Fishing at Dollar Lake, Park County, Montana

• Overview

  Dollar Lake is one of the Park County waters in Montana. The bank gives way to rolling bush. It is pond-in-a-field scale, with the far bank a short lob away. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Park County. Supplies mean a trip to Red Lodge, 29 miles off. The big place round here is Billings, 81 miles distant. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Dollar Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Open biodiversity records for Park County list rainbow trout, brook trout and california golden trout. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Dollar Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 52°F at the top of summer and 16°F at the bottom of winter. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late May. Expect the water usable from around late May until roughly early November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Dollar Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. 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. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Failing this one, try Sedge Lake, 0.2 miles away. Confirm before you fish Dollar Lake.