Shrimp Lake, Montana: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Shrimp Lake belongs to Park County, Montana. The surface lies 9,757 feet up. This is a pocket water of some 4 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. On size it sits at the modest end of our Park County list. 25 miles away sits Red Lodge, the nearest town. Then Absarokee, 35 miles, and Columbus, 47 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Shrimp Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Survey and observation records for Park County include rainbow trout, brook trout and california golden trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Treat Shrimp Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 14°F in January up to 49°F in August. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Winter locks it down, and early June brings it back. Expect the water usable from around early June until roughly early November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. At Shrimp Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Picket Lake sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Shrimp Lake if anything is unclear.