Drift Boat Launching Points For Anglers At Hebgen Lake

Hebgen Lake is a renowned spot for fishing, with rainbow trout and brown trout averaging 17-19 inches in length. The lake is located between the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park and the Madison Valley to the north. The best fishing spots are Denny Creek Road and the Lonesomehurst Campground, where you can launch your vessel and camp. The marina at Hebgen Lake offers fishing boats for rent, as well as fuel docks and launch ramps. For those looking for a more intimate experience, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboats are also available for rent. The lake is also suitable for sailing and jet skiing.

Hebgen Lake's trout fishing

Hebgen Lake is a renowned spot for trout fishing, with rainbow trout and brown trout averaging 17 to 19 inches in length. The lake is situated between the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park and the Madison Valley, and its waters are kept cool by the Hebgen Dam, making it an ideal habitat for trout. The best time for trout fishing at Hebgen Lake is during the summer months of July, August, and September, when the lake is known for its dry fly fishing. This is when you'll experience the "Gulper" fishing that Hebgen Lake is famous for—large trout feeding on the surface for Callibaetis, Tricos, and Spruce Moths.

To access the lake with your drift boat, you can launch from the Lonesomehurst Campground on the south side of the lake. To get there, drive past Big Sky on Highway 191 until you reach the Yellowstone Plateau. Then continue on Highway 191 into West Yellowstone and head west out of the town on Highway 20 to Denny Creek Road. Make a right turn there and head towards the Lonesomehurst Campground.

If you're looking for a more intimate fishing experience, you can rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboat from the Hebgen Lake marina. They also offer fishing boats for rent, which are motor-powered and come equipped with gas, paddles, cushions, and life vests. The marina provides boat slips, a fuel dock, and a launch ramp, all available at daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal rates.

For those who enjoy a challenge, Hebgen Lake is an excellent choice. Its fishing can be demanding, but the rewards are well worth it. The key to success is mastering the longer and more accurate casts needed for "Gulper" fishing. The trout here are known for making a gulping sound as they feed on the abundant insects, creating a unique and exciting fishing experience.

In addition to the trout, Hebgen Lake is also home to cutthroat trout, providing a diverse fishing experience. The lake offers a serene and meditative setting for anglers, with its calming waters and gentle flows. The surrounding nature and wildlife, including mountain goats, bears, and eagles, further enhance the fishing experience.

Hebgen Lake marina rentals

Hebgen Lake is a reservoir on the Madison River in Montana, USA, and is a popular destination for fishing and watersports. There are several marinas around the lake that offer boat rentals and other services. Here is some information about marina rentals on Hebgen Lake:

Kirkwood Marina

Kirkwood Marina is located on the north shore of Hebgen Lake and provides a wide range of water activities, including fishing, waterskiing, tubing, sailing, kayaking, sightseeing and birding. They offer daily and seasonal rentals of pontoon boats, fishing boats, stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), and kayaks. The marina also provides boat slips and dry dock spaces for those who bring their own boats.

Yellowstone Holiday Marina

The marina at Yellowstone Holiday provides a convenient launching point for various recreational activities on the lake. They rent powered fishing boats, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, and a 22-foot pontoon boat. The marina also offers boat slips, a fuel dock, and a launch ramp. Additionally, visitors can purchase fishing supplies and licenses at the campground's general store.

West Yellowstone Marina

West Yellowstone Marina, located on Hebgen Lake, offers boating, rentals, and fishing fun. While there is limited information on their website, they can be contacted by phone for more details on their services and rentals.

Hebgen Lake Marina

The Hebgen Lake marina rents boat slips, a fuel dock, and a launch ramp at daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal rates. They may also offer other boat rentals, but specific information is not available.

Fishing guides and supplies

Hebgen Lake is a popular destination for fishing and boating in Montana. The lake is renowned for its rainbow trout and brown trout, with the average catch ranging from 14 to 19 inches in length. The best time for fishing is during the summer months of July, August, and September, when the lake is known for its dry fly fishing. The lake is also stocked with cutthroat trout.

If you're planning to fish at Hebgen Lake, you can purchase or rent fishing supplies from several marinas and campgrounds in the area. The Hebgen Lake marina offers fishing boats for rent, complete with gas, paddles, cushions, and life vests. You can also obtain fish bait, fishing supplies, and a fishing license from the campground's general store. Additionally, there are several fishing guides available for hire in the area who can assist you with your technical angling skills and help you find the best fishing locations. These guides often use aluminium, modified "V"-haul Jon boats with outboard motors to explore the lake and seek out rising fish.

For those seeking a more intimate experience on the water, renting a kayak, canoe, or paddleboat is a great option. Hebgen Lake Marinas provide docks and a wide range of boating and fishing supplies for purchase or rent. It's worth noting that due to its location on a high plateau, Hebgen Lake can be windy at times, so it's recommended to avoid using float tubes as they can become dangerous in unprotected sections of the lake.

The lake is easily accessible and offers excellent scenery, with the nearby national forest and breathtaking mountain views. It is located just north of the Idaho border, about a 15-minute drive north of West Yellowstone and 3 miles east of Yellowstone National Park. Several roads lead to the south side of the lake, where numerous campgrounds can be found.

Camping and boating options

Hebgen Lake, located between the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park and the Madison Valley, is a great camping and boating destination. The lake is known for its rainbow trout and brown trout, which can be caught while fly fishing. The Hebgen Lake marina offers boat slips, a fuel dock, and a launch ramp for rent at daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal rates. You can also rent fishing boats, kayaks, canoes, or paddle boats. If you have your own boat, you can launch it at the Lonesomehurst Campground, where you can also camp.

For those who want to explore the lake by sailboat, Hebgen Lake's 15-mile length provides a delightful sailing option. Fishing enthusiasts can rent a motor-powered fishing boat or bring their own boat and purchase fish bait, fishing supplies, and a fishing license at the campground's general store. The lake is stocked with cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout, and fishing guides are available for hire to help improve your technical skills or find the best fishing locations.

There are several campgrounds around Hebgen Lake, including Beaver Creek Campground, Cabin Creek Campground, Baker's Hole Campground, Cherry Creek Campground, Lonesomehurst Campground, and Rainbow Point Campground. These campgrounds offer beautiful scenery and easy access to the lake for boating and fishing activities.

The nearby Madison River is also a popular destination for drift boat enthusiasts, offering diverse fishing opportunities throughout the year. The river flows northwest from Yellowstone National Park into Hebgen Lake and is known for its large browns and rainbows, especially during the fall spawning run. "Between The Lakes" is a short length of the river open for fishing year-round, providing a great spot to try your luck.

Hebgen Lake's location and history

Hebgen Lake is a man-made lake located in Gallatin County, in the southwest of Montana, just off Highways 87 and 287. It is approximately 15 miles long and 4 miles wide, and is a popular vacation and fishing spot, known as the premier stillwater fishing lake in Montana. Hebgen Lake is around 20 minutes west of West Yellowstone and is close to Yellowstone National Park. The lake is fed by the Madison River, which flows through the reservoir, and other tributaries including the South Fork Madison River, Duck Creek, Grayling Creek, and Red Canyon Creek. The lake is retained by an earth-fill dam, the Hebgen Dam, which was built in 1914 by the Montana Power Company. The dam is 85 feet tall and 721 feet in length and is used to store and regulate water for other downstream reservoirs and hydroelectric power plants.

Hebgen Lake is well known for the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake, which occurred on 17 August 1959 and had a magnitude of 7.1 to 7.5. The earthquake caused damage to the dam and the surrounding area, including summer houses, roadways, and bridges. The most significant impact of the earthquake was the creation of Quake Lake, formed when a huge avalanche of rock, soil, and trees blocked the Madison River, just downstream from Hebgen Dam. The lake is a popular recreational area, offering activities such as camping, fishing, boating, and hiking. Campgrounds in the area include Rainbow Point, the largest campground on the lake, and Cherry Creek.

Frequently asked questions