Fishing at Elk Lake, Lake County, Montana

• Overview

  The Lake County end of Montana holds Elk Lake. What surrounds it is rolling bush. With some 114 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. With about 1.8 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. It ranks high for size among our Lake County listings. Ronan sits 9.8 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Beyond it, Pablo at 14 miles and Polson at 20 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Elk Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Public occurrence data for Lake County names rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and largemouth bass. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Elk Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 20°F in January up to 58°F in August. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Expect Elk Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Spook Lake at 0.5 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Elk Lake.