Leaky Raft Lake Fishing Guide, Park County, Montana

• Overview

  Look for Leaky Raft Lake in the Park County part of Montana. The surface lies 10,151 feet up. About 7 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It is high ground by Montana standards. Head to Red Lodge, 30 miles away, for anything you forgot. It is 80 miles to Billings, the nearest city. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Leaky Raft Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Public occurrence data for Park County names rainbow trout, brook trout, california golden trout and brown trout. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Leaky Raft Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 48°F in August and bottom out at 13°F in January. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Break-up comes around mid June, and the run that follows is short and strong. Ice clears near mid June and comes back about late October in a typical year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. The season on Leaky Raft Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Shelter Lake, 0.5 miles out. Nothing on Leaky Raft Lake should be assumed from this page alone.