Fishing at Lower Red Rock Lake, Beaverhead County, Montana

• Overview

  Lower Red Rock Lake is one of the Beaverhead County waters in Montana. The bank is 6,604 feet above sea level. The water covers around 3.5 sq miles, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. With about 18 miles of shoreline, local advice saves a lot of walking. It ranks high for size among our Beaverhead County listings. Start from West Yellowstone, 37 miles down the road. The big place round here is Billings, 181 miles distant. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Lower Red Rock Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Beaverhead County cover rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout and cutthroat trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Lower Red Rock Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 13°F in January and 58°F in August. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early May. The lid tends to go about early May and return around mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Plan any trip to Lower Red Rock Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Failing this one, try Shambow Pond, 5.7 miles away. Confirm before you fish Lower Red Rock Lake.