Cliff Lake is Wade Lake's sister, just over the ridge — another deep, rich limestone lake, with big wild rainbows and browns and a population of grayling thrown in for good measure. It's quiet, technical stillwater fishing in country pretty enough to make you forget to cast. Cover the drop-offs and the weed edges, and don't underestimate a chironomid hung dead-still under an indicator; it's about as deadly as anything here.
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
45% confidence — limited data
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
SW 14 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
18°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
1016 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for brown trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
No strong hatch signals at the moment — general searching tactics should work best. The ripple is helpful — fish should move onto the feed and a slow-drifted team or single wet will cover water well.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
5 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- Temperature (moderate) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
About this water
Cliff Lake, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedCliff Lake · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
Cliff Lake is Wade Lake's sister, just over the ridge — another deep, rich limestone lake, with big wild rainbows and browns and a population of grayling thrown in for good measure. It's quiet, technical stillwater fishing in country pretty enough to make you forget to cast. Cover the drop-offs and the weed edges, and don't underestimate a chironomid hung dead-still under an indicator; it's about as deadly as anything here.
- Lake
- Limestone
Cliff Lake · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Cliff Lake · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- TroutThird Saturday of May → Last day of November
Cliff Lake · permits
Good to know
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Montana stillwater regulations — check FWP.
Cliff Lake
Terrain map
Cliff Lake is Wade Lake's sister, just over the ridge — another deep, rich limestone lake, with big wild rainbows and browns and a population of grayling thrown in for good measure.
Species
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
45% confidence — limited data
Conditions
Wind
SW 14 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
18°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
1016 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
77%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp100%
A good match for this venue — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
No strong hatch signals at the moment — general searching tactics should work best. The ripple is helpful — fish should move onto the feed and a slow-drifted team or single wet will cover water well.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Why this score
- Temperature (moderate) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Montana stillwater regulations — check FWP.
Directions
About this water
Cliff Lake is Wade Lake's sister, just over the ridge — another deep, rich limestone lake, with big wild rainbows and browns and a population of grayling thrown in for good measure. It's quiet, technical stillwater fishing in country pretty enough to make you forget to cast. Cover the drop-offs and the weed edges, and don't underestimate a chironomid hung dead-still under an indicator; it's about as deadly as anything here.
- Lake
- Limestone
Seasons & zones
- TroutThird Saturday of May → Last day of November
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Cliff Lake is Wade Lake's sister, just over the ridge — another deep, rich limestone lake, with big wild rainbows and browns and a population of grayling thrown in for good measure. It's quiet, technical stillwater fishing in country pretty enough to make you forget to cast. Cover the drop-offs and the weed edges, and don't underestimate a chironomid hung dead-still under an indicator; it's about as deadly as anything here.
Fishing better nearby · 5