Fishing Fresno Reservoir

AKA: Fresno Reservoir Campground

Popular Fish Species
Fresno Reservoir Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Amenities
Today's Weather & Forecast
Boat Launch Ramps
Local Fishing Guides
Fishing License
Campgrounds & RV Parks
Map
Contact Info

Fresno Reservoir, MT

Popular Fish Species Fresno Reservoir, MT

Walleye Fishing

Fresno Reservoir is home to a hearty population of big walleye. Good fisheries management by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Department and plenty of forage in the lake have them growing fat and healthy. Use GPS to locate fishing spots you normally fish during other times of the year. Walleye have excellent vision in low light scenarios which helps them find food in deep or murky water. Make an effort to be on the water anytime there are low light conditions. During May and June is the optimal time to catch them, while feeding in shallower water. Other times of the year they are more likely to roam around in deeper water. Concentrate around structure like points, flats and ledges off the river channels. One of the proven methods for catching walleye here is trolling with spinners tipped with live bait, or trolling with long-billed, deep diving crankbaits. However casting live bait, jigs, worms and spoons also works well at times.

Fresno Reservoir Popular Fish - Black Crappie

Black Crappie Fishing

A nice population of black crappie resides in Fresno Reservoir. Crappie tend to run in schools, and once a school is located, there is a good chance for catching significant numbers. Crappie fishing is easy and requires simple, basic gear. Virtually any fishing pole, reasonably small line and crappie jigs or small hooks baited with live bait, creates the ideal setup. Add a bobber and you can set the depth you prefer the bait to maintain. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. Because crappie prefer cover and structure, locate brush and vegetation in appropriate water depths. Using a fish finder can help locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels in deeper water.

Fresno Reservoir Popular Fish - Yellow Perch

Yellow Perch Fishing

Yellow perch tend to spawn in the April to May timeframe, and the spawn has been strong for years at Fresno Reservoir. As a result, the lake continues to maintain a very healthy population of yellow perch, which have been a mainstay in the fishery for decades. Yellow perch are great table fare, and are a food source for many predator fish in the lake. Fishing for yellow perch is simple, their primary diet consists of minnows and other small fish, insects and worms. Yellow perch tend to gather in small groups and hang out on relatively deep structure, near cover and/or drop-offs. Use a small hook and sinker. Bait a small hook with minnows, worms or small jigs using 6 to 10 pound line.

Fresno Reservoir Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for smallmouth bass, black crappie, walleye, sauger, rainbow trout, brown trout, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch, kokanee salmon and northern pike at Fresno Reservoir in Montana.

A warm-water fishery which also offers fishing for cold-water fish species, Fresno Reservoir is a 3,200-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, 3 miles northeast of Kremlin. This sprawling lake has about 65 miles of shoreline.

Much of the shore is accessible for fishing from the bank. Fishing for walleye, smallmouth bass, perch and northern pike is at the top of most anglers wish list here. In addition crappie, sauger, trout, sunfish and salmon fishing can be good as well. A public boat launch ramp is open to the public.

Primary fish species residing in Fresno Reservoir

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Fresno Reservoir Amenities

Marina: NO
Boat Rental: NO
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: NO
Lodging: NEARBY
Convenience Store: NEARBY
Bait & Tackle: NO
Restaurant: NEARBY

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Fresno Reservoir Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the south side of the lake, off Fresno Reservoir Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.