Fishing Lake Elmo in Yellowstone County, Montana

• Overview

  The Yellowstone County end of Montana holds Lake Elmo. Height above sea level is 3,189 feet. It runs to roughly 68 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The whole outline is near 1.2 miles, and most of it is walkable. The nearest town is Lockwood, 3.5 miles away. The big place round here is Billings, 4.3 miles distant. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lake Elmo

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Yellowstone County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, black crappie and bluegill. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Lake Elmo that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 71°F for July and 23°F for January. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid March. On average, mid March opens the water and early December closes it again. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Plan around that when you fish Lake Elmo.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is a slipway on the shore, half a mile from the water we list. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. A pier or jetty stands half a mile away, which helps on a crowded bank. There are toilets half a mile off. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For Lake Elmo in particular, ask before you travel.