Dollar Lake Fishing in Ravalli County, Montana

• Overview

  Within Ravalli County, Montana, you have Dollar Lake. It stands 7,264 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 4 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Most waters listed here for Ravalli County are larger. Nearest place of any size is Hamilton, 28 miles away. Further out sit Stevensville (47 miles) and Salmon (53 miles). The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Dollar Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Ravalli County: rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout, brown trout and sockeye salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Anyone new to Dollar Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 52°F on average, December about 17°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Look for the thaw near late May; the fishing lifts straight after. Ice usually gives way near late May, and forms again about early November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Dollar Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. 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. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Lake Crystal at 0.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Dollar Lake locally before you travel.