Washtub Lake Fishing in Park County, Montana

• Overview

  Out in Park County, Montana, sits Washtub Lake. Height above sea level is 9,232 feet. The water measures roughly 3 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Most waters listed here for Park County are larger. Red Lodge sits 31 miles from the bank. The nearest city of size is Billings, 82 miles away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Washtub Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Park County cover rainbow trout, brook trout and california golden trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Work Washtub Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 15°F and July at about 53°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid May. Break-up sits around mid May on average, with the water closing again about early November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. It holds true on Washtub Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Cliff Lake at 0.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Washtub Lake.