Cottonwood Lake Fishing Guide, Sweet Grass County, Montana

• Overview

  In Montana, Cottonwood Lake belongs to Sweet Grass County. It sits at 8,835 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 8 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Sweet Grass County. The town to know is Big Timber, 23 miles out. Then Livingston, 28 miles, and Bozeman, 42 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Cottonwood Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name rainbow trout, california golden trout, brown trout and brook trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Cottonwood Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 54°F at the top of summer and 17°F at the bottom of winter. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Break-up comes around mid May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid May until roughly early November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. On Cottonwood Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Glacier Lake at 0.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Cottonwood Lake before loading the car.