Fishing at Park Lake, Deer Lodge County, Montana

• Overview

  In Montana, Park Lake falls inside Deer Lodge County. It stands 7,772 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 4 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Deer Lodge County. Nearest place of any size is Anaconda, 34 miles away. For a city, Boise is 204 miles off. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Park Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Deer Lodge County records list rainbow trout, brook trout, Arctic grayling and brown trout among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Anyone new to Park Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 53°F in July and bottom out at 18°F in December. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid May. Break-up sits around mid May on average, with the water closing again about early November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Time your trip to Park Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Mystic Lake, 1.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. For Park Lake in particular, ask before you travel.