Fishing at Fred Burr Lake, Ravalli County, Montana

• Overview

  Look for Fred Burr Lake in Ravalli County, Montana. It lies 7,421 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 11 acres — small enough to read in one session. The nearest place of any size is Hamilton, 14 miles away. For a city, Spokane is 169 miles off. Other water within reach: Lockwood Lake within 0.7 miles, Heinrich Lake 1.1 miles off, Aichele Lake within 2.5 miles, Knaack Lake 2.7 miles off and South Bear Lake within 2.9 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Fred Burr Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. 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. At Fred Burr Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August near 55°F and December near 17°F on the long-run figures. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early May. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early May until roughly mid November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. The season on Fred Burr Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, Lockwood Lake is 0.7 miles off. What applies at Fred Burr Lake may have changed since it was mapped.