It’s a fishing day

Georgetown Lake fishing conditions · Montana

Today, 3 pm–6 pmKokanee salmon

The bite peaks at 78.

Log a trip here
Right now: 70 for kokanee salmon, worth the tripTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Kokanee salmon, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 702 pm
  2. 78
  3. 78
  4. 785 pm
  5. 68
  6. 68
  7. 688 pm
  8. 68
  9. 68
  10. 6811 pm
  11. 68Sun
  12. 68
  13. 682 am
  14. 68
  15. 68
  16. 685 am
  17. 68
  18. 68
  19. 688 am
  20. 68
  21. 68
  22. 6811 am
  23. 68
  24. 68
  25. 682 pm
  26. 68
  27. 68
  28. 605 pm
  29. 60
  30. 60
  31. 608 pm
  32. 60
  33. 60
  34. 5811 pm
  35. 58Mon
  36. 58
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Kokanee salmon range 45–59°

Wind
3 mph

From the southwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:11 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
51°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Montana Western District regulations for these waters.

Kokanee Salmon

Kokanee salmon

Oncorhynchus nerka

78Worth the tripToday, 3 pm–6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Kokanee salmon bite in 45–59° water, best near 53°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 20–120 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Open the third Saturday in May through March 31; the south and east shoreline opens July 1. 5 trout a day including brook trout, only 1 of them a brook trout over 16". No limit on kokanee.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Georgetown Lake

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Year-round. More on kokanee salmon

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

43Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Rainbow trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Rainbow trout is here May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Open the third Saturday in May through March 31; the south and east shoreline opens July 1. 5 trout a day including brook trout, only 1 of them a brook trout over 16". No limit on kokanee.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Georgetown Lake

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Jun, Sep–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on rainbow trout

Brook Trout

Brook trout

Salvelinus fontinalis

43Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Brook trout bite in 40–65° water, best near 52°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Brook trout is here May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Holds 1–10 ft down.

Keep

16" minimum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Open the third Saturday in May through March 31; the south and east shoreline opens July 1. 5 trout a day including brook trout, only 1 of them a brook trout over 16". No limit on kokanee.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Georgetown Lake

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Jun, Sep–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on brook trout

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.18 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:11 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:24 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:40 pm–4:40 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:30 pm–12:30 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:40 am–7:40 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Montana FWP has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: Montana FWP · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

A shallow, fertile 2,800-acre mountain lake at 6,400 ft between Anaconda and Philipsburg off MT Highway 1. One of Montana’s most productive stillwaters — fast-growing rainbow and brook trout plus a strong kokanee salmon fishery — and a hugely popular ice-fishing destination in winter.

Open the third Saturday in May through March 31; the south and east shoreline opens July 1. 5 trout a day including brook trout, only 1 of them a brook trout, which must be over 16". No kokanee limit.

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Bitterroot River44 mi · MontanaBest now until tomorrow 8 pm
70Worth the trip
Beaverhead River73 mi · MontanaRainbow trout, best today 5 pm–6 pm
78Worth the trip
Missouri River at Craig83 mi · MontanaBest now until 11 pm
80Worth the trip
Canyon Ferry Lake84 mi · MontanaBest now until 6 pm
90Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Georgetown Lake?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Georgetown Lake you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Georgetown Lake?

Georgetown Lake is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Kokanee Salmon. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Georgetown Lake?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Georgetown Lake against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Georgetown Lake have?

Georgetown Lake has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Open the third Saturday in May through March 31; the south and east shoreline opens July 1. 5 trout a day including brook trout, only 1 of them a brook trout, which must be over 16". No kokanee limit.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Georgetown Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Georgetown Lake. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Georgetown Lake tidal water?

No. Georgetown Lake is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.