Fishing at Anvil Lake, Park County, Montana

• Overview

  Anvil Lake falls in Park County, part of Montana. It sits in lake country bush. The water measures roughly 14 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Compared with other Montana water on our list, it sits high. Red Lodge lies 35 miles from the water. Beyond it, Absarokee at 38 miles and Livingston at 49 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Anvil Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Survey and observation records for Park County include rainbow trout, brook trout, california golden trout, brown trout and black-spotted cutthroat trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Anyone new to Anvil Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 51°F and January near 13°F on the long-run figures. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late May. Ice usually gives way near late May, and forms again about early November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Anyone fishing Anvil Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Star Dust Lake, 0.6 miles out. Check the position on Anvil Lake before loading the car.