Moccasin Lake, Montana: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Moccasin Lake stands in Park County, Montana. The surroundings are lake country bush. This is a pocket water of some 8 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is high ground by Montana standards. For supplies, Red Lodge is 30 miles out. It is 81 miles to Billings, the nearest city. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Moccasin Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for Park County list rainbow trout, brook trout, california golden trout and brown trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Fish Moccasin Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 53°F and January reads 15°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Look for the thaw near mid May; the fishing lifts straight after. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid May in spring and again near early November in autumn. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Plan any trip to Moccasin Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Peanut Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Moccasin Lake before loading the car.