Jenny Lake Fishing Guide, Park County, Montana

• Overview

  You will find Jenny Lake in Park County, Montana. The bank gives way to pine and birch. Surface area runs to about 8 acres — small enough to read in one session. Red Lodge lies 26 miles from the water. The big place round here is Billings, 80 miles distant. Water in the same corner: 0.8 miles out stands Pat Lake, Hatchet Lake a touch under 1.1 miles, 1.2 miles out stands Anvil Lake, Fritter Lake a touch under 1.2 miles and 1.4 miles out stands Shrew Lake. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Jenny Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Park County cover rainbow trout, brook trout and california golden trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The shape of Jenny Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 14°F in January to roughly 49°F in August. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. After early June the shallows warm and the fish move up. The water is typically free of ice between early June and early November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Jenny Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Pat Lake, 0.8 miles out. Check the position on Jenny Lake before loading the car.