Private Lake Guided Trips

These are guided stillwater trips on private lakes near Paradise Valley and Livingston. We choose between Story, Burns, and Merrell based on season, wind, water temperatures, and your goals for the day.

Private lakes are a good fit for anglers who want consistent action, room to learn, and a calmer setting than the main rivers. They are also a strong option when freestones are in runoff or running off-color.

Most private lake trips are full-day, but half days are available when they make sense for conditions and drive time.

Rates

• Full Day: $700 for one or two anglers
• Half Day: $600 for one or two anglers
• Private water rod fee: applied per angler when we supply rods; we’ll walk through current rates when you book

What’s Included

• Professional guide and boat or bank setup appropriate to the lake
• Rods, reels, terminal tackle, and flies if needed
• Access fees arranged in advance with landowners
• Water and soft drinks; full-day trips include streamside or lakeside lunch

What to Bring

• Montana fishing license
• Layered clothing for mountain weather, plus a rain jacket, hat, polarized sunglasses, and sunscreen
• Comfortable footwear you can stand and move in all day

How & When Private Lakes Fish

Private lakes are most consistent in the cooler months of the open-water season. We watch ice, water temperatures, and weed growth closely and build lake days into your plan when conditions are at their best.

Ice Out: Late April & May

The ice-out window is often the prime time. Water is cold and clear, trout are hungry after winter, and pressure is light. Nymphs, leech patterns, and simple subsurface presentations from the boat can all be effective. It is a great time to focus on slow retrieves, depth control, and learning how stillwater trout move.

Spring & Early Summer

Through spring and early summer, water temperatures stay comfortable and the lakes continue to fish well. On some days you will see fish cruising the edges; on others they are set up over drop-offs and weed edges. This is when private lakes pair best with Yellowstone River or spring creek days for a well-rounded Southwest Montana trip.

Mid Summer & Fall

As water warms in mid summer, we choose private lake days carefully and often shift focus to rivers, spring creeks, and higher-elevation options. In some years, a fall cool-down creates a second stillwater window with comfortable temps and good color in the valley.

Lake Character

All three lakes fish like classic stillwaters: drop-offs, weed beds, and shoreline structure matter more than current. We read wind lanes, light, and depth instead of riffles and seams. It is a useful change of pace for river anglers and a good classroom for learning how trout behave in still water.

Story, Burns, Merrell & Day Style

Story Lake

Story Lake is our most reliable private stillwater. Strong trout, a quiet setting, and plenty of room to cast make it a great place to learn or to slow down and focus on detail. It is close enough to Livingston and Paradise Valley to fit neatly into most itineraries.

Burns Lake

Burns Lake has its own mix of depth, structure, and shoreline. Depending on the day, we may fish from the boat, from anchored positions, or along select banks. It is a natural partner to a Yellowstone or spring creek day for anglers who want to see different styles of water in one trip.

Merrell Lake (Limited Access)

Merrell Lake, in the Tom Miner Basin, is a larger private lake with limited, seasonal access. When the window is right, it can offer excellent fishing for strong trout in a dramatic setting. Because access is restricted and timing matters, we treat Merrell as a special add-on rather than an everyday option.

Beginners

Private lakes are a good classroom for beginners. With no current and plenty of space, we can focus on casting, hook sets, and basic stillwater tactics at a relaxed pace. It is a nice option for mixed groups and families.

Intermediate Anglers

Intermediates can use private lakes to sharpen casting and presentation before or after river days. Longer leaders, subtle retrieves, and attention to wind and light all transfer well to spring creeks and freestones.

Advanced Anglers

Advanced anglers often treat private lakes as a technical stillwater challenge or a deliberate change of pace from rivers. It is a chance to work on reading structure, pacing your day, and making deliberate shots instead of covering miles of current.

Quiet Water, Strong Trout

Private lakes are not about chasing a big-name destination. They are about quiet water, steady opportunities, and a different way to learn. For many guests, a private lake day becomes a favorite part of the trip because it feels calm, focused, and different from the rivers.

Used in the right season, Story, Burns, and Merrell add depth to a Southwest Montana plan and create a nice balance with freestone rivers and spring creeks.

Or call or text (406) 224-0456 to talk through Story, Burns, and Merrell and how they might fit into your trip.