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Fishing Lake Helena: what the data says
1,890-acre lake near Montana. The lake tops out around 12 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. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Brook Trout fishing at Lake Helena
Spring brook trout on Lake Helena hold shallow, usually 2 to 12 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 12 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for summer brook trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 2 to 12 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Kokanee fishing at Lake Helena
In spring, kokanee run shallow here, mostly 4 to 12 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 12 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for spring kokanee. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Tie on a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 12 ft | dawn | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dawn | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 12 ft | dawn | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Walleye fishing at Lake Helena
Spring walleye on Lake Helena hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. 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 | 3 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Lake Whitefish fishing at Lake Helena
In spring, lake whitefish run shallow here, mostly 4 to 12 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 8 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning. Summer baits: a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Common Carp fishing at Lake Helena
Start shallow in spring: common carp sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 2 to 12 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 12 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 2 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 | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | midday | |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday |
Burbot fishing at Lake Helena
Start shallow in spring: burbot sit in 4 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 8 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and midday. A heavy jig + cut bait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | night & midday | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Lake Helena also holds northern pike (4 to 12 ft in summer), yellow perch (4 to 12 ft in summer), brown trout (4 to 12 ft in summer), cutthroat trout (3 to 12 ft in summer), rainbow trout (3 to 12 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 8 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 8 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 2 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 2 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft
Common questions
How deep is Lake Helena?
Lake Helena is about 12 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 Lake Helena?
Anglers target walleye, northern pike, rainbow trout, yellow perch, common carp, brown trout, brook trout, kokanee, lake whitefish, burbot, cutthroat trout on Lake Helena.
Where is the best fishing spot on Lake Helena?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for kokanee in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Lake Helena?
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
Hauser Lake · Spring Meadow Lake · Canyon Ferry Reservoir · Hound Creek Reservoir · Missouri River · Gollaher Reservoir
See how Lake Helena 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.