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59-acre lake in Carbon County, Montana. The lake tops out around 70 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Desolation Lake's chart carries 1.8 miles of bank. With a 2.1 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 23% of this chart. Call it 0.5 mi long by 0.3 mi wide at the broadest reach. It sits in Carbon County. Its nearest charted neighbour, Anchor Lake, is 1 mi to the southeast.
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 25 to 60 ft before dropping to 5 to 35 ft for winter. Summer brown trout concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 62 ft. Fish it in after dark and early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (22 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (62 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (22 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (62 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Count 4 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 67 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Montana waters are set by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — and special regulations can apply to Desolation Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Montana fishing regulations →
Desolation Lake is about 70 ft (21 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target brown trout on Desolation Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 62 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For brown trout, the summer bite is best in after dark and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Desolation Lake is regulated by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Check the official Montana regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Anchor Lake 1 mi · Big Butte Lake 1 mi · Rock Tree Lake 1 mi · Jordan Lake (Carbon) 1 mi · Till Lake 2 mi · Bergschrund Lake 2 mi · Lake Of The Winds 2 mi · Mariane Lake 2 mi · Farley Lake (Carbon) 2 mi · Erratic Lake (Carbon) 2 mi · Lake Elaine (Carbon) 3 mi · Castle Lake 3 mi
See how Desolation Lake stacks up: best brown trout lakes in Montana
More water nearby: Carbon County fishing maps (65 charts). Browse all Montana fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.