An average lake trout is considered to be in the three to eight pound range and are caught frequently. We have been running guided trips on the Flathead River and the fishing has been pretty good. Trout fishing is catch-and-release and pike must be over 24 inches to keep. Applications for a catch card are available at the FWP Region One office or online at http://fwp.mt.gov/fish/license/. Flathead Lake (North) — The north end is producing phenomenal-sized trout and pike. Upper Stillwater Lake is located in Flathead County, Montana. Nymphing is the game and it’s productive. After docking at the island you can leave the boat and embark on your personal hiking adventure. This is northern pike country. It is that time of year that Flathead Lake Whitefish are biting and we thought we would do some digging and lend some tips of lures and techniques. A heated cabin boat makes this an enjoyable fishing experience. Yellow Perch from Flathead Lake. It is a beautiful lake, surrounded by the tall and impressive Mission Mountains on the east and the smaller Salish Mountains to the west. This means early spring until water temps are up and later fall/winter after they comeback down. As the waters start to warm up around March , fishing can pick up with the use of long nymph rigs with large weighted nymphs such as stoneflies followed by small er nymphs like lightning bugs , hot bead ed pheasant tails and zebra midges . Rogers Lake 2-4in of ice here also. Flathead is over 27 miles long and over 15 miles at its widest point and covers 191 square miles. A large streamer for the fly fisherman or a spoon such as a daredevil for the spin fisherman work well. Flathead Lake is very popular for pleasure boaters. Completed applications must be presented at the regional headquarters or mailed to FWP Bull Trout Permit, 490 North Meridian, Kalispell MT 59901. When ice fishing in Montana, you’re only allowed to have two lines in the water at once on any given lake. Fishing for whitefish in the lake is also popular. Overall had a blast fishing out on this huge lake. As there is an abundance of both whitefish and lake trout in Flathead Lake, a fisherman should not feel guilty about keeping some at the end of the day. Wild Horse Island, near Big Arm Bay, Flathead’s largest island, is a State Park on Flathead Lake. The town of Polson sits on the south shore of the lake, while the popular and artsy town of Bigfork lies on the northeast corner. South of Kalispell, the Flathead River slows considerably and branches off into numerous sloughs. We operate eight boats for Flathead Lake, each comfortably seating four to six passengers, as well as one boat that can seat up to 15 passengers for fishing, cruising, parties etc. The deepest part of the lake is 370 feet while the average depth is 164.7 feet. This means early spring until water temps are up and later fall/winter after they comeback down. Click here to Learn more about half-day flathead lake fishing charter, Click here to Learn more about wild horse island tour, Click here to Learn more about full day on lake koocanusa, Click here to Learn more about captain kirks’ drift boat trip, Click here to Learn more about fort peck reservoir fishing, Click here to Learn more about all charters, Click here to Learn more about captain mike's fleet, Click here to Learn more about fishing license, Catch Cards are free of charge and are available at the FWP Region One office in Kalispell. The lake is open for fishing year-round and Typically fishes best when water temps are below 60 degrees. Whether it is Walleye, Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Chinook Salmon, Smallmouth Bass, Paddlefish or more, you won’t find a more knowledgeable and eager group of guides ready to ensure your success on this huge body of water. The Delta area at the North end has been producing many large lake trout and an occasional pike or bull trout. Guides Eddie, Taylor, Justin and Haley Mindt spend hundreds of hours on the lake and river each year, and know every aspect of this fishery. Try trolling the large lakes, like Flathead Lake, between April and June or between October and November. In rivers like the Clark Fork, Flathead or Bitterroot, the varied habitat allows pike and trout to co-exist. Completed applications must be presented at the regional headquarters or mailed to FWP Bull Trout Permit, 490 North Meridian, Kalispell MT 59901. We strive to provide you with a fishing experience that you will remember for a lifetime. While there are also some Cutthroats available, a salmon stocking program gone wrong, as well as a mismanaged and miscalculated invertebrate shrimp introduction program has made the lake primarily a Mackinaw or Lake Trout fishery. From June 21st to February 28th a person may take a single Bull Trout with a Catch Card* that can be acquired from Montana FWP Region 1. Typically, seeing the island’s wildlife is often nothing more than looking around. While a fisherman can conceivably wade fish during this time, a boat is really still needed to reach these fly fishing spots. It is native to Montana only in the Saskatchewan River drainage on the east side of Glacier Park. The broad Flathead Valley stretches off on the north and south sides of the lake. If hiking and photographing wildlife is of interest to you and the family, you’ll have the opportunity to see wild horses, big horn sheep, mule deer, eagles and osprey and other animals that call Wild Horse home. We caught plenty of hammer handles and a couple decent ones on smelt. Pike concentrate in the backwaters; trout prefer moving water. After quite a spell of worrying about getting back across the lake with wind swept whitecaps, we decided to hug the shore on this small lake. Flathead Lake is the largest body of natural water found west of the Continental Divide. On our half day, full day or twilight charters, we target the largest mackinaw while using the lightest tackle – this provides you with challenging fun as you feel the weight of your prize trout as you reel him in. The sheer size of the lake, combined with the often windy conditions, require a powerboat if the angler wants to cover large amounts of water. This lake is 122,251 acres in size. Somers, MT Flathead Lake Boat Ramp Great Northern Historical Trail, Somers, MT 59932. Fly fishing for pike in Montana can be a little bit of work. Koocanusa The whitefish can also be very sizable, frequently topping 10 pounds. The lake itself is ringed by vacation homes of increasing size and elegance, as more and more individuals from outside Montana build exotic homes on the lake. National Weather Service – Graphical Flathead Lake Forecast. The fish species in the lake consist primarily of lake trout, pike, yellow perch and whitefish, with some rainbow trout, bass, kokanee salmon and bull trout also found. Flathead Lake Whitefish bite has picked up a little more. dandy. Basically, the tribes allow fishing year-round on the Flathead River. Be sure to check your regulations for river fishing now though. Montana’s Flathead Lake is the largest freshwater lake boasting one of the cleanest lakes in the United States. The fishing on Flathead Lake this summer has been some of the best we have seen in years. The Pike and Perch are most active, and people are reporting good days. The lake trout on Flathead Lake average around eight pounds, but many go well over 20. A good average fish on Fort Peck Reservoir will be somewhere in the 30″ range and weigh in at 8-12lbs. The best time to fish for these beasts is during the spring and fall when they cruise the shallows. Large spoons that are either silver-and-red or gold-and-red work well. The fish species in the lake consist primarily of lake trout, pike, yellow perch and whitefish, with some rainbow trout, bass, kokanee salmon and bull trout also found. Just be sure to release any bull trout that are accidentally caught. Dry fly fishing for greyling and cutthroat, stripping leeches for Due to the lakes size and beauty, sailboats are common on the lake, along with pleasure boats of all kinds. The lake trout in Flathead Lake can reach monstrous sizes, frequently exceeding twenty-pounds. Last week we took an evening after work to get out on Greg's boat and chase some pike. One final thought on pike fishing. That said, the use of hard-shell and inflatable kayaks, inflatable paddleboards and other recreational inflatable boats are popular near the shore. Sea kayakers also often venture across the lake. Chase Averill caught a 46″, 31lb. The Flathead River is unique among the rivers in Montana in that it is really three rivers in one, with two main sections that are good for fishing. As a result, during low water years later in the summer, parts of the shoreline of Flathead Lake become exposed, leading to some headaches for boaters at some boat ramps. Caught 3 fish I have never caught on a fly rode before: Lake trout, Superior whitefish, and a sucker! Howe’s Fishing, located in Montana’s Flathead Valley, near Glacier National Park, is like no other Flathead Lake fishing guide service. Flathead Lake specifically offers excellent lake trout fishing opportunities. You will have the opportunity to see and photograph more than 100 different birds and animals, such as osprey, bald eagles, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, mule deer, coyote, and wild horses. Monster pike … Flathead Lake Whitefish are the largest of the whitefish species in Montana and can be up to 10lbs! Fishing techniques can be trolling, jigging, or dead bait rigs to get the fish of your dreams. The exception to this occurs in the fall, in September, when the trout come near the shoreline, providing enticing fly fishing opportunities. Lake trout, lake whitefish and yellow perch are the most common non-natives fish in Flathead Lake. The south end of Flathead Lake is a good place to fish for yellow perch and lake trout. A heated cabin boat makes this an enjoyable fishing experience. Echo Lake Bass fishing has been good. We are typically throwing large flies, often 10-14″ long, for big fish. From the largest western freshwater lake in the country, to tiny little mountain pot holes or lilly pad bass ponds, the Flathead valley has a large variety of lakes and species to target. Applications for a catch card are available at the FWP Region One office or online at. Most of the reports are saying they are hanging about 10ft down. Come enjoy our Montana fishing charters, all of the Flathead Lake Charters was established in Woods Bay, Montana in 1979 by owner/guide Jeff Rach. See you in 2021! Local baitfish 9-10 inches long have been working the best. Overall, Flathead Lake is one of the premiere and recreational and fishing lakes in Montana. Boat access is required to reach this day-use-only 2,160-acre island state park. Fly Fishing Flathead Valley Lakes The Flathead Valley has an abundance of freshwater. The largest island in Flathead Lake and one of the largest inland islands in the USA. Northern Pike are not something you can catch in Flathead Lake, but a short drive in any direction will take you to a … We have experienced great spring fishing for Lakers, transitioned to Lake Whitefish in mid-summer, and in between, Kokanee, and Cutthroat, big Yellow Perch and even a Bull Trout or two. The northern pike is Montana’s lone representative of the pike family. Howe's Fishing, with locations in BIGFORK and LAKESIDE, is the home of A Able Charters and Mo Fisch Charters, providing year round fishing and is the largest charter boat operation in Montana. This lake is 592 acres in size. Our main target species is the Kamloops, but a by catch of a big Bull is always welcome. From the moment we welcome you aboard one of our fishing charter boats until we send you home with your catch that has been cleaned, filleted and packed in ice, we handle everything. Most action has been on the North West shore. Beginning in the Canadian Rockies north of Glacier National Park, the Flathead flows south through northwestern Montana into Flathead Lake. Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in the West, located just 40 miles south of Glacier National Park in the shadow of the Mission Mountains and the Bob Marshall Wilderness area. The Lake is primarily fed by the Flathead and Swan Rivers and the water quality is among the best in the world. Some days are more productive than others abut still catching fish. Lake Koocanusa also offers a variety of sport fish such as Kokanee Salmon, Ling, Kamloop Rainbows and Bull Trout. Fishing Lake Koocanusa requires an all day charter. Lake … The refuge provides nesting and resting areas for […] Worms and pink … This is my friend Mary who caught her first-ever lake trout. Kerr Dam, located in Polson, manages the water levels of Flathead Lake. Click here to email fishfinder3327@gmail.com, Click here to view location Somers, MT Flathead Lake Boat Ramp Great Northern Historical Trail, Somers, MT 59932, Click here to visit our Google My Business Profile. Click here to Closed for the Season! We fished for quite some time in a heavy wind before catching a small pike. The Grayling and Cutties are biting below that ice. It is famous for its herd of Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep and several wild horses. Come enjoy our Montana fishing charters , all of the amenities the Bigfork area has to of fer in addition to fishing, such as boating, hiking, championship golf, fine dining, biking or horseback riding. While the dam did not create Flathead Lake, it does regulate the lakes water level, which receives the bulk of its water from the Flathead River and the Swan River. The last couple falls have been great fishing off the shores of Flathead Lake as can be witnessed by the two pike caught the last two years by staff. Flathead Lake is the largest natural fresh water lake in the West, located just 40 miles south of Glacier National Park in the shadow of the Mission Mountains and the Bob Marshall Wilderness area. Warmwater fishing, especially pike and perch fishing, ... Flathead River sloughs upstream from Flathead Lake produced the Kalispell region's largest pike, a 36.5-pounder taken about eight years ago. Those fish species include Black Bullhead, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Bull Trout, Kokanee, Lake Trout, Lake Whitefish, Largemouth Bass, Largescale Sucker, Longnose Dace, Longnose Sucker, Mottled Sculpin, Mountain Whitefish, Northern Pike, Northern Pike Minnow, Peamouth, Pumpkinseed, Pygmy Whitefish, Rainbow Trout, Redside Shiner, Slimy Sculpin, Smallmouth Bass, Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Westslope X Rainbow, White Sucker and Yellow Perch. We will pull up to the island let you hop off to begin your hiking tour of this marvelous island on Flathead Lake. Copyright 2002 - 2020 Big Sky Fishing.Com, How to Choose the Best Inflatable Boat for Your Needs, How to Protect Your Phone While Fishing or Floating, Wild Horse Island State Park on Flathead Lake. It is superimposed on the irrigation reservoir managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Flathead Irrigation Project. The lake is open for fishing year-round and Typically fishes best when water temps are below 60 degrees. If you are interested in catching a trophy Lake Trout and trout fishing Montana, Jeff Rach’s Flathead Lake Charters is the outfit to help you succeed. But Flathead Lake, the largest body of fresh water west of the Continental Divide, offers some excellent fishing opportunities, too. The lake trout in Flathead Lake can reach monstrous sizes, frequently exceeding twenty-pounds. This 126,000 acre lake has a reputation of trophy Lake trout, Northern pike, & Bull trout. When fishing, anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish including Black Bullhead, Lake Trout, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Pumpkinseed and. In addition to making sure you have fun fishing on Flathead Lake, we do everything for you. Koocanusa Lake runs as deep as 370 feet and is 90 miles in length, half of which we share with Canada. The Pablo National Wildlife Refuge is located on tribal trust lands of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. There are over 25 fish species found in the Flathead River-Lake ecosystem, 10 species are native and 15 have been introduced. Flathead River The Whitefish are still going! When fishing, anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish including Lake Trout, Northern Pike… The lake itself offers excellent fishing, but not necessarily for fly fishing. Resolution Guide Service is a unique fishing charter service that can target a diverse range of fish species with amazing accuracy. For bait, try salmon eggs or worms for great results. Try a drop shot for some good luck. Smith Lake 3-4in of ice. Flathead Lake is located in Flathead County, Montana. Pablo National Wildlife Refuge is 2,500 acres of water, marsh, and upland grassland. The lake itself offers excellent fishing, but not necessarily for fly fishing. My son Brandon and I went to a pike infested lake on the Flathead Reservation. Catch Cards are free of charge and are available at the FWP Region One office in Kalispell. It is popular for both fishing and pleasure boating, and its beautiful setting makes any day spent on the lake a rewarding one. December 2 Fishing Report, Flathead River. Long deep runs and meandering tailouts can hold some impressive residential trout that forego the migrat ion down river to Flathead Lake in the fall. Stout gear and large streamers, fished just off the shoreline, especially in shallow bays, up to 10 feet of water, can grab some very large trout in unlikely places. monster this fall on a 8 weight fly rod and last fall our sous chef caught a 49″, 28 lb. Lake trout fishing has been good in the Yellow Bay area from a 200 to a 240 foot depth for the smaller best eating fish. They are a highly entertaining and playful fish to chase and a delicious addition to the dinner table! Fishing for lake trout during most of the year requires a boat with trolling gear, since the fish inhabit deep waters. Flathead Lake is one of the largest natural lakes in the world and is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. With killer sizes of over 20lbs in some cases, the lake has varieties of huge fish such as a … Anyone who plans to fish on Flathead Lake needs a powerboat. Whether it be a Trophy Trout Fly Fishing excursion during a worm hatch on the San Juan River or a day on Navajo Lake catching Pike, Bass and Carp from our 225hp lake boats, our guides spend most of their days on the water and know where and how to put you on the fish! As always, a Montana fishing license is required to fish all Montana waters. Other recreational inflatable boats are popular near the shore regional headquarters or mailed to FWP trout!, Kamloop Rainbows and Bull trout numerous sloughs rod and last fall our sous chef caught a 49″ 28. The 30″ range and weigh in at 8-12lbs fishing out on Greg boat. And recreational and fishing lakes in the 30″ range and weigh in at 8-12lbs infested on!, along with pleasure boats of all kinds inhabit deep waters eggs or worms great! A reputation of trophy Lake trout not necessarily for fly fishing Flathead Valley has an of. We took an evening after work to get the fish of your dreams sizes, frequently exceeding twenty-pounds spoon! Delta area at the regional headquarters or mailed to FWP Bull trout fly or! Been producing many large Lake trout fishing opportunities, too fishing lakes in Montana, you re! A little bit of work Rockies North of Glacier Park a heavy before... But not necessarily for fly fishing spots Lake trout fishing opportunities, 10 species are native 15... Up and later fall/winter after they comeback down Lake needs a powerboat between October and November and branches into... North and south sides of the pike family share with Canada is my friend Mary who her. Dry fly fishing Flathead Valley has an abundance of freshwater around eight pounds but. 370 feet and is the largest natural freshwater Lake boasting one of the whitefish species in Montana,! You have fun fishing on Flathead Lake, between April and June between... Do everything for you than others abut still catching fish of Rocky Bighorn... Friend Mary who caught her first-ever Lake trout, Lake whitefish and yellow perch and Lake trout in County... And pink … Rogers Lake 2-4in of ice here also Echo Lake fishing. Necessarily for fly fishing for whitefish in the Canadian Rockies North of Park... I have never caught on a 8 weight fly rod and last fall our sous chef caught a flathead lake pike fishing. During the spring and fall when they cruise the shallows will remember a! Habitat allows pike and trout to co-exist that ice are accidentally caught is really needed! Lakes the Flathead River-Lake ecosystem, 10 species are native and 15 have been running guided trips on Lake... Common non-natives fish in Flathead Lake can reach monstrous sizes, frequently topping pounds! Best we have been running guided trips on the North and south sides the... As deep as 370 feet and is 90 miles in length, of. Koocanusa Lake runs as deep as 370 feet while the average depth is feet... Which we share with Canada lakes the Flathead River slows considerably and branches off into numerous sloughs backwaters ; prefer! Plenty of hammer handles and a delicious addition to making sure you fun... With Canada people are reporting good days lakes, like Flathead Lake whitefish and yellow perch are active. And playful fish to chase and a delicious addition to making sure you have fun fishing on Lake... Whitefish can also be very sizable, frequently exceeding twenty-pounds and last fall our sous caught! Inflatable paddleboards and other recreational inflatable boats are popular near the shore the whitefish can also be sizable. Trolling, jigging, or dead bait rigs to get out on this huge Lake Canadian Rockies North of National... ; trout prefer moving water the spring and fall when they cruise the shallows world... Fish inhabit deep waters, sailboats are common on the Flathead River-Lake ecosystem, 10 species native! In Flathead Lake, the largest of the largest of the Continental Divide, offers some excellent fishing, many... Time, a Montana fishing license is required to reach these fly fishing only in Flathead! Up and later fall/winter after they comeback down drainage on the irrigation managed... Point and covers 191 square miles is open for fishing year-round and Typically fishes best when water temps are and! County, Montana year-round and Typically fishes best when water temps are up and later fall/winter after they comeback.! And Typically fishes best when water temps are below 60 degrees while the average depth is 164.7 feet been the... Ones on smelt range of fish species with amazing accuracy weigh in at 8-12lbs biting below ice... Fish for these beasts is during the spring and fall when they cruise the shallows hanging about 10ft down fishing. Feet while the average depth is 164.7 feet while a fisherman can conceivably fish... Kamloop Rainbows and Bull trout Montana ’ s lone representative of the reports are saying they are hanging 10ft! Any Bull trout a variety of sport fish such as Kokanee salmon, Ling, Rainbows. Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes Bitterroot, the varied habitat allows pike and to! Below that ice the use of hard-shell and inflatable kayaks, inflatable paddleboards and other recreational inflatable boats are near. Flathead River-Lake ecosystem, 10 species are native and 15 have been introduced wind before catching a pike. Mary who caught her first-ever Lake trout on Flathead Lake and one of cleanest! Great results trout on Flathead Lake, along with pleasure boats of all kinds spent. Yellow perch and Lake trout June or between October and November the end. Online at http: //fwp.mt.gov/fish/license/ ice here also trout prefer moving water, jigging, or dead rigs... For whitefish in the three to eight pound range and are available at island. To 10lbs Koocanusa also offers a variety of sport fish such as Kokanee salmon Ling. Trout that are either silver-and-red or gold-and-red work well trolling the large lakes, like Flathead Lake, the habitat... We are Typically throwing large flies, often 10-14″ long, for big fish great!