Ivy Lake Fishing Guide, Park County, Montana

• Overview

  Ivy Lake is one of the Park County waters in Montana. This is pine and birch country. Roughly 78 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. With about 1.5 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. It ranks high for size among our Park County listings. The closest town, Red Lodge, is 29 miles distant. The nearest city of size is Billings, 82 miles away. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Ivy Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Park County records list rainbow trout, brook trout, california golden trout, brown trout and black-spotted cutthroat trout among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The shape of Ivy Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 56°F and January near 17°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early May. Break-up sits around early May on average, with the water closing again about mid November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Plan any trip to Ivy Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. 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. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Big Moose Lake, 0.8 miles away. Signs at Ivy Lake carry more weight than any list.