Land ownership along the rest of the river includes Yellowstone National Park and private lands. The hours for Earthquake Lake Visitor Center are 10 am to 6 pm seven days a week. Usually the area below the lake is avoided, except by the most expert paddlers. This is because there are many sharp rocks coming from the rockslide that formed the lake. Those with motorboats need to pay attention for submerged, standing timber that can easily destroy a prop. For years, Ive heard about some of the large trout that lurk in Quake Lake. Give us a follow if you want to be kept up to date about whats happening! Bank fishing here is easy, and a boat may not be required, but wind can be an issue so prepare for sudden weather changes and plan accordingly. As you can see from the pictures below, you are in for some fun. The Army Corps of Engineers, in a race against time, blasted a channel through the landslide, allowing the Madison River to resume its flows before a catastrophic flood would have happened if the newly formed lake had crested over the landslide. Bavaria - Lake Chiemsee; By Anna under CC BY-SA 2.0. Quake Lake is six miles long and over 180 feet deep. Give us a follow if you want to be kept up to date about whats happening! Construction for this center completed in 1967, and it stands as a shrine to the fateful events of that day in 1959. The landslide traveled down the side of the mountain at about 100 miles per hour, and resulted in the fatality of 28 campers in that section. To fish this lake in the fall, a good craft is almost a necessity. P.O. The best time to fish this lake is from late spring to early summer. Within the Gallatin, several short sections of the upper Madison River are located above and below Hebgen Lake, and also downstream of Earthquake Lake. Camping For anglers not fishing from a boat, there are numerous access points and pull-offs along the road. Fishing Quake Lake is something I can now check off my bucket list. Rugged mountains surround about a dozen miles of shoreline, and the lake has standing timber in the water most everywhere. Max Depth: 40 feet Anglers willing to do a bit of walking/hiking can find unique and productive places to fish from the bank. See Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks fishing regulations or check their web site at FISHMT for additional fishing regulation information. It offers decent fly fishing for brown and rainbow trout. Angling from shore can be productive, but due to steep, rocky banks, a small boat or canoe is recommend for mobility and increased opportunities. Lest my previous point give the impression that Im a master fly fisher, I will quickly confess that I missed my share of fish on Quake Lake that day. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'aa_fishing_com-leader-1','ezslot_10',131,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aa_fishing_com-leader-1-0'); Click here for a Montana Fishing License. The fishing is consistent with Hebgen Lake and it . At one point, one of us asked our guide: What are we doing wrong?, Our guide, who freely speaks his mind and offers blunt criticism when appropriate, replied: Nothing. . Beaver Creek Boat Launch Ramp Earthquake Lake Quake Lake outlet to McAtee Bridge is open the third Saturday in May through the end of February. It's scenic setting is perfect . A boat launch ramp and campgrounds are open to the public. The result of the quake is that twenty-eight people died from the landslide and five more died from the resulting flood. Earthquake Lake Montana is accessible all year. Created by an earthquake in 1959, Earthquake Lake is a 600-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, about 25 miles northwest of West Yellowstone. Overall, panfish abundance is limited, due to lack of perennial beds of aquatic vegetation and the lower fertility of the lake. Tiger Trout), Protected Nongame Fish including Pacific Lamprey, All Other Fish Species includes bullfrogs and crayfish, Harvest allowed during any open season unless otherwise noted under Special Rules - if gear or bait restrictions are listed, they must be followed when fishing for Brook Trout, Spring and summer Chinook Salmon seasons and limits are set by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission and issued in separate brochures, Seasons and limits for fall Chinook Salmon and Coho Salmon can be found, Sockeye Salmon limit is 0 and fishing for or targeting Sockeye Salmon is illegal, Fishing for or targeting salmon is prohibited unless a salmon season is specifically opened for that water, Defined as Rainbow Trout longer than twenty (20) inches in length in the Salmon River drainage (excluding the Lemhi and Pahsimeroi rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and ponds), Fishing for or targeting steelhead is prohibited unless a steelhead season is specifically opened for that water (see, Sturgeon must not be removed from the water and must be released upon landing, Use of a sliding swivel device to secure a weight, and a lighter test line to secure weight to sliding swivel device is required. I want to do trout fishing but not fly, so how long do I have my leader from the bobber? Box 520 West Yellowstone, MT 59758 (406) 823-6961 At a Glance General Information Directions: 8 mi N of West Yellowstone on US 191, 16 mi W on US 287 Accessibility: Open from Memorial Day - September 10 Weather dependant Parking: Largest parking Spurs: 12' x 55' & 22' x 30' Recreation Map Map showing recreational areas. However, in the autumn it can be a great place to chase trout, although it may lack some of the scenic qualities of the aforementioned stillwaters. You can catch brown trout, stocked yearly, and good-sized rainbow trout. Horse Riding Pack & Fishing Trips near Yellowstone, A massive earthquake formed Quake Lake in 1959, Learn all about the seismic activity of the region by dropping by the Earthquake Lake Visitor Center, Experience the lake by kayaking around it, Catch some brown or rainbow trout in Quake Lake. Boat Rental: NO 406 823-6961. The South Fork of the Madison River is also a major tributary lying entirely within National Forest Systems lands. The famous salmon fly hatch usually occurs in this section of the Madison River between Ennis and Earthquake Lake during the month of July. Quake Lake Outfitters would like to offer you our guided crappie fishing. Excellent staffExcellent hunts, well organized team. Again, the lake is very weather-dependent, but if youre planning a Madison River fly fishing trip in late summer, this is a great add-on. Today fishermen enjoy fishing by boat or along the shores of the lake. United States government. I saw it feeding while we were hunting for larger fish in a couple of feeding lanes. Additionally, the north shore of Hebgen Lake, which lies just upstream, dropped an amazing 19 feet, cracking Hebgen Dam in four places and creating massive waves on the lake that spilled over the dam and raced downstream in a massive flood. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/custergallatin/recreation/fishing/?cid=stelprdb5127196, Beartooth R.D. Ice fishing for trout is permitted. Just north of the Montana-Idaho border, Quake Lake is about 24 miles from West Yellowstone, Montana, on Highway 287. on official, secure websites. 27 Top Tourist Attractions in Germany. The highway follows the lake and provides views of the effects of the massive earthquake and landslide. They will try to break you off on the many trees and downed timber present in the lake. The lake is situated between the Slide and the Between-the-Lakes section of the Madison River. Over sixty years later, Quake is now a popular place for anglers to target healthy populations of trout that average between 17-19 inches. The shoreline is virtually undeveloped and consists primarily of mowed fields with some wooded areas. Since 1995, we've built travel guides that promote great outdoor destinations. In addition to the twenty-eight individuals killed by the landslide, five more perished in the flooding that immediately followed. Northwest of West Yellowstone, Quake Lake is six miles (10 km) in length with a maximum depth of 125 feet (38 . Due to the numerous trees submerged, fish find great cover and thus the lake offers decent fly-fishing. Trout anglers do very well from shore with egg sacks on the north end of the lake by Kim's Marina. ) or https:// means you've safely Tackle losses are common among the sunken forests of this lake. Quake Lake Fly Fishing Montana's Quake Lake can most likely be best described in one word: eerie. Copyright 2002 - 2022 Big Sky Fishing.Com, Camping around Quake Lake | Custer National Forest, Earthquake Lake Visitor Center Information. Connect with travelers planning a visit to West Yellowstone Montana. Bass anglers have success with spinner baits, surface plugs, plastic worms, and crank baits, as well as live bait such as crayfish or worms. This picturesque setting is ideal for pitching a tent and hanging out for a few days. Perhaps the final line in Norman Macleans novella, A River Runs Through It, suffers from overuse. The stretch of the Madison River between Hebgen Lake and Earthquake Lake has good access along Highway 287 and offers fishable water when other streams and rivers are high and turbid. To fish inside Yellowstone Park, a separate National Park fishing license is required and can be obtained from the Park Service or local vendors in West Yellowstone or Gardiner. Rainbow and brown trout are the preferred game fish species in this body of water, and healthy specimens of each can be taken on a variety of tackle. The South Fork Madison is accessible from Forest Road 291 and 478 via Highway 20 and the main stem Madison is readily accessible off Highways 191 and 287. As the rapids decline, the magic begins. It reminded me how important it is to arrive early if you want your choice of places to fish. Quake Lake (officially Earthquake Lake) is a lake in the western United States, on the Madison River in southwestern Montana. The water pours over the slide dam of Quake Lake, and down a long, narrow chute into the Slide Inn Run providing a great stretch to fish for large trout. County & Town: Cattaraugus County, Town of Cold Spring. Thirty-three people died in the slide and subsequent flooding. Hebgen Dam to Quake Lake is open the entire year. Tip: The trails of Cabin Creek and Quake Lake are easy and not very long - a good way to stretch your legs before you hop back into the car on your way to more adventures. Quake Lake Outfitters . Later in the morning, we could see a half dozen other drift boats in the surrounding waters. The barren spot on the mountain is where the landslide happened that blocked the Madison River, thus allowing the formation of Quake Lake. Quake Lake measures six miles long and about a third of a mile wide. Due to the numerous trees submerged, fish find great cover and thus the lake offers decent fly-fishing. Another personal favorite of mine is Canyon Ferryit's one of the most popular bodies of water in the region. The Quake Lake Visitor Center features overlooks of the slide area and the six-mile long, 190-foot-deep lake it created, as well as educational displays about earthquakes, native wildlife, and other information about the region. All rights reserved. The least fishing pressure happens during the off-season and on weekdays. Home; Destinations. I fished Quake Lake near Yellowstone National Park. Call the visitor's center at (406) 682-7620. 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