Beauty Lake, Montana: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Park County, Beauty Lake is a Montana water. The bank is 9,216 feet above sea level. About 7 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Red Lodge lies 36 miles from the water. Further out sit Absarokee (38 miles) and Livingston (48 miles). The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Beauty Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Park County: rainbow trout, brook trout, california golden trout and brown trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Beauty Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 51°F, while January sits near 13°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Count the season from break-up, usually late May. Break-up sits around late May on average, with the water closing again about early November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Beauty Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Lake Aries, 0.5 miles out. Rules at Beauty Lake are worth checking on the day.