Green Lake Fishing near Red Lodge, Montana

• Overview

  Green Lake lies within the bounds of Park County, Montana. The surroundings are lake country bush. This is a pocket water of some 4 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It sits higher than most water we list in Montana. Nearest town is Red Lodge, 32 miles off. Billings sits 83 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Green Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Park County include rainbow trout, brook trout and california golden trout. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Green Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year August sits at 48°F and January at 13°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The lid usually goes in mid June, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Ice usually gives way near mid June, and forms again about late October. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Expect Green Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Little Green Lake at 0.1 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at Green Lake may have changed since it was mapped.