Fishing Lillis Lake in Park County, Montana

• Overview

  In Montana, Lillis Lake belongs to Park County. It stands 8,120 feet above sea level. The water measures roughly 6 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Red Lodge sits 31 miles from the bank. Absarokee is 40 miles away, with Cody at 51 miles. Alternatives close at hand: Margaret Lake 0.5 miles off, Vernon Lake at 0.7 miles, Kersey Lake 0.7 miles off, Reed Lake at 0.7 miles and Rock Island Lake 1.5 miles off. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lillis Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. County-wide records name rainbow trout, brook trout, california golden trout, brown trout and black-spotted cutthroat trout. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Lillis Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 15°F in January up to 53°F in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid May. Open water usually runs from mid May until about early November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. That shapes the year on Lillis Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Margaret Lake, 0.5 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position on Lillis Lake before loading the car.