Duffy Lake near Lolo: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Duffy Lake falls in Ravalli County, part of Montana. The water sits 7,346 feet up. It covers about 15 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The town to know is Lolo, 12 miles out. The big place round here is Spokane, 165 miles distant. Other water within reach: Holloway Lake within 0.5 miles, Mills Lake some 0.5 miles off, Peterson Lake within 1.2 miles, South One Horse Lake some 1.7 miles off and Reed Lake within 2.2 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Duffy Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Ravalli County records list rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout and brown trout among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Duffy Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 55°F, with December the cold end at about 18°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid May. Ice usually gives way near mid May, and forms again about mid November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. At Duffy Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Holloway Lake is 0.5 miles distant. For Duffy Lake in particular, ask before you travel.