Upper Corkscrew Lake Fishing in Stillwater County, Montana

• Overview

  Out in Stillwater County, Montana, sits Upper Corkscrew Lake. Height above sea level is 9,193 feet. At roughly 6 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Head to Absarokee, 34 miles away, for anything you forgot. After that come Red Lodge at 34 miles and Livingston at 44 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Upper Corkscrew Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Species logged across Stillwater County include rainbow trout, california golden trout, brown trout and brook trout. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Anyone new to Upper Corkscrew Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 15°F and July at about 53°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Ice-out usually falls in mid May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Climate figures give an open season running mid May to early November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. The season on Upper Corkscrew Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Corkscrew Lake is 0.7 miles off. The position on Upper Corkscrew Lake is worth confirming on the day.