Elk Lake in Ravalli County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Ravalli County in Montana is where Elk Lake sits. This is lake country bush country. Around 66 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. Bank access stretches around 1.2 miles in total. It ranks high for size among our Ravalli County listings. The closest town, Hamilton, is 19 miles distant. The big place round here is Spokane, 180 miles distant. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Elk Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Open biodiversity records for Ravalli County list rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout and brown trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Fish Elk Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 17°F in December up to 55°F in August. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid May. Open water usually runs from mid May until about mid November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. That is the shape of the year on Elk Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Lookout Lake sits 1.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish Elk Lake.