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Ennis Lake

Type
Lake or reservoir, Montana (West)
Designation
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)
USGS gauges
None on it; nearest shown
Guides
2 name it
Shops
6 nearby

Today on Ennis Lake

Reading the gauge…

Regulations & access Guides & shops

Ennis Lake is a lake or reservoir in Montana, listed as Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey) by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

More about Ennis Lake

The nearest USGS gauge on the same stream system is shown, labelled; Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks lists 9 species, including arctic grayling, brook trout and brown trout. 14 guides and 6 shops nearby are listed here; the nearest destination hub is Ennis & the Madison Valley.

Updated · Sources: Montana's most-fished waters (FWP statewide angling pressure estimates, 2023 license year, top 250 by state rank), FISHMT :: Waterbody Details, USGS Water Data

Ennis Lake partly iced over in early spring, with the snow-covered Madison Range across the water
Photo credit

Ennis Lake, Montana, in March, with the Madison Range beyond. Photo: Gloria Cabada-Leman, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

Where it is

Ennis Lake is a lake or reservoir in Montana. Our destination hub Ennis & the Madison Valley is 6 mi away in a straight line and lists it among its waters.

Nearest gauge (not on this water)
Reading the gauges…

Check any river's flow

Follow Ennis Lake for flow alerts

Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.

Follow this water

Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.

Where to fish

About this

Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.

Nothing on this page grants or implies access.

Montana FWP fishing access sites

Ennis Lake on the map

About this

Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles

Map of Ennis Lake: gauges, shops and guides

RestroomsAccess map

Map of Ennis Lake with 2 USGS gauges, and shops and guides with an exact address within 40 miles.

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles

Restrooms near Ennis Lake

Restrooms near Ennis Lake

Restrooms within 2 miles of Ennis Lake in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.

No restroom mapped within 2 mi yet — add one you know.

Campgrounds, fishing access sites and boat ramps often have one that isn't on the map yet.

Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.

More water near Ennis Lake

  • The Madison River running green through a rocky channel below Earthquake Lake, with forested slopes aboveAmong the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)
    Photo credit

    The Madison River flowing out of Earthquake Lake, Custer Gallatin National Forest. Photo: USDA Forest Service, Northern Region, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Madison River

    Montana · about 14 mi

    Rainbow, brown & brook trout

  • The upper Ruby River tumbling over stones through sagebrush hills toward distant mountainsAmong the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)
    Photo credit

    The upper Ruby River, Beaverhead County, Montana. Photo: Mike Cline, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Ruby River

    Montana · about 32 mi

    Rainbow, brown & brook trout

  • The Big Hole River in October, with golden cottonwoods on the banks and mountains in the distanceAmong the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)
    Photo credit

    The Big Hole River near Twin Bridges, Montana, in October. Photo: Mike Cline, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Big Hole River

    Montana · about 50 mi

    Rainbow, brown & brook trout

  • The Beaverhead River meeting the Ruby River beside a gravel bar under a wide sky near Twin BridgesAmong the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)
    Photo credit

    The confluence of the Ruby and Beaverhead rivers near Twin Bridges, Montana. Photo: Mike Cline, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Beaverhead River

    Montana · about 56 mi

    Rainbow, brown & brook trout

  • Marshy shallows at the edge of Henrys Lake, with the Henrys Lake Mountains behindAmong the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Willow Creek Reservoir
    Photo credit

    Henrys Lake from Henrys Lake State Park, Idaho. Photo: James Postema, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Willow Creek Reservoir.

    Willow Creek Reservoir

    Montana · about 18 mi

  • Lake Billy Chinook filling a basalt canyon, with layered rimrock cliffs along the waterAmong the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Ruby River Reservoir
    Photo credit

    Lake Billy Chinook, Oregon. Photo: icetsarina, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Ruby River Reservoir.

    Ruby River Reservoir

    Montana · about 26 mi

Regulations

About this

Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.

Official designation: Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)

Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under trout.

The water on the map

About this

Measured from the NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies) (U.S. Geological Survey, read 2026-11-04) for this water’s own mapped feature. Rounded figures; they describe the channel, not today’s conditions.

Surface area
3,760 acres
Watershed
Madison

Guides and shops near Ennis Lake

About this

Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.

2 guides name it on their website

Guides

All Montana guides

6 shops nearby

All Montana shops

How these are chosen

Guides whose own website names this water come first, nearest first. After them, fly-focused guides within 40 miles whose website does not name it. Distances are straight-line.

Shops: fly shops first. A distance is shown when the shop’s website gives its location (within 60 miles); otherwise the shop is in one of the towns within 25 miles of the water.

Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories.

Species and hatches

About this

The species the agency lists here; presence varies by reach and season.

Listed by the state agency

  • Longnose Sucker
  • Mottled Sculpin
  • Mountain Whitefish
  • Utah Chub
  • White Sucker

When the bugs come off

Regional hatch months: Northern Rockies
About this chart

5 hatches charted for the region, not measured on this water. From Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

  1. January: no charted hatch
  2. February: no charted hatch
  3. March: no charted hatch
  4. April: no charted hatch
  5. May: 3 charted hatches
  6. June: 2 charted hatches
  7. July: 2 charted hatches
  8. August: 1 charted hatch
  9. September: 1 charted hatch
  10. October: no charted hatch
  11. November: no charted hatch
  12. December: no charted hatch

Mother's Day caddis (Grannom) (May) · Salmonfly (May to June) · Salmonfly (May to July) · Salmonfly (July) · Trico (August to September)

Ennis & the Madison Valley

About this

Ennis is the town on the Madison River between Quake Lake and Ennis Lake, with the Ruby, Beaverhead, Big Hole and Jefferson rivers to the west.

Destination hub · 6 mi away in a straight line

Open the hubPlan a trip here

Fish these abroad

About this

Matched on the fish the agencies list for both waters first, then the same water type, an official designation or flagship listing on both, and a similar mapped size where USGS hydrography covers both.

At most two waters per country. A shared fish is a listing, not a promise: presence varies by reach and season.

Like the Ennis Lake? Same fish, overseas.

  • Penstock Lagoon's open water below a shoreline of tall eucalyptsFlagship water
    Photo credit

    Penstock Lagoon, Central Highlands, Tasmania. Photo: Mike Cline, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Penstock Lagoon

    Tasmania, Australia

    Same fish: rainbow & brown trout · also a lake

  • Old timber pilings reflected in the still water of Great Lake, a low wooded shore beyondFlagship water
    Photo credit

    Great Lake, Tasmania. Photo: Peripitus, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Yingina / Great Lake

    Tasmania, Australia

    Same fish: rainbow & brown trout · also a lake

  • Lake Bohinj mirroring autumn mountainsides and cloudLake or reservoir
    Photo credit

    Lake Bohinj in autumn. Photo: Dreamy Pixel, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Bohinjsko jezero

    Gorenjska, Slovenia

    Same fish: rainbow & brown trout · also a lake

  • Lough Corrib's wooded islands and wide water beyond stone-walled fieldsFlagship water
    Photo credit

    Lough Corrib south of Clonbur. Photo: JoachimKohler-HB, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Lough Corrib

    Galway, Ireland

    Same fish: brown trout · also a lake

  • Lake Taupō's blue water framed by yellow kōwhai and bush, hills across the lakeFlagship waterRepresentative photo · not Lake Otamangakau
    Photo credit

    Lake Taupō. Photo: Ériugena, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Lake Otamangakau.

    Lake Otamangakau

    Waikato, New Zealand

    Same fish: rainbow & brown trout · also a lake

  • Lago Nahuel Huapi's blue water and wooded islands below snow-capped Andes, framed by conifersLake or reservoirRepresentative photo · not Lago Aluminé
    Photo credit

    Lago Nahuel Huapi from Llao Llao. Photo: David, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Lago Aluminé.

    Lago Aluminé

    Neuquén, Argentina

    Same fish: rainbow & brown trout · also a lake

Fish it when it's winter here

Southern seasons open while ours close.

  • Lake Tarawera's grey-blue water past a bush-covered point, Mount Tarawera behindFlagship waterRepresentative photo · not Lake Taupō
    Photo credit

    Lake Tarawera with Mount Tarawera beyond. Photo: Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Lake Taupō.

    Lake Taupō

    Waikato, New Zealand

    Season open all year · DOC

  • Arthurs Lake's blue water and low islands beyond a dead tree and highland scrubFlagship waterRepresentative photo · not Penstock Lagoon
    Photo credit

    Arthurs Lake, Tasmania. Photo: Lcham67, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Penstock Lagoon.

    Penstock Lagoon

    Tasmania, Australia

    Season open Aug–May · Inland Fisheries Service

  • The clear turquoise Río Limay flowing past green willows and rock outcropsTailwater
    Photo credit

    The Río Limay, Argentina. Photo: P. Hughes, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Río Limay

    Río Negro, Argentina

    Season open Nov–May · Patagonian fishing regulation

  • The broad blue-green Río Puelo between forested banks, mountains beyondFreestone riverRepresentative photo · not Río Petrohué
    Photo credit

    The Río Puelo at Las Gualas, Cochamó. Photo: Nicolás from seno de reloncaví, Chile, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Río Petrohué.

    Río Petrohué

    Los Lagos, Chile

    Season open Nov–May · SERNAPESCA

  • The Río Simpson running past the edge of Coyhaique under cliffs and hills in AysénLake or reservoirRepresentative photo · not Lago Llanquihue
    Photo credit

    The Río Simpson passing Coyhaique, Aysén. Photo: Manxuc, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Lago Llanquihue.

    Lago Llanquihue

    Los Lagos, Chile

    Season open Nov–May · SERNAPESCA

  • Lago Nahuel Huapi seen from the outlet where the Río Limay begins, Bariloche on the far shore under the AndesLake or reservoirRepresentative photo · not Lago Nahuel Huapi
    Photo credit

    Lago Nahuel Huapi from the source of the Río Limay, with San Carlos de Bariloche beyond. Photo: Fernando Lopez Anido, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Lago Nahuel Huapi.

    Lago Nahuel Huapi

    Río Negro, Argentina

    Season open Oct–May · Patagonian fishing regulation

  • The braided Oreti River across green farmland, mountains on the horizonFlagship waterRepresentative photo · not Mataura River
    Photo credit

    The Oreti River near Lumsden, Southland. Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped, via Wikimedia Commons Not Mataura River.

    Mataura River

    Southland, New Zealand

    Season open Oct–Apr · Fish & Game NZ

  • Bronte Lagoon at dawn under a red and violet sky, a small jetty on the leftFlagship waterRepresentative photo · not Yingina / Great Lake
    Photo credit

    Bronte Lagoon at dawn, Central Highlands, Tasmania. Photo: Guido Rudolph (Chalyptratus08), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Yingina / Great Lake.

    Yingina / Great Lake

    Tasmania, Australia

    Season open all year · Inland Fisheries Service

Gear checklist

About this

A stillwater fly-fishing checklist for lakes and ponds: a 9–10 ft 5–6 weight rod, floating and intermediate lines, chironomids and leeches, and float-tube options, with estimated prices and where to buy.

An angler stands knee-deep in a calm lake with the rod bent, playing a trout

Lakes & stillwater

9′–10′ rod, 5–6 weight, floating + intermediate lines · Rainbow, brook and brown trout in lakes

Open the checklist
Videos for this water (3)

Watch: stillwater trout basics

About this

Chironomids, leeches and where fish hold in a lake.

Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.

  • Catch More Trout in Lakes Using Indicators – Stillwater Fly Fishing TipsEmbedded from YouTube · Fly Fish Food · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
  • Stillwater Fly Fishing Is Simpler Than You Think! | Introduction to Stillwater Fly FishingEmbedded from YouTube · Fly Fish Food · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
  • Why is this Chironomid Fly Pattern So Versatile? | Two-Toner BC Chironomid | Fly Tying TutorialEmbedded from YouTube · Fly Fish Food · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube

Not sponsored All videos on stillwater

Fish Tales

About this

Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Ennis Lake.

No stories from here yet.

Write the first story Share your day

Sources for this page

Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.

Something wrong?

All 18 sources and dates

A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.

Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: the point for “Ennis Lake” (lake) in the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Water type is our own classification.