Ingomar Lake Fishing in Ravalli County, Montana

• Overview

  Ingomar Lake sits within Ravalli County in Montana. Elevation runs to 6,814 feet. At roughly 19 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Supplies mean a trip to Hamilton, 12 miles off. Spokane sits 174 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Ingomar 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 natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Reported across Ravalli County: rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout, brown trout and sockeye salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Ingomar Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 55°F and December about 17°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid May. The lid tends to go about mid May and return around mid November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. It sets the rhythm of the year at Ingomar Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. 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. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Lomo Lake, 2.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Where Ingomar Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.