Dry Lake near Columbus: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  In Montana, Dry Lake belongs to Stillwater County. The surface lies 3,927 feet up. About 555 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. Size puts it in the front rank of our Stillwater County list. Some 21 miles away sits Columbus, the nearest settlement. The big place round here is Billings, 31 miles distant. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Dry Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Stillwater County records list rainbow trout, california golden trout, brown trout, brook trout and black crappie among the fish reported. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Dry Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 23°F in January to roughly 69°F in July. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Winter locks it down, and late March brings it back. Break-up near late March, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. That is the shape of the year on Dry Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Public mapping marks it as seasonal water rather than permanent. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Big Lake, 4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position at Dry Lake before loading the car.