Fishing at Arrowhead Lake, Carbon County, Montana

• Overview

  This water sits in Carbon County, Montana. Elevation runs to 10,348 feet. Surface area runs to about 10 acres — small enough to read in one session. It sits higher than most water we list in Montana. 20 miles away sits Red Lodge, the nearest town. It is 75 miles to Billings, the nearest city. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Arrowhead Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Carbon County: rainbow trout, brook trout and sauger. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Anyone new to Arrowhead Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August near 47°F and January near 13°F on the long-run figures. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Break-up comes around mid June, and the run that follows is short and strong. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid June in spring and again near late October in autumn. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. On Arrowhead Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. If the gate is shut, Triskele Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. For Arrowhead Lake in particular, ask before you travel.