Tongue River Reservoir

A hot summer day in Montana was not going to stop my son Matt and me from getting a few hours in on a lake that is highly regarded for its bass and pike fishing. We drove from Billings to 3,600 acre Tongue River Reservoir outside of Decker. Hit the road at 345am and boat was in the water and we were fishing by 5:45am.

This reservoir is the first I’ve seen in Montana that truly looks like a bass lake with flood brush and trees and lots of “bassy” water to cover. It’s a mixed species lake and also has brown trout. I was truly salivating at the warm water species prospects ahead of us.

We worked in the cover and trees and tried a variety of methods. Top water ended up being the best but even then it was a tough morning of fishing. The sun broke over the hills and pretty soon we were into the predicted 90s for mid-morning with a high forecasted at 105. With Matt’s Britney Murphy along it was time to call it a morning.

Not the action I had hoped for but what an awesome bass/pike lake. Four state records have been pulled from this lake so I know it has the potential. Maybe someday our travels will bring us back!

---