Fulcrum Lake in Park County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Fulcrum Lake lies in Park County, Montana. What surrounds it is mixed forest. It covers about 7 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is high ground by Montana standards. The nearest place of any size is Red Lodge, 28 miles away. Then Absarokee, 35 miles, and Columbus, 46 miles. Within a short drive: Skull Lake at 0.2 miles, Basin Lake 0.4 miles, Fossil Lake at 0.6 miles, Fizzle Lake 0.7 miles and Ouzel Lake at 0.9 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Fulcrum Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Park County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, brook trout and california golden trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Fish Fulcrum Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 47°F for August and 13°F for January. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The lid usually goes in mid June, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. From about mid June to around late October, expect open water on the long-run figures. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. It sets the rhythm of the year at Fulcrum Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. 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. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Skull Lake at 0.2 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Fulcrum Lake locally before you travel.