Lakeside on Hauser - Helena

Lakeside Bar, Restaurant and Marina is located on the shores of Hauser Lake, a reservoir on the Missouri River at the east edge of the Rocky Mountains. The marina is ten miles northeast of Helena, historic capital of Montana. The lake is fifteen miles long and one mile wide. The lake yields kokanee salmon, rainbow and brown trout, walleye and perch. The marina has a bar, restaurant, casino, tackle shop, playground, picnic area, and swimming beach. The marina also has a full service convenience store.

The bar includes a small casino with 8 video gaming machines. The full-service restaurant serves a variety of foods including sandwiches, hamburgers, steaks and walleye filets. Dining room is smoke free and air conditioned. Lunch and dinner are served.

Gasoline is available on the water at the tackle shop which sells bait, tackle and RV supplies. The latest fishing information is free. Kayaks and aqua-bikes are available for rent.

The bar overlooks the patio, lawn, playground and lake. There are swings, horseshoe pits and a volleyball court. Picnic tables are available on the patio and lawn. The swimming area in the lake has a gentle bottom slope with no drop-offs. No lifeguard is provided. A variety of waterfowl can be seen on the lake and elk, deer and other wildlife often roam on the hillside and meadows across the lake. The lawn is available for weddings, catered picnics, group meetings and other events. Catering is available for groups up to 500 persons.

Kokanee salmon are usually concentrated in large schools, the cliffs directly across from the Marina are a favorite trolling site. Kokanee are taken primarily by trolling attracters and spinning lures. Night fishermen use glow-hooks tipped with corn or maggots. The salmon average 17 inches. The largest salmon are three years old and will spawn and die in the fall. During the spawning season in November, bald eagles migrate to the lake to feed on the salmon. The US record Kokanee was caught from Hauser Lake in 2001.

Rainbow and brown trout generally range from 1 to 7 pounds; although large browns up to 15 lbs. have been taken. In the spring these fish sometimes concentrate at the mouth of the marina and limits can be taken while tied up to the dock. Trout are usually caught by trolling, casting spoons and bait fishing.

Walleye and perch are most frequently caught in the Causeway Arm, a branch of the lake connecting to Lake Helena. These fish are generally caught on jigs or bait.

The Lakeside Tackle Shop has a full stock of the bait and lures that are most successful in catching fish on the Lake.

The Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery Expedition passed along this stretch of the Missouri River in July of 1805. At the time they passed near Lakeside Marina, Lewis was bringing the boats up the river while Clark was traveling overland in search of Indians from which to buy horses. There are two camp sites on Hauser Lake, Lewis', which is located near Soup Creek approximately four miles downstream from the marina and Clark's campsite at Gulliot Springs one mile upstream. Detailed information on Lewis and Clark's travel to the headwaters of the Missouri is available at Devil’s Elbow Interpretive Center ‘Two Camps’ located 1 and 1/2 mile north of Lakeside.