Spider Lake Fishing in Park County, Montana

• Overview

  Spider Lake sits within Park County in Montana. Height above sea level is 9,751 feet. Small at around 10 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is high ground by Montana standards. Some 35 miles away sits Red Lodge, the nearest settlement. Absarokee is 38 miles away, with Livingston at 47 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Spider Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Park County records list rainbow trout, brook trout, california golden trout and brown trout among the fish reported. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Spider Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 51°F and January near 13°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late May. Averages suggest open water from about late May through to roughly early November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Anyone fishing Spider Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Failing this one, try Fly Lake, 0.2 miles away. For Spider Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.