Compare 8 documented access options before you commit to a shoreline or launch.
View access →Montana reservoir guide
Noxon Reservoir Fishing
Noxon Reservoir supports documented Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike fishing in Montana. Use this guide to compare access, depth, and current official resources before choosing where and how to fish.
LocationSanders County, Montana
Primary targetsWalleye, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass
Best seasonSpring through fall
Lake size7,592.4 acres
Max depth200 feet
Access8 documented options
Guide reviewed
Start here
Plan Noxon Reservoir in 60 seconds
Make the trip decisions first. Use the deeper lake science, surveys, stocking history, and source material below when you want more detail.
Start with the documented species list, then open a species guide for seasonal behavior and practical tactics.
Choose a fish →Use verified depth information to identify basins, breaks, points, channels, and other structure before you fish.
View depth information →Wind, rain, temperature, and changing access can alter the plan quickly. Check current conditions before leaving.
Check conditions →Lake details
Depth, size & key facts
Average depthabout 66 feet
Max depth200 feet
Elevation2,334.78 feet
Public launches4
Summer cautionWind
Lake depth map
Depth contours may take a little time to load. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Contour line20 ft Visible depth label
Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Historical survey data may not reflect current water levels or underwater hazards. Informational only; not for navigation.
Help us place this lake on the map
FishyNW covers a lot of lakes, and we are hustling to get every map completed accurately. This one slipped through. Know where the map should be centered? Send the coordinates or a Google Maps link and we will review it.
Trip conditions
Current conditions
Loading the local forecast. Check access and official notices before leaving.
TodayLoading
WindLoading
GustsLoading
Rain chanceLoading
Four day outlook
Tools
Today's Lure Pick
Open Tools for species-specific lure guidance.
Fishery record
Documented fish species
These species come from the lake record. Open a species guide for identification, seasonal behavior, and practical tactics without confusing general species guidance with a lake-specific survey result.
Perch and pike
Walleye
Use bottom bouncers, slow death rigs, jigs, crankbaits, or blade baits.
View species guide
Bass and sunfish
Smallmouth Bass
Focus on rock, points, breaks, and transitions.
View species guide
Bass and sunfish
Largemouth Bass
Look for weeds, docks, wood, shade, and warmer pockets.
View species guide
Perch and pike
Northern Pike
Fish weeds, bays, ambush edges, and baitfish areas.
View species guide
Ancient and miscellaneous fish
Burbot
Fish cold water, deep breaks, basin edges, rocky structure, and winter or low-light windows.
View species guide
Perch and pike
Yellow Perch
Use small jigs, bait, or dropper rigs near schools.
View species guide
Bass and sunfish
Pumpkinseed
See cover, seasonal movement, presentations, and practical gear tips.
View species guide
Bass and sunfish
Black Crappie
See cover, seasonal movement, presentations, and practical gear tips.
View species guide
Trout and salmon
Rainbow Trout
Use bait, small spinners, spoons, or slow trolling depending on access.
View species guide
Trout and salmon
Brown Trout
See seasonal habitat, presentations, identification, and regulation cautions.
View species guide
Trout and salmon
Westslope Cutthroat Trout
See seasonal habitat, presentations, identification, and regulation cautions.
View species guide
Trout and salmon
Bull Trout
See seasonal habitat, presentations, identification, and regulation cautions.
View species guide
Stocking information
Noxon Reservoir Fish Stocking
Recent stocking information summarized from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Dates and quantities can change. Always verify current fishing rules with the official agency before fishing.
Most recent stockings
| Date | Species | Quantity | Size | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 12, 1997 | Smallmouth Bass | 10,000 | 2.1 in avg length | Miles City Fish Hatchery · Montana FWP Fish Stocking Records |
| Jul 31, 1997 | Largemouth Bass | 56,000 | 1.9 in avg length | Miles City Fish Hatchery · Montana FWP Fish Stocking Records |
Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Last checked: Sep 5, 2026 10:55am
Fishery intelligence
Official fishery evidence
Agency survey records and measured fishery data, distilled for trip planning.
9
verified signals
Research & surveys
Official survey records available
Use the evidence
Turn records into a fishing plan
- Compare survey evidence with the seasonal guide.
- Use the map to connect depth, access, and structure.
- Confirm current rules and access before your trip.
Angler interpretation
How the fishery changes through the seasons
This is the practical layer: use it alongside the documented species, depth, stocking, survey, access, and regulation record above. The current season opens first.
Spring
trout, bass, walleye- Start here
- Cooler water, recent stocking, fish moving shallow, and protected shorelines or inlets that warm first.
- Watch for
- Cold fronts, changing water levels, muddy inflow, and early-season ramp conditions.
Summer
bass, panfish- Start here
- Fish early or late, then adjust toward deeper water, shade, vegetation, or comfortable temperature zones.
- Watch for
- Wind, weeds, algae, heat, and heavier boat traffic.
Fall
trout, bass, walleye, northern pike- Start here
- Cooling water, shoreline structure, points, weed edges, and simple presentations that let you cover water.
- Watch for
- Wind on open water, rapidly changing weather, and shorter daylight windows.
Winter
perch, trout, panfish- Start here
- Legal open-water or ice access, stable depth zones, and conservative cold-weather trip plans.
- Watch for
- Ice safety where relevant, ramps, road conditions, cold-water exposure, and current rules.
Quick answers
Noxon Reservoir fishing questions
Answers to common fishing questions that go beyond the four trip-planning decisions above.
When is the best time to fish Noxon Reservoir?
Hydropower releases can change current during the day. Summer vegetation and stratification affect fish location, while cold-season weather can make long open reaches hazardous.
See seasonal guidance →Is a depth map or bathymetry available for Noxon Reservoir?
Montana FWP authoritative contour candidate; runtime geometry verification required. FishyNW only labels bathymetry as available when a source-backed map, chart, or contour resource is documented.
View map and bathymetry →Are there special fishing regulations for Noxon Reservoir?
Montana Western Fishing District rules apply unless a current water-specific exception is posted. Bull Trout are a protected native species; verify current FWP regulations before fishing.
Review regulations →Know before you go
Rules and restrictions
Montana Western Fishing District rules apply unless a current water-specific exception is posted. Bull Trout are a protected native species; verify current FWP regulations before fishing.
Getting on the water
Access and launches
Noxon Rapids Reservoir has multiple public access points. Montana FWP’s Flatiron Ridge access includes a concrete ramp, fishing platform, toilet, and ADA-accessible facilities; other launch choices should be checked against current reservoir level.
Sorry, there are no mapped boat ramps for this lake yet. Check the access information below for other ways to reach the water.
More launch links
Official field updates Recent surveys and fishing pressure
Official surveys and pressure information can help with trip planning. Conditions change, and these updates do not guarantee current fishing.
Walleye
Noxon Reservoir produced a few walleye during the Montana Free Fishing Weekend trip near Marten Creek. Bay edges, points, shoreline structure, and nearby deeper water were the planning clues.
Smallmouth bass
Noxon Reservoir produced plenty of small smallmouth bass. Size was limited, but the action made it a useful family or steady bite signal.
Smallmouth bass, Largemouth bass, Northern pike, Walleye
Montana FishMT lists Noxon Rapids Reservoir with waterbody information, fish species, current waterbody report, survey data, and FWP access site sections.
Smallmouth bass, Largemouth bass, Northern pike, Walleye
Montana FWP lower Clark Fork creel work covers Thompson Falls, Noxon Rapids, and Cabinet Gorge reservoirs. Use as regional creel context for warmwater and walleye planning.
Smallmouth bass, Largemouth bass, Northern pike, Walleye
Montana FishMT source check includes fishery survey, sampling, or population context for Noxon Reservoir. This supports species planning for Smallmouth bass, Largemouth bass, Northern pike, Walleye, not guaranteed success.
Smallmouth bass, Largemouth bass, Northern pike, Walleye
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks source check includes fishery survey, sampling, or population context for Noxon Reservoir. This supports species planning for Smallmouth bass, Largemouth bass, Northern pike, Walleye, not guaranteed success.
Explore by region or target
More ways to explore this fishery
Use FishyNW fishing hubs to compare this water with other relevant lakes and rivers without starting another search.
Local angler stops
Nearby bait & tackle
Independent and locally owned shops near this water. Call ahead if you need a specific bait or item.
Shoo Fly Fishing Co.
Independent fishing and fly shopTroy, Montana · Fly, trolling, kokanee, bass, pike, perch and walleye tackle plus bait and custom rod work.
Big Bull Sports
Locally owned hunting and fishing shopThompson Falls, Montana · Small western Montana sporting-goods shop carrying fishing gear and serving the lower Clark Fork corridor.
Local-business listings can change. FishyNW does not rank shops by payment or sponsorship. Verify current hours and inventory before driving.
Keep exploring
Nearby waters
The four closest FishyNW lake guides by straight-line distance.
Bull Lake
19.2 miles away · Lake
Targets include Bull Trout, Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout.
Cabinet Gorge Reservoir 21.5 miles away · LakeTargets include Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike.
Upper Thompson Lake 28.2 miles away · LakeTargets include Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike.
Middle Thompson Lake 31.4 miles away · LakeTargets include Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike.
Did you know?
What makes Noxon Reservoir distinctive
Noxon Reservoir reaches about 200 feet at its deepest documented point.
Noxon Reservoir covers roughly 7,592 surface acres, making it one of the larger waters represented in FishyNW.
FishyNW documents 12 fish species here, giving Noxon Reservoir an unusually broad mix of fishing opportunities.
Research & monitoring
Water science & monitoring
Loading available public monitoring and fishery science. Use this as supporting research, not as a live fishing report.
Pass 3 · depth + water column
Seasonal Fish Habitat
Surface · 0 ft
How to read this data
Temperature, dissolved oxygen, clarity, nutrients, chlorophyll-a, pH, and conductivity are observations from public monitoring records and may be historical. Thermocline depth is shown only when FishyNW can derive a strong vertical temperature gradient from a measured profile. It is not treated as a permanent lake characteristic.
Trophic indication uses the Carlson Trophic State Index only when FishyNW can normalize a measured chlorophyll-a, Secchi, or total-phosphorus value. It is a derived ecological indicator, not an agency impairment determination.
Seasonal Fish Habitat is shown only when verified bathymetry overlaps a same-day, same-station temperature and dissolved-oxygen profile. It is a historical screening snapshot, not a live prediction of where fish are located.
For lake trout, FishyNW uses the broader USGS-tested screening combination of water at or below 15°C (59°F) and dissolved oxygen at or above 4 mg/L. For other coldwater species, FishyNW does not invent a preferred-temperature threshold; it shows only the observed thermocline-to-oxygenated-depth refuge when the evidence supports it.
Harmful-algae status is never inferred from missing data. Always check the linked state source for current advisories before contact recreation.
Open matched Water Quality Portal recordsSources & feedback
Verified resources
Official links for this lake
Open the source that matches what you are planning.
Community feedback
See something that needs an update?
Send the correction and, when possible, the source. FishyNW reviews submissions before changing the guide.