Navajo Tarn near Red Lodge: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Carbon County in Montana is where Navajo Tarn sits. Country round the bank runs to lake country bush. About 9 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It is high ground by Montana standards. Red Lodge lies 20 miles from the water. Billings is the closest city, 73 miles away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Navajo Tarn

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for Carbon County cover rainbow trout, brook trout and sauger. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Navajo Tarn the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year August sits at 46°F and January at 13°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid June. The open-water window runs from around mid June to about late October in an average year. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. The season on Navajo Tarn follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Varve Lake sits 0.5 miles off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for Navajo Tarn in what we hold.