Fishing at Production Lake, Park County, Montana

• Overview

  Look for Production Lake in Park County, Montana. It stands 10,092 feet above sea level. At 3 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Most waters listed here for Park County are larger. Red Lodge is the closest town at 29 miles. For a city, Billings is 80 miles off. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Production Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. County-wide records name rainbow trout, brook trout, california golden trout and brown trout. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Anyone new to Production Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 48°F and January about 13°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid June. Averages place the thaw at mid June and the freeze at late October. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Production Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Recroitment Lake at 0.3 miles is the nearest alternative. For Production Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.