Bond Lake in Beaverhead County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Montana holds Bond Lake, in Beaverhead County. Elevation runs to 7,152 feet. About 5 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Nearest place of any size is Dillon, 20 miles away. Butte is 42 miles and Anaconda 47 miles. Water in the same corner: Deerhead Lake (2 miles), Barb Lake out at 4 miles, Lily Lake (4 miles), Torrey Lake out at 4.8 miles and Boot Lake (4.8 miles). The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Bond Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Across Beaverhead County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, cutthroat trout and Arctic grayling. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Fish Bond Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 56°F; by January the average is down near 21°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Ice-out usually falls in early May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Break-up sits around early May on average, with the water closing again about mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. The season on Bond Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Deerhead Lake, 2 miles out. The position on Bond Lake is worth confirming on the day.