Buckley Lake is a lake in Montana, near Phillips County.
Buckley Lake is a lake in Phillips County, Montana.
Use the shape you can see at Buckley Lake: check the best cover, the first drop, and one open-water line before moving.
Across the sunny side of a broad flat, the fish mix here is not confirmed, so check fresh local information before choosing a target or keeping a catch.
Along the outer drop of a shallow saddle, begin with one slow bottom presentation and one moving bait, then let bites show whether fish are holding close to cover or roaming open water.
Along the shallow side of a protected bank, make one shallow pass and one deeper pass on the same shoreline; that shows whether fish are tight to cover or using the first break.
Around the outer drop of a shaded bank, spring runoff can add color and pull fish toward fresh water; green weeds and the first drop become stronger summer targets; in fall, follow bait toward points and shallow flats, while winter rewards a slower search.
Beside the windward edge of an outside bend, a medium spinning rod, 8-pound line, a small box of jigs, a few crankbaits, and a simple bottom rig cover most situations; change depth or speed before changing every piece of tackle.
Along the upper edge of a weed bed, record the wind, water color, depth of the first bite, and cover after a bite; those four notes are more useful on the next trip than a long list of spots that did not produce.
Explore nearby waters, including local Featured destinations. Check each page for access and fishing restrictions.
Distances are straight-line estimates between mapped water locations.