Sliderock Lake near Red Lodge: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Sliderock Lake is listed under Carbon County, Montana. The bank gives way to mixed forest. Roughly 99 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. A shoreline of some 1.6 miles keeps the choices simple. It is among the larger waters listed here for Carbon County. For supplies, Red Lodge is 16 miles out. Absarokee follows at 33 miles, then Cody at 42 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Sliderock Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. 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. The county list is broader than any single water. On Sliderock Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 47°F, while January sits near 14°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid June. From about mid June to around late October, expect open water on the long-run figures. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It sets the rhythm of the year at Sliderock Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. 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. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Hairpin Lake, 0.8 miles out. Where Sliderock Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.