Cradle Lake Fishing in Park County, Montana

• Overview

  The Park County entry here is Cradle Lake, in Montana. Height above sea level is 9,610 feet. The water measures roughly 3 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Our Park County list holds plenty of bigger water. Red Lodge is the closest place, 27 miles off. Absarokee is 35 miles away, with Columbus at 47 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Cradle 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. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Park County records list rainbow trout, brook trout, california golden trout and brown trout among the fish reported. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Cradle Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 52°F in July and bottom out at 16°F in January. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late May. Break-up sits around late May on average, with the water closing again about early November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. That is the shape of the year on Cradle Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Wand Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the current arrangement for Cradle Lake.