Wright Lake in Carbon County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Wright Lake is a Carbon County water, in Montana. It stands 9,656 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 6 acres — small enough to read in one session. Compared with other Montana water on our list, it sits high. Red Lodge is the closest town at 22 miles. After that come Absarokee at 35 miles and Cody at 45 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Wright Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in Carbon County include rainbow trout, brook trout and sauger. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Wright Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 13°F and August at about 47°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid June. Break-up sits around mid June on average, with the water closing again about late October. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. That is the shape of the year on Wright Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Spogen Lake sits 0.3 miles off and takes the overflow. What applies at Wright Lake may have changed since it was mapped.