Elpestrine Lake Fishing in Carbon County, Montana

• Overview

  Within Carbon County, Montana, you have Elpestrine Lake. Elevation runs to 10,945 feet. At roughly 8 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Montana listings. You are 24 miles from Red Lodge. Then Absarokee, 33 miles, and Columbus, 44 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Elpestrine Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Public occurrence data for Carbon County names rainbow trout, brook trout, sauger, walleye and channel catfish. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The near bank of Elpestrine Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 49°F, while January sits near 14°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Break-up comes around early June, and the run that follows is short and strong. On average, early June opens the water and early November closes it again. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Anyone fishing Elpestrine Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Bergschrund Lake is 0.6 miles distant. Nothing here settles the position at Elpestrine Lake for certain.