Fishing Lone Elk Lake in Park County, Montana

• Overview

  In Montana, Lone Elk Lake belongs to Park County. Country round the bank runs to mixed forest. This is a pocket water of some 18 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Compared with other Montana water on our list, it sits high. Some 29 miles away sits Red Lodge, the nearest settlement. Beyond it, Absarokee at 34 miles and Columbus at 46 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Lone Elk Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Park County include rainbow trout, brook trout, california golden trout, brown trout and black-spotted cutthroat trout. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Anyone new to Lone Elk Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year August sits at 47°F and January at 13°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid June. The water is typically free of ice between mid June and late October. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Time your trip to Lone Elk Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Shelter Lake is 0.4 miles distant. Ask locally about Lone Elk Lake if anything is unclear.