South Meadow Lake Depth Map & Fishing Spots (MT)

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Lake depth chart

South Meadow Lake, MT

Max 33 ft

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Where to start

Grasshoppers (east-side summer) window is on — see the hatch outlook

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

Next on this water

Spruce Moth · terrestrialsJul 20 – Aug 31 · in ~9 months

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours here are generated from real agency depth surveys; use the survey badge for the provider, dataset, datum and measured coverage. Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

Cutthroat Trout

Depth · ft

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Recent catches at South Meadow Lake

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Fishing South Meadow Lake: what the data says

14-acre lake in Missoula County, Montana. The lake tops out around 33 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.

Shoreline on the chart totals 0.7 miles. Nearly circular (index 1.1), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 68% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. The water lies in Missoula County. For a second option, Lindbergh Lake lies 2 mi northeast.

Cutthroat Trout fishing at South Meadow Lake

Come spring, look for cutthroat trout tight to the bank in 3 to 15 ft. They move out to 9 to 33 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 33 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 32 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner is the honest summer answer here.

Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.

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	9 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft	dawn & dusk	Break off the point (32 ft)	Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner
Fall	5 to 25 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (2 ft)	Casting spoon, Inline spinner
Winter	8 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft	dawn	Break off the point (32 ft)	Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig

Notable structure

Count 4 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 33 ft.

Deep basin: deep basin, around 33 ft
Break off the point: drop-off, around 32 ft
Main-lake point: point, around 2 ft
Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft

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

Check the official Montana fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is South Meadow Lake?

South Meadow Lake is about 33 ft (10 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.

What fish are in South Meadow Lake?

Anglers target cutthroat trout on South Meadow Lake.

Where is the best fishing spot on South Meadow Lake?

Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 32 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.

When is the best time to fish South Meadow Lake?

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 South Meadow Lake?

Fishing on South Meadow Lake 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

Lindbergh Lake 2 mi · Colt Lake 5 mi · Summit Lake (Missoula) 7 mi · Lake Marshall 7 mi · Pierce Lake 7 mi · Lake Elsina 8 mi · Rainy Lake 8 mi · Lake Alva 9 mi · St Marys Lake 10 mi · Clearwater Lake 10 mi · Holland Lake 10 mi · Lake Inez 10 mi

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

More water nearby: Missoula County fishing maps (37 charts). Browse all Montana fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. 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.