Hidden Lake in Carbon County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Montana, Hidden Lake belongs to Carbon County. The bank is 9,475 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 18 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Montana listings. Red Lodge sits 22 miles from here and is the nearest stop. For a city, Billings is 76 miles off. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Hidden Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Carbon County records list rainbow trout, brook trout, sauger and walleye among the fish reported. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Hidden Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical August readings run about 47°F; by January the average is down near 13°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid June. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid June in spring and again near late October in autumn. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. On Hidden Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Throop Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Hidden Lake locally before you travel.