Fishing at Cliff Lake, Madison County, Montana

• Overview

  Madison County in Montana is where Cliff Lake sits. It stands 8,921 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 14 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Whitehall lies 27 miles from the water. For a city, Billings is 168 miles off. Others worth noting: 0.4 miles out stands Mine Lake, McKelvey Lake at 0.4 miles, 1 mile out stands Kid Lake, Twin Lakes at 1.4 miles and 2.6 miles out stands Upper Branham Lake. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Cliff Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Madison County: rainbow trout, brown trout, mountain whitefish and brook trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The shape of Cliff Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 53°F and January near 17°F on the long-run figures. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late May. Climate averages put the opening at about late May and the closing near early November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Anyone fishing Cliff Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Mine Lake, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Treat access at Cliff Lake as something to verify.