Finding productive fishing spots takes some effort. As a group, anglers are a lazy bunch. (I bet that caught your attention). They (meaning anglers other than you) choose the path of least resistance. Opting to drop a line in water closest to the road, the trail, the campground or parking lot.
Let's dive right in.
Finding Secret Fishing Spots
Even the more industrious anglers don't walk far enough away from public access points. Giving up to the lure of the water after only 10 minutes of walking. This gives you your first few identifiers for secret trout fishing spots.
If you want to get away from the crowds and find your own secret fishing spots, all you need to do is combine a bit of studying with a willingness to do a bit of exploring. It all begins with maps.
So get out a national forest map and a topo map. Spread them on the table, and get ready to discover your own secret trout fishing spots.
Mapping the Water
I can't tell you how many hours I've pored over national forest maps, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) maps, and topographic maps. In search of that one stretch of river that most anglers perceive is either too high up or inaccessible.
That chore is made easier nowadays since topo maps for any section of the United States are now available online through the USGS.
When you see a blue line (a river) flowing through a tight group of brown lines, the river is moving through a canyon. Study closely. Do the lines open up along the way?
Contour Lines and Fishing Spots
Do the brown lines go from a straight pattern to a wavy pattern, leaving a greater distance between the contour lines?
If so, this could mean the river slows up enough to have some good holding water and fishing spots. Oftentimes, even if the meadow is smallish, the beavers can build some amazing dams.
Blue lines can be running through V-shape brown contour lines, and if the lines are fairly close, be assured the water is running swiftly down the mountain.
So look for where the V's widen out a bit, where the contour lines are a bit farther apart. That can mean a flatter section and good fishing spots.
Looking for Lost Lakes
Many lakes are off the trail, with no established trail leading to them. Look hard at the topo map (or USGS site). Often, glacially formed lakes will be in groupings of several lakes.
Often, a hike-in of only 15 or 20 minutes will put you on water that hasn't seen an angler all season. We have found a couple of great fishing spots near Silver Star, which was the first incorporated town in the state of Montana and a 10 minute drive from the Fish Creek House.
Lightly Fished Fishing Spots
And many of these fishing spots will be stocked every so many years. A tiny alpine tarn can hold some nice fish, especially if the lake is lightly fished.
Most anglers would rather toil away at the big-name, bigger lakes than hike a few hundred yards or one mile to a lesser-fished lake.
Even fast-flowing streams have sections that hit level ground where the river slows and widens. Fast-flowing streams can be slowed by beaver ponds. Beaver ponds make great fishing spots that can hold big fish even if the impounded stream is tiny.
Down the Mountain
Even if a tiny stream rushes down the mountain, if the beavers have made their homes, the water is deep and fast enough to hold some nice fish in these fishing spots.
Here at the Fish Creek House, you can find a lake right here on the property since Fish Creek flows thru here.
Now I'd like to hear from you.
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