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Howes Lakes is a public lake in Pondera County, Montana, managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is public water managed for fishing by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Public access confirmed via MTFWP.
A Montana mountain or foothill lake (Seeley, Salmon, Placid, Swan, Ashley, Whitefish, Holland, Lindbergh) — rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout, kokanee salmon in some, mountain whitefish. Classic western Montana alpine-lake fishing.
Howes Lakes covers about 22 acres in the Helena & Great Falls Corridor region. Anglers here mostly fish for rainbow trout, westslope cutthroat trout, brook trout, kokanee salmon; bull trout, mountain whitefish are also on record. The nearest other mapped waters on PiscaMaps are Cody Lake and Waddel Lakes.
Species from PiscaMaps water-type profiles, MTFWP trout designations and hand research.
Night fishing: No statewide night-fishing closure in Montana, though many Blue Ribbon trout rivers have seasonal 'hoot owl' restrictions (afternoon/evening closures) during hot, low-water summer conditions to protect stressed trout — check current FWP drought restrictions before an evening trip.
Boats: Flathead Lake, Fort Peck Lake, Canyon Ferry and the other big reservoirs take full-size boats; most Blue Ribbon trout rivers (Madison, Big Hole, Beaverhead) are floated by drift boat, raft or canoe. An AIS watercraft inspection is mandatory for all trailered boats moving between waters.
Bank & bivvy camping: Camp at MTFWP Fishing Access Sites (many allow camping, some are day-use only — check the site listing), Montana state parks, and National Forest campgrounds along the trout rivers.
Tackle: Trout limits vary widely by water and are often catch-and-release or reduced-limit on the famous Blue Ribbon rivers; walleye/northern pike/bass limits on the reservoirs are more generous. Always check the current MTFWP fishing regulations for this specific water — Montana's regs are unusually water-specific.
Anyone 12 or older needs a Montana fishing licence — the resident annual (Conservation License + fishing) is about $34, the non-resident annual about $150, with non-resident 2-day (~$35) and 10-day (~$75) licences also sold. A separate Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention pass fee applies to residents and non-residents alike. Montana residents 62 and older, and legally blind residents, pay a reduced fee. Buy from FWP at fwp.mt.gov.
Every water carries species, bank & boat access, current regulations and live water conditions — and members get Swim Mapper, Catch Logger and Trip Planner. It's the only US map with a dedicated carp-water layer.
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