Second Rock Lake Fishing in Carbon County, Montana

• Overview

  Out in Carbon County, Montana, sits Second Rock Lake. Country round the bank runs to rolling bush. Around 26 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. Red Lodge sits 17 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Beyond it, Absarokee at 31 miles and Columbus at 41 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Second Rock Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in Carbon County include rainbow trout, brook trout, sauger and walleye. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. At Second Rock Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August runs about 47°F on average, January about 14°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid June. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid June in spring and again near late October in autumn. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Second Rock Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. First Rock Lake, 0.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Rules at Second Rock Lake are worth checking on the day.