Upper Cold Lake

Upper Cold Lake is a lake in Missoula County, Montana.

Without a dependable size figure for Upper Cold Lake, weeds, rock, water color, and nearby depth are the best starting clues.

Fish and Baits

Beside the deep side of a quiet pocket, the fish mix here is not confirmed, so check fresh local information before choosing a target or keeping a catch.

Beside the channel lip of a steep shoreline, 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.

How to Read the Water

Across the deep side of a gravel shelf, start where two things meet: weeds and open water, rock and mud, a point and a drop, or clear water and dirty water; fish that edge at more than one depth before leaving it.

Season by Season

Across the outside edge of a small island, shallow water is worth a careful look in spring and again during fall; bright summer days favor shade, weeds, or deeper breaks; under ice, a small depth change can be more useful than a long move.

A Simple Tackle Plan

Around 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.

Around the rocky lip of a gravel shelf, record the wind, water color, depth of the first good pass, 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.