Hebgen Lake Fishing
A Montana natural lake of 12,564 acres in Gallatin County.
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Sizing up Hebgen Lake before the Montana drive
Hebgen Lake, in Gallatin County, covers 12,564 acres according to Montana FWP. Its mapped outline adds up to about 12,564 acres of mapped outline. Of Census towns, West Yellowstone lies nearest at about 11 miles.
District on file: FWP’s Central fishing district, with FWP Region 3. It has no ramp in the Fishing Access Sites data. Its own rules run to 3 rule lines.
Size as the FWP FishMT page for Hebgen Lake prints it (FishMT), read November 12, 2026.
Outline area from the FWP Lakes reference layer (ArcGIS service; mapped polygon area, not an FWP surface-acre figure), read November 12, 2026.
Montana FWP FishMT waterbody page for Hebgen Lake, read November 12, 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 12, 2026.
FWP details for Hebgen Lake
Its FishMT elevation is 6,538 feet above sea level. Outflow, as FishMT prints it: Madison River. FWP lists a bathymetric map for it. FWP's statewide angling pressure estimate for Hebgen Lake is 23,756 angler days in 2021 (give or take 3,196).
FWP flags a fish consumption advisory on its FishMT page for Hebgen Lake; read FWP's current guidance before you keep fish to eat.
Montana FWP FishMT waterbody page for Hebgen Lake, read November 12, 2026.
The Hebgen Lake fish list, per MFISH
FWP's abundance wording for Hebgen Lake is reproduced below, and a blank rating means the layer lists the fish without one.
| Species | MFISH rating |
|---|---|
| Arctic grayling | listed |
| Brown trout | abundant |
| Mountain whitefish | abundant |
| Rainbow trout | abundant |
| Westslope cutthroat trout | listed |
FWP MFISH fish distribution layer (ArcGIS service) (FWP rating dates 2018 to 2022), read November 12, 2026. Presence is mapping data, not a catch report.
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With no ramp on file at Hebgen Lake, look to the launches below or fish from the bank.
Montana ramps a short tow past Hebgen Lake
- Lyons Bridge Fishing Access Site on Madison RiverMadison River, 18 miles northwest
- McAtee Bridge Fishing Access Site on Madison RiverMadison River, 29 miles northwest
- Brogan's Landing on Yellowstone RiverYellowstone River, 31 miles northeast
- Point of Rocks Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone RiverYellowstone River, 37 miles northeast
- Dailey Lake Fishing Access SiteDailey Lake, 39 miles northeast
Fishing access sites by Hebgen Lake
- Three Dollar Bridge Fishing Access Site on Madison RiverMadison River, 13 miles
No lane count, hours or launch price at Hebgen Lake comes from the data; each site page shows FWP's own rows.
FWP Fishing Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service) and the FishMT site pages, read November 12, 2026.
Latest Montana readings at Hebgen Lake
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Hebgen Lake Near West Yellowstone, Mt | 6,529.90 ft lake elevation | Nov 15 3:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 15, 2026 4:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Corps values for Hebgen Lake are posted on a schedule; the date is printed.
Montana limits that apply at Hebgen Lake
The 2026 booklet gives Hebgen Lake its own heading under District Exceptions, and what that heading says replaces the district chart for the fish it names.
| Heading as printed | Section | Rule line | Booklet page |
|---|---|---|---|
| DUCK CREEK (tributary to Hebgen Reservoir) | whole water | Open third Saturday in May through Nov. 30. | booklet page 56 |
| GRAYLING CREEK (tributary to Hebgen Reservoir) | whole water | Open third Saturday in May through Nov. 30. | booklet page 57 |
| SOUTH FORK MADISON RIVER (tributary to Hebgen Reservoir) | whole water | Open third Saturday in May through Nov. 30. | booklet page 67 |
The rules here are from the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, valid March 1, 2026 through the end of February 2027; FWP had published no 2027 booklet when this was checked.
Anglers 12 and older buy a Conservation License, an aquatic invasive species pass and a fishing license; the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations prints $8, $2 and $21 for a resident full season and $10, $7.50 and $100 for a nonresident.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
License prices as printed on the FWP fishing license page and in the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 12 (the two agree), read November 12, 2026.
Organizer events that name Hebgen Lake
The sourced calendar for Hebgen Lake fishing contests sits on the event page.
Hebgen Lake and nearby Montana lakes in one table
At 612 acres, Quake Lake outsizes the other nearby waters in the table.
| Water | Distance | Size | County | Ramps | Fish on FWP list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hebgen Lake | 12,564 acres | Gallatin County | 0 | 5 | |
| Quake Lake | 9 miles northwest | 612 acres | Madison County | 0 | 3 |
| Cliff Lake (Madison County) | 15 miles west | 608 acres | Madison County | 0 | 2 |
| Wade Lake | 16 miles west | 202 acres | Madison County | 0 | 2 |
| Hidden Lake (Madison County) | 18 miles west | 147 acres | Madison County | 0 | 2 |
| Elk Lake (Beaverhead County) | 20 miles southwest | 207 acres | Beaverhead County | 0 | 5 |
FWP FishMT pages, the Fishing Access Sites layer and the FWP Lakes layer; outline sizes are GIS figures. Read November 12, 2026.
A short stretch past Hebgen Lake
Backup Montana lakes when Hebgen Lake is slow
- Quake Lake9 miles northwest
- Cliff Lake (Madison County)15 miles west
- Wade Lake16 miles west
- Hidden Lake (Madison County)18 miles west
- Elk Lake (Beaverhead County)20 miles southwest
Tackle counters on the road to Hebgen Lake
- Blue Ribbon Fliesbait and tackle shop, West Yellowstone, 11 miles
- Big Sky Anglersbait and tackle shop, West Yellowstone, 12 miles
- Jacklin's Outfittersbait and tackle shop, West Yellowstone, 12 miles
- Madison River Fishing Co Incbait and tackle shop, Ennis, 45 miles
- Bob Wards Sporting Goods Incbait and tackle shop, Bozeman
- Bozeman Family Fly Shopfly shop, Bozeman
Montana guide businesses close to Hebgen Lake
- Cache Creek Outfitters Incfishing guide, Bozeman, (406) 995-3888
- Campbell's Guided Fishing Tripsfishing guide, Bozeman, (406) 581-5134
- Duenas Ranch and Outfit, LLC dba Montana Llama Guides, dba Pioneer Outfittersfishing guide, Bozeman
- East Slope Outdoorsfishing guide, Gallatin Gateway, (406) 995-4369
- Fins & Feathers Guide Servicefishing guide, Bozeman, (406) 468-5019
- First Cast Outfitters, LLCfishing guide, Bozeman, (503) 348-6309
- Fishing Outfitters Associates Mtfishing guide, Gallatin Gateway, (406) 763-5436
- Grey Cliffs Ranchfishing guide, Three Forks, (406) 285-6512
Finding a bunk close to Hebgen Lake
- West Yellowstone11 miles
- Big Sky32 miles
Montana county write-ups naming Hebgen Lake
- Gallatin Countyseat: Bozeman
Piscifun gear a Treasure State angler could bring to Hebgen Lake
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Divide-country water near Hebgen Lake, on camera
Photo: Phil Price, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Jon Parise, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Bureau of Land Management, CC BY 2.0
The usual puzzlers about Hebgen Lake
Which Montana town is closest to Hebgen Lake?
County lines put it in Gallatin County; the nearest Census town, West Yellowstone, is about 11 miles away.
About how many acres is Hebgen Lake?
FishMT gives 12,564 acres; the mapped outline is about 12,564 acres of mapped outline.
What put-ins serve Hebgen Lake?
The site data list none; see the nearby ramps.
Which fish does FWP map in Hebgen Lake?
On the MFISH list: brown trout, mountain whitefish and rainbow trout.
What limits does Montana set at Hebgen Lake?
Read the 3 rule lines in the limits band before keeping a fish.
What paper must I carry for Hebgen Lake?
Anglers 12 and older buy a Conservation License, an aquatic invasive species pass and a fishing license; the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations prints $8, $2 and $21 for a resident full season and $10, $7.50 and $100 for a nonresident. Under-12 anglers are exempt.
Does FWP map shore access at Hebgen Lake?
FWP shows no land-side point for it.
Where do people buy supplies on the way to Hebgen Lake?
Blue Ribbon Flies, about 11 miles away tops the list.
What did the latest reading at Hebgen Lake say?
See the level band: live USGS values and dated Corps readings.
Do anglers compete on Hebgen Lake?
A separate page collects its dated contests and posted results.
Mark the free weekend for Hebgen Lake
License prices and the 2026 limits are on the Montana license page.