Fishing Diamond Lake in Park County, Montana

• Overview

  In Montana, Diamond Lake belongs to Park County. The country round it is mixed forest from end to end. At 18 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Red Lodge is the closest place, 28 miles off. Absarokee follows at 37 miles, then Columbus at 49 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Diamond Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records held for Park County cover rainbow trout, brook trout, california golden trout, brown trout and black-spotted cutthroat trout. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Work Diamond Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 16°F in January and 52°F in July. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late May and starts locking again about early November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. On Diamond Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. 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. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Canyon Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Where Diamond Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.