Fishing at Tin Cup Lake, Ravalli County, Montana

• Overview

  Tin Cup Lake lies within the bounds of Ravalli County, Montana. Height above sea level is 6,283 feet. With some 113 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The whole outline is near 1.7 miles, and most of it is walkable. Size puts it in the front rank of our Ravalli County list. You are 24 miles from Hamilton. Then Stevensville, 42 miles, and Salmon, 58 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Tin Cup Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Across Ravalli County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout and brown trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Take Tin Cup Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between December at about 17°F and July at about 53°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid May. Averages place the thaw at mid May and the freeze at early November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. At Tin Cup Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Chaffin Lake is 2.9 miles distant. Treat Tin Cup Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.