Fishing Long Lake in Park County, Montana

• Overview

  Long Lake is one of the Park County listings for Montana. The country round it is rolling bush from end to end. This is a pocket water of some 17 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. For supplies, Red Lodge is 33 miles out. Absarokee lies 38 miles off, Columbus another 50 miles. Nearby alternatives: 0.4 miles away is Companion Lake, Ovis Lake just 0.4 miles, 0.5 miles away is Dick Lake, Bob Lake just 0.5 miles and 0.6 miles away is Round Lake. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Open biodiversity records for Park County list 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. Fish Long Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 15°F in January up to 53°F in July. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid May. The lid tends to go about mid May and return around early November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Long Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Companion Lake, 0.4 miles away. Check the position on Long Lake before loading the car.