Lake Elaine Fishing Guide, Park County, Montana

• Overview

  In Montana, Lake Elaine falls inside Park County. The country here is rolling bush. With some 119 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. About 2.4 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. On our Park County list it sits near the top for size. For supplies, Red Lodge is 24 miles out. Then Absarokee, 36 miles, and Columbus, 47 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lake Elaine

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Species logged across Park County include rainbow trout, brook trout, california golden trout and brown trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Lake Elaine responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year August sits at 49°F and January at 14°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early June. The water is typically free of ice between early June and early November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lake Elaine.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Red Storm Lake is 0.8 miles off. Where Lake Elaine is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.