Fishing at Trail Lake, Carbon County, Montana

• Overview

  Carbon County in Montana is where Trail Lake sits. Land around it is lake country bush. Compared with other Montana water on our list, it sits high. Supplies mean a trip to Red Lodge, 22 miles off. Billings is the closest city, 76 miles away. Others close at hand: Spogen Lake about 0.3 miles, Wright Lake sits 0.4 miles out, Whitcomb Lake about 0.5 miles, Martin Lake sits 0.6 miles out and Green Lake about 0.6 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Trail Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Carbon County records list rainbow trout, brook trout and sauger among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Fish Trail Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 47°F in August and bottoms out near 13°F in January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid June. The lid tends to go about mid June and return around late October. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Trail Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. The nearest alternative is Spogen Lake, 0.3 miles out. Ask locally about Trail Lake if anything is unclear.