Lake Kathleen in Park County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lake Kathleen belongs to Park County, Montana. The water sits 7,592 feet up. At roughly 3 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Our Park County list holds plenty of bigger water. You are 34 miles from Livingston. Billings is the closest city, 90 miles away. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Lake Kathleen

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. 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. County-wide records name rainbow trout, brook trout, california golden trout, brown trout and black-spotted cutthroat trout. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. At Lake Kathleen light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 51°F and January near 14°F on the long-run figures. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late May. From about late May to around early November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. That shapes the year on Lake Kathleen.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Burnt Gulch Lake, 1.9 miles out. Ask locally about Lake Kathleen if anything is unclear.