Montana lake guide
Placid Lake Fishing
Placid Lake is a developed Clearwater Valley destination with trout, kokanee, perch, and pike plus a full State Park launch and campground. Boat traffic can be substantial in warm weather, so anglers should favor quieter periods and check seasonal park operations.
LocationMissoula County, Montana
Primary targetsKokanee, Rainbow Trout, Northern Pike
Best seasonSpring through fall
Lake size1,211 acres
Guide reviewed
Scientific profile
Research snapshot
Average depth45 feet
Max depth90 feet
Elevation4,149 feet
Summer cautionHeat
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.
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What makes Placid Lake distinctive
Placid Lake reaches about 90 feet at its deepest documented point.
Placid Lake covers roughly 1,211 surface acres, making it one of the larger waters represented in FishyNW.
Placid Lake sits at roughly 4,149 feet in elevation, so seasonal access and water temperature can differ sharply from lowland lakes.
Measured & official data
Water Science
Loading available public monitoring and fishery science…
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 recordsOfficial depth chart
Official static bathymetry
Interactive contours available
Placid Lake official depth chart
Open the official depth publication to inspect the lake chart. This static survey complements interactive contours when available and should not be used as a navigation chart.
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.
Trout and salmon
Kokanee
Troll small dodgers, hoochies, wedding rings, or spinners.
View species guide
Trout and salmon
Rainbow Trout
Use bait, small spinners, spoons, or slow trolling depending on access.
View species guide
Perch and pike
Northern Pike
Fish weeds, bays, ambush edges, and baitfish areas.
View species guide
Perch and pike
Yellow Perch
Use small jigs, bait, or dropper rigs near schools.
View species guide
Stocking information
Placid Lake 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.
Official stocking history
Five-year summary · 2022–2026
View agency record Fish stocked142,000
Stocking events7
Years stocked4
Species stocked2
Species in this period: Kokanee, Westslope Cutthroat Trout
Most recent stockings
| Date | Species | Quantity | Size | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 9, 2025 | Westslope Cutthroat Trout | 12,000 | 5.6 in avg length | Washoe Park Trout Hatchery · Montana FWP Fish Stocking Records |
| Oct 2, 2024 | Westslope Cutthroat Trout | 12,000 | 5.2 in avg length | Washoe Park Trout Hatchery · Montana FWP Fish Stocking Records |
Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Last checked: Aug 26, 2026 5:05am
Fishery intelligence
Official fishery evidence
Agency survey records and measured fishery data, distilled for trip planning.
8
verified signals
Research & surveys
Agency-backed record
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.
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.
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, kokanee- 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
panfish, kokanee early- Start here
- Fish early or late, then adjust toward deeper water, shade, vegetation, or comfortable temperature zones.
- Watch for
- Heat, weeds, algae, heat, and heavier boat traffic.
Fall
trout, pike or muskie- 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- 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.
Know before you go
Rules and restrictions
Check current Montana Western District fishing regulations and State Park alerts before fishing or launching.
Getting on the water
Access and launches
Placid Lake State Park provides a boat launch, ADA-accessible amenities, parking, campground, showers, toilets, potable water, picnic facilities, and seasonal services.
Sorry, there are no mapped boat ramps for this lake yet. Check the access information below for other ways to reach the water.
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.
Kokanee, Rainbow trout, Yellow perch, Northern pike
Montana FishMT provides an official Placid Lake waterbody page with public waterbody information, fish species, and survey data sections. Use as source-available survey context, not live catch data.
Kokanee, Rainbow trout, Yellow perch, Northern pike
Montana FWP states FishMT survey inventory data comes from its centralized Fisheries Information System and may include biologist, technician, agency, university, contractor, and other data. Use Placid Lake signals as provisional planning context.
Kokanee, Rainbow trout, Yellow perch, Northern pike
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks FishMT source check includes fishery survey, sampling, or population context for Placid Lake. This supports species planning for Kokanee, Rainbow trout, Yellow perch, Northern pike, not guaranteed success.
Kokanee, Rainbow trout, Yellow perch, Northern pike
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks FishMT Survey Inventory source check includes fishery survey, sampling, or population context for Placid Lake. This supports species planning for Kokanee, Rainbow trout, Yellow perch, Northern pike, not guaranteed success.
Kokanee, Rainbow trout, Yellow perch, Northern pike
FishMT provides official map and waterbody context for Placid Lake. Use as access-planning context and verify ramps, restrictions, and site conditions before travel.
Kokanee, Rainbow trout, Yellow perch, Northern pike
FishMT Placid Lake page shows Placid Lake State Park context plus official waterbody and survey sections. Use as access and lake planning context.
Local angler stops
Nearby bait & tackle
Independent and locally owned shops near this water. Call ahead if you need a specific bait or item.
Heritage Outdoors
Locally owned outdoor and fishing storeSeeley Lake, Montana · Local Seeley-Swan Valley outdoor store carrying fishing equipment, camping essentials, and seasonal outdoor gear.
The Missoulian Angler Fly Shop
Independent fly shopMissoula, Montana · Independent Missoula fly shop serving the Clark Fork, Bitterroot, Blackfoot, and western Montana fisheries.
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
Seeley Lake
about 4.6 miles away
Seeley Lake is a 1,031-acre heavily used Clearwater Valley fishery with kokanee, northern pike, rainbow trout, yellow perch,…
Salmon Lake about 5.9 miles awaySalmon Lake is a Clearwater chain lake where the trip can be fishing, camping, boating, or family recreation…
Lake Inez about 16.2 miles awayLake Inez is part of Montana FWP's Clearwater Basin kokanee-management network. FWP reports a stable but generally small/stunted…
Rainy Lake about 18.9 miles awayRainy Lake is a northwest Montana fishing lake with an official Montana FWP bathymetry survey. FishyNW retains the…
After the trip
Log what happened on the water
Use CatchSignal for catch reports, trip history, photos, and community activity. Keep your fishing history while controlling how much location detail you share.
Sources & 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.