Planaria Lake in Park County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  You will find Planaria Lake in Park County, Montana. Elevation runs to 10,049 feet. At roughly 7 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It sits higher than most water we list in Montana. Red Lodge sits 25 miles from here and is the nearest stop. The big place round here is Billings, 78 miles distant. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Planaria Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name rainbow trout, brook trout and california golden trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Anyone new to Planaria Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 14°F in January and 49°F in August. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early June. The lid tends to go about early June and return around early November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. At Planaria Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. If the gate is shut, Snail Lake at 0.1 miles is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Planaria Lake if anything is unclear.