Just got back from 2 months in Montana, Trout fishing. The rivers were high and wild first couple of weeks in June, so we fished the lakes.

Swan Valley is awesome. Seeley lake, Salmon lake, Placid lake, Rainey lake, Summit Lake, and Holland lake. Good for Rainbow and Cutthroat trout.

Lake Holter above Helena has BIG trout. Smallest I caught was 2+ pounds.

Brown's lake off of 200, near the Blackfoot river is good. BUT, watch out for the Grizzlies. There are an estimated 1,000+ grizzlies in the valley. 65 year old woman from Kalifornia got ate by a Griz on July 6. She was sleeping in a tent. You don't do that in this area.

Lake Mary Ronan is good for Kokanee Salmon and Perch. Only caught 2 Kokanee. Water was almost 70F. Lake depth is only 40 feet Perch eyeballs make great bait for Perch.
*** If you are ever in the area, go stay at KAMP TUFFIT. It was built around 1917? and has been in the same family for 5 generations. It's on the lake and has very reasonable rates for cabins and EXCELLENT food at a fair price.

Hungry Horse reservoir near Glacier National Park is great camping and fishing for Cutthroat trout and Mountain Whitefish..

Harrison reservoir and Ennis lake along the Madison river are good for rainbow trout.

Cliff Lake and Wade Lake are great fishing spots off the beaten path. Near West Yellowstone.

Beaver Lake west of Kalispell was not good for us.

Lake Tolley, second deepest lake in Montana at almost 1,000 feet deep, did not produce fish for us. Very busy on the weekends. Whitefish and Kalispell locals go there.

Emerald Lake, below Mystic dam, above the Stillwater river has good trout fishing for 12" rainbows.


*** Gas was around $5.00 per gallon in Montana.

You’re my hero

Wow what an awesome two months A bunch of good info too for anybody heading that way

If I could only talk my wife into that deal, I’d do it.

What a trip! Upload some pictures of you get a chance… it’s beautiful up there

Jealous AF. Wow what an experience that must have been.

My family has a cabin on Seeley Lake, I've only been once, fished there and a private lake just southeast of Seeley Lake called Big Sky Lake that my great uncle lived on. Big Sky Lake was like fishing a stocked pond.

We just got back from a road trip, and I’m still a bit whupped, but the wife is ready to go again. If I suggested heading to Montana, she’d be packing as the echo of my voice faded. So…for now I’ll keep my mouth shut. That said, the OP’s trip sure looked great, and we need to get up there eventually.

Glad you had a grand time.

Wow, thanks for sharing.

Very nice trip.

That sounds like my kind of vacation!!