Fishing Yankee Jim Lake in Park County, Montana

• Overview

  Park County, Montana, is where Yankee Jim Lake sits. Land around it is rolling bush. Surface area runs to about 9 acres — small enough to read in one session. Nearest town is Big Sky, 26 miles off. Further out sit West Yellowstone (36 miles) and Bozeman (38 miles). Nearest other option: Green Lake (1.2 miles), Cutler Lake a shade over 1.9 miles, Aldridge Lake (4.8 miles), Shooting Star Lake a shade over 6.2 miles and Little Joe Lake (6.5 miles). It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Yankee Jim Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Park County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, brook trout and california golden trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Yankee Jim Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 59°F and January near 17°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about mid November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. The season on Yankee Jim Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. It is recorded as intermittent, which means the basin empties in dry spells. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is Green Lake, 1.2 miles out. Rules at Yankee Jim Lake are worth checking on the day.