Kerns Lake is a reservoir in Montana, near Powell County.
Kerns Lake is a reservoir in Powell County, Montana.
No reliable acreage is listed for Kerns Lake, so begin with visible cover and the first clear change in depth.
Around the shallow side of an outside bend, the fish mix here is not confirmed, so check fresh local information before choosing a target or keeping a catch.
Around the clean side of a firm-bottom flat, 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.
Near the inside edge of a firm-bottom flat, 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.
Across the rocky lip of a small island, early in the year, protected water and the first warm afternoon can be the best clues; as the water heats up, check deeper edges without assuming every fish is on the bottom; cooling fall water often makes points and firm banks useful again.
Near the first edge of a sand-to-rock change, 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.
Across the sunny side of a sand-to-rock change, 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.