Cirque Lake Fishing in Park County, Montana

• Overview

  Cirque Lake is one of the Park County waters in Montana. Elevation runs to 9,049 feet. At 6 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. You are 37 miles from Absarokee. Billings is the closest city, 86 miles away. Other water within reach: Jordan Lake near enough 0.4 miles, Sunken Rock Lake just 0.7 miles, Martes Lake near enough 0.9 miles, Sundown Lake just 0.9 miles and Pentad Lake near enough 1.2 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Cirque Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Species logged across Park County include rainbow trout, brook trout and california golden trout. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. The near bank of Cirque Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 50°F, the coldest about 13°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. The lid usually goes in early June, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. The season between ice runs from about early June to early November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Time your trip to Cirque Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Absaroka–Beartooth Wilderness covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Jordan Lake, 0.4 miles away. The position on Cirque Lake is worth confirming on the day.