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Fishing Tunnel Lake: what the data says
16-acre lake near Montana. The lake tops out around 24 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Arctic Grayling fishing at Tunnel Lake
In spring, arctic grayling run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 7 to 24 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 24 ft, rated prime for winter arctic grayling. Best bite is the evening and early morning. Tie on a dry fly (parachute adams, elk hair caddis) or a small inline spinner and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dusk | 1/16 oz spinner (silver), Small dry fly (Adams, Griffith's) |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Dry fly (parachute Adams, elk hair caddis), Small inline spinner |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Small spoon, Beadhead nymph under indicator |
| Winter | 7 to 24 ft | midday & dawn | Tungsten jig + waxworm, Small jigging spoon (gold) |
Cutthroat Trout fishing at Tunnel Lake
Spring cutthroat trout on Tunnel Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 15 ft. They move out to 7 to 24 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 24 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 17 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a trolled spoon (small) or a inline spinner gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 7 to 24 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 24 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 6 to 24 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 24 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 17 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 7 ft
Common questions
How deep is Tunnel Lake?
Tunnel Lake is about 24 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Tunnel Lake?
Anglers target arctic grayling, cutthroat trout on Tunnel Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Tunnel Lake?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 24 ft of water that rates prime for arctic grayling in winter. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Tunnel Lake?
For arctic grayling, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Split Rock Lake · Pishkun Reservoir · Willow Creek Reservoir · Gibson Reservoir · Ostle Reservoir · Bean Lake
See how Tunnel Lake stacks up: best arctic grayling lakes in Montana · best cutthroat trout lakes in Montana
Browse all Montana fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.