Canyon Lake Fishing in Park County, Montana

• Overview

  Canyon Lake sits in Park County, out in Montana. Beyond the shoreline you have pine and birch. Surface area is around 66 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. A shoreline of some 2.0 miles keeps the choices simple. Few waters listed in Park County are bigger. For supplies, Red Lodge is 27 miles out. Absarokee follows at 37 miles, then Columbus at 48 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Canyon Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Reported across Park County: rainbow trout, brook trout, california golden trout, brown trout and black-spotted cutthroat trout. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Canyon Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 16°F in January up to 52°F in July. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late May. From about late May to around early November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Plan around that when you fish Canyon Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. 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. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Diamond Lake is 0.7 miles distant. Check the position at Canyon Lake before loading the car.