Pear Lake Fishing near Big Timber, Montana

• Overview

  In Montana, Pear Lake falls inside Sweet Grass County. The country here is rolling bush. Surface area is around 41 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Size puts it in the front rank of our Sweet Grass County list. Big Timber at 21 miles is the nearest place to stop. The nearest city of size is Billings, 88 miles away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Pear Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Across Sweet Grass County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, california golden trout and brown trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Take Pear Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 52°F and January near 17°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late May. The season between ice runs from about late May to early November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. On Pear Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Druckmiller Lake at 0.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the current arrangement for Pear Lake.