days.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	3 to 15 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (2 ft)	Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon
Summer	5 to 17 ft	dawn & dusk	Break off the point (3 ft)	Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner
Fall	3 to 17 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (2 ft)	Casting spoon, Inline spinner
Winter	4 to 17 ft	dawn	Break off the point (3 ft)	Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig

Notable structure

Count 4 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 15 ft.

Deep basin: deep basin, around 15 ft
Break off the point: drop-off, around 3 ft
Main-lake point: point, around 2 ft
Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft

Lake Elsina 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 Lake Elsina specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Montana fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Lake Elsina?

Lake Elsina is about 17 ft (5 m) deep 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 Lake Elsina?

Anglers target cutthroat trout on Lake Elsina.

Where is the best fishing spot on Lake Elsina?

Main-lake point is the top-rated area: a point in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.

When is the best time to fish Lake Elsina?

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 Lake Elsina?

Fishing on Lake Elsina 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

Lake Marshall 4 mi · Lake Inez 7 mi · Lake Alva 7 mi · South Meadow Lake 8 mi · Colt Lake 8 mi · Rainy Lake 8 mi · Lindbergh Lake 9 mi · Summit Lake (Missoula) 10 mi · Seeley Lake 10 mi · St Marys Lake 10 mi · Tuppers Lake 11 mi · Pierce Lake 11 mi

See how Lake Elsina stacks up: best cutthroat trout lakes in Montana

More water nearby: Missoula County fishing maps (37 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.