Nightmare Lake in Stillwater County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Montana, Nightmare Lake falls inside Stillwater County. The bank is 9,173 feet above sea level. At roughly 3 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Stillwater County. You are 26 miles from Absarokee. Red Lodge lies 32 miles off, Big Timber another 37 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Nightmare Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Reported across Stillwater County: rainbow trout, california golden trout, brown trout, brook trout and black crappie. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Take Nightmare Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 18°F in January and 51°F in July. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late May. Break-up near late May, freeze-up near early November: that is the shape of an average year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Nightmare Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. For a change of water, Woodbine Lake is 0.6 miles distant. Where Nightmare Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.