Lost Horse Lake Fishing Guide, Ravalli County, Montana

• Overview

  This water sits in Ravalli County, Montana. The water sits 7,123 feet up. At about 36 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. On our Ravalli County list it sits near the top for size. Hamilton is the closest town at 17 miles. Stevensville is 33 miles away, with Lolo at 49 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lost Horse Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for Ravalli County cover rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout and brown trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Work Lost Horse Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 55°F and December reads 17°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early May. The lid tends to go about early May and return around mid November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. On Lost Horse Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Should this one be busy, White Lake is 1 mile off. Check the position on Lost Horse Lake before loading the car.