Usually the area below the lake is avoided, except by the most expert paddlers. The fish life in Quake Lake is both abundant and varied; in one day you may catch brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout along with whitefish and chubs. Earthquake Lake Montana is accessible all year. The lake is 66 m deep, and the shoreline is 15 km long. Our clients have an opportunity to hunt with our coaches individually . Quake Lake was formed when an earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter Scale rocked this part of Montana on August 17th, 1959. The lake is situated between the "Slide" and the "Between-the-Lakes" section of the Madison River. Highly photographed lake at the base of the Teton Mountains. About On August 17, 1959 an earthquake in the Madison Canyon River Area, near West Yellowstone, formed Quake Lake. Marina: NO Autumn angling on this lake can be good from shore, float tube, or other non-motorized craft; however, a worthy powerboat is recommended for those looking to venture further from shore, as sudden storms with high winds are common in this area. Quake Lake Fly Fishing Montana's Quake Lake can most likely be best described in one word: eerie. A unique fishing opportunity exists in the short section of the Madison River upstream of Hebgen Lake during the fall, when brown trout migrate upstream to spawn. Outside, visitors can take a road tour of the site, marveling at the enormity of some of the boulders hurled about by the slide one of which is adorned with a plaque memorializing those who died in the incident and catching glimpses of the ghost village mostly submerged by the rising waters. Quake Lake serves as a six-mile-long reminder of the forces of nature that lurk beneath the region. 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. AKA: Quake Lake What to fish for. 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. The Madison River once flowed through this section until August 17th of 1959. The lake behind it, which backs up almost to Hebgen Lake, stretches 6 miles long and reaches depths of 190 feet. This makes the line go limp and then fall gently to the surface. There is a sign on one of the pullouts that overlook Quake Lake that describes this event as The Night of Terror. There are still trees that line the lake on both sides that stick out from the water. Since 1995, we've built travel guides that promote great outdoor destinations. Quaker Lake is a 268 acre man-made lake located in Allegany State Park. Tackle options in Quake are similar to those in Hebgen, but bring several spare lures, hooks, and flies. Quake Lake is six miles long and over 180 feet deep. Quake Lake Outfitters welcomes all duck-enthusiasts and offers a wide range of services. Give us a follow if you want to be kept up to date about whats happening! Fishing for cutthroat trout and brown trout at Earthquake Lake in Montana. I saw it feeding while we were hunting for larger fish in a couple of feeding lanes. The South Fork of the Madison River can be characterized as a classic, low gradient, pool/riffle meandering stream. Within the Gallatin, several short sections of the upper Madison River are located above and below Hebgen Lake, and also downstream of Earthquake Lake. . Date Species Quantity General Size; 2022/10/13: Rainbow Trout: 298: Less than 6 inches Due to the numerous trees submerged, fish find great cover and thus the lake offers decent fly-fishing. Map Information P.O. Area: 268 acres The best fishing on Quake Lake occurs in late spring and early summer, and again later in the summer and fall. Image Source. Stillwaters tend to inspire reflection: waiting for a bump on a drowning nightcrawler; chucking Daredevils followed by the steady rhythm of the undulating spinning reel; or stripping streamers after long-metered casts lake fishing is an ideal way to contemplate the past summers adventures and recharge the soul for the coming winter. You can catch brown trout, stocked yearly, and good-sized rainbow trout. When the dust settled, a new geologic wonder lay ready to be explored and studied by generations of geologists and tourists. If youre looking to target or have a shot at a trophy-sized fish on a dry fly, then Quake Lake is a great place to do it. Each river or lake has its own mystique. 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. Anglers target northern pike while ice fishing and have good success. Flathead River Fly Fishing I expected the strike and set the hook at the right time. The barren spot on the mountain is where the landslide happened that blocked the Madison River, thus allowing the formation of Quake Lake. In mid-August, anglers can target rising trout cruising the bank with tricos, hoppers, and spruce moth patterns. Later in the summer and into the fall is also great fishing. | Site Maps, About Us, Advertising, Terms & Contact Us |. Here are a few takeaways reminders or lessons from that memorable day. Nelsons Spring Creek Fly Fishing. connected to the .gov website. Quake Lake in Custer County is 24.3 acres. Kayaks are also popular on Quake Lake MT. Camping Access: In addition to the twenty-eight individuals killed by the landslide, five more perished in the flooding that immediately followed. Site Maps, About Us, Advertising, Terms & Contact Us. Access to the lake is excellent. The first fish I caught in the morning was a 17-inch rainbow. Earthquake Lake, more commonly shortened to Quake Lake, is one of the few lakes to have been created this way in recent times. fishing isn't allowed, but a small commercial fishery provides ample smoked fish which are local delicacies. The possession limit is 3-times the daily bag limit after the second day of the season. Fishing for cutthroat trout and brown trout at Earthquake Lake in Montana. Gradient is less steep near Forest Boundary. Boating Use our QR code to create a contact in your phone to get ahold of us easier! We're the Ones That Can Make Your Next Trip Great. 27 Top Tourist Attractions in Germany. 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. Bait & Tackle: NEARBY Not to mention every back issue ofOutside Bozemanat your fingertips you can search the site by topic, view articles by specific authors, or scroll through each issue article by article. Yellow perch were highly abundant in 2013, consisting mostly of young, small fish. Today, the six-mile lake offers fishing and boating, and the Quake Lake Visitors Center, open 10am to 5pm daily from Memorial Day through mid-September. Area campgrounds include Bakers Hole, Beaver Creek, Cabin Creek, Cherry Creek, Lonesomehurst, and Rainbow Point. In addition to the geology lesson, 38,000-acre Quake Lake offers good rainbow and brown trout fishing, boating and canoeing, and, as with most places in this part of the state of Montana, scenic beauty. ) or https:// means you've safely All rights reserved. Are you looking for a great way to gel your team? 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. Crawlers tipped with flavored marshmallows can work wonders, as will leech and crayfish patterns, and small to medium spinners and spoons. Panfish: Yellow perch and bluegill are the lake's dominant panfish, with some pumpkinseed, rock bass and brown bullhead as well. Winds can occasionally be a problem on the lake, and combined with a current and lots of hidden obstructions, Quake Lake poses challenges for boaters. Tackle losses are common among the sunken forests of this lake. The short reach of the Madison River below Earthquake Lake is dominated by a very high gradient section created by the 1959 Madison Slide, which limits fishing. Quake Lake is accessible year-round. Its hard to describe the eerie beauty of Quake Lake at dawn, with patches of fog on the water, clouds of Midges and Tricos fluttering in the air, and the ghost-like remains of tall trees poking up through the waters surface. In late fall, brown trout move from Quake Lake to the Between-the-Lakes section of the Madison River. A massive earthquake, measured at 7.5 on the Richter scale, shook loose a huge . Beaver Creek Boat Launch Ramp Max Depth: 40 feet A 1959 earthquake split off a chunk of mountain, and the 80-million ton landslide into Montana's Madison River created a natural dam. On this day, a terrible earthquake occurred in the area, resulting in a massive rock slide that buried twenty-eight people camping on the Madison River that night in over 80 million tons of rubble. 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. Our day was the former type. Thats simply how fly fishing worksor doesnt work. The jumble of rocks that slid from the mountain, the scars the slide left, and the trunks of trees killed by the rising flood waters tell their own story. There is an abundance of Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Mountain Whitefish. Each of these stretches of river can provide a unique angling opportunity. Copyright 2002 - 2022 Big Sky Fishing.Com, Camping around Quake Lake | Custer National Forest, Earthquake Lake Visitor Center Information. Boat Rental: NO Trout: Quaker Lake is stocked every spring with yearling brown trout and two-year-old brown trout. Harrison LakeNot unlike Ennis Lake, Harrison Lake (aka, Willow Creek Reservoir) receives more than its fair share of power-craft usage during summer months. Perch are slow growing in Quaker, but are expected to provide improving fishing opportunities in the near future. Fishing Quake Lake is something I can now check off my bucket list. Perhaps the final line in Norman Macleans novella, A River Runs Through It, suffers from overuse. Below Quake Lake is a section of aggressive water that falls under the general Montana fishing Regulations with the season starting on the 3rd Saturday of May and runs through February. The lake is located 600 m above sea level. Plenty of wade fishing and the river is easily accessible. 33 people died in the landslide and subsequent flooding, and $11 million in damage was sustained. Quake Lake is sometimes forgotten, but it can be an excellent fishery. The hours for Earthquake Lake Visitor Center are 10 am to 6 pm seven days a week. During the height of run-off, the lake turns cloudy, severely limiting fly fishing opportunities. Whitewater rafting The South Fork of the Madison is open June 15 through November 30. The South Fork also supports a large brown trout spawning run during the fall and is a primary source for brown trout recruitment to Hebgen Lake. Connect with travelers planning a visit to Big Sky Montana. Sometimes its not your fault if youre not catching fish.. Bass anglers have success with spinner baits, surface plugs, plastic worms, and crank baits, as well as live bait such as crayfish or worms. That describes this event as the Night of Terror from Quake Lake Outfitters welcomes all duck-enthusiasts offers... Young, small fish & # x27 ; re the Ones that can Make your Next Trip.. Day of the Teton Mountains above sea level moth patterns during the height of run-off, the Lake is m! Lay ready to be explored and studied by generations of geologists and tourists is 15 km long by landslide. 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