Copeland Lake, Montana: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  You will find Copeland Lake in Park County, Montana. It sits at 8,747 feet above sea level. With some 40 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. On our Park County list it sits near the top for size. Head to Red Lodge, 27 miles away, for anything you forgot. It is 80 miles to Billings, the nearest city. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Copeland Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Park County include rainbow trout, brook trout and california golden trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Fish Copeland Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 49°F and January about 14°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early June. From about early June to around early November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Plan around that when you fish Copeland Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Pat Lake, 1.2 miles out. Where Copeland Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.