Chaffin Lake in Ravalli County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  This water sits in Ravalli County, Montana. The water sits 7,510 feet up. At roughly 8 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. 23 miles away sits Hamilton, the nearest town. Stevensville lies 41 miles off, Salmon another 57 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it. It gives up fish to patience rather than to gear.

• Where to Fish on Chaffin Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Ravalli County records list rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and brook trout among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Fish Chaffin Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 53°F, while December sits near 17°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid May. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid May in spring and again near early November in autumn. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Chaffin Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Tamarack Lake, 0.6 miles out. Confirm access to Chaffin Lake locally before you travel.