Fishing in Lake County, Montana
County seat: Polson. Census 2020 residents: 31,134.
- 12lake pages
- 9ramps
- 2river pages
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First things to know about fishing Montana's Lake County
At the 2020 Census Lake County held 31,134 residents, and its seat is Polson. Inside its borders the Census counts 1,490 square miles of land and 163.5 square miles of water. This site writes up 12 lakes and reservoirs here, and Flathead Lake is the largest by size. The county's river pages cover Flathead River and Swan River.
The Fishing Access Site list holds 9 ramps here, plus 4 other fishing sites walk-in or hand-launch sites. Hatchery runs in 2026 put 37,773 fish in 4 county waters (8 rows). Special regulation lines apply to 4 waters in the county.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 12, 2026. FWP Fishing Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service) and the FishMT site pages, read November 12, 2026.
The Treasure State water map of Lake County
FWP Fishing Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service) and the FishMT site pages, read November 12, 2026. Lake pins are the FWP reference point for each water.
Montana lake pages for Lake County
| Lake | Size | Access sites | Kind | MFISH lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead Lake | 122,885 acres | 5 | natural lake | bull trout, lake trout, lake whitefish |
| Swan Lake (Lake County) | 3,269 acres | 0 | natural lake | bull trout, kokanee salmon, lake trout |
| Pablo Reservoir | 1,650 acres | 0 | reservoir | black bullhead, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed |
| Lake Mary Ronan | 1,513 acres | 0 | natural lake | kokanee salmon, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed |
| Ninepipe Reservoir | 1,203 acres | 0 | reservoir | black bullhead, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed |
| Kicking Horse Reservoir | 657 acres | 0 | reservoir | black bullhead, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed |
| Mission Reservoir | 275 acres | 0 | reservoir | Westslope cutthroat trout |
| St Marys Lake | 273 acres | 0 | natural lake | brook trout, rainbow trout, Westslope cutthroat trout |
| McDonald Lake (Lake County) | 188 acres | 0 | natural lake | Westslope cutthroat trout |
| Loon Lake (Lake County) | 45 acres | 1 | natural lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass |
| Horseshoe Lake (Lake County) | 41 acres | 1 | natural lake | pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass |
| Peck Lake | about 22 acres of mapped outline | 0 | natural lake | brook trout, rainbow trout, Westslope cutthroat trout |
Size as the FWP FishMT page for this water prints it (FishMT), read November 12, 2026. Waters with no FishMT size print their mapped outline instead. Montana FWP Lakes reference layer (ArcGIS service) and the MFISH fish distribution layers, read November 12, 2026.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Counting MFISH species words near Lake County
Summing MFISH lists for lakes within 60 miles of Polson, yellow perch comes first.
FWP MFISH presence layers, counted per lake page within 60 miles; presence in a layer, not a catch survey. FWP MFISH fish distribution layer (ArcGIS service), read November 12, 2026. Presence is mapping data, not a catch report.
Montana rivers to wade in Lake County
- Flathead Riverexception rules, 7 access sites, 4 USGS gauges
- Swan Riverexception rules, 1 access site, 1 USGS gauge
USGS gauges reporting across Montana's Lake County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Swan River Near Bigfork, Mt | 423 cfs, 2.27 ft gage height | Nov 15 4:00 pm |
| Flathead River Near Polson Mt | 7,210 cfs, 5.45 ft gage height | Nov 15 3:50 pm |
| Mission Creek Ab Reservoir Nr St. Ignatius Mt | 19 cfs, 1.90 ft gage height | Nov 15 3:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 15, 2026 4:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Montana FWP MFISH stream layers (ArcGIS service) for this river, read November 12, 2026. USGS Water Data for the Nation, live through the site, retrieved on page view.
Montana trailer launches around Lake County
- Horseshoe Lake/Ferndale Fishing Access Sitefishing access site, ramp (gravel), dock, gravel surface, 24 acres; Lake County
- Loon Lake/Ferndale Fishing Access Sitefishing access site, ramp (gravel), gravel surface, 4 acres; Lake County
- Walstad Fishing Access Site on Flathead Lakefishing access site, ramp (concrete), dock, concrete surface, 1 acres; Lake County
- Woods Bay Fishing Access Site on Flathead Lakefishing access site, ramp (concrete), dock, concrete surface, 12 acres; Lake County
- Big Arm State Park Boat Rampstate park boat ramp; Lake County
- Finley Point State Park Boat Rampstate park boat ramp; Lake County
- Lake Mary Ronan State Park Boat Rampstate park boat ramp; Lake County
- West Shore State Park Boat Rampstate park boat ramp; Lake County
- Yellow Bay State Park Boat Rampstate park boat ramp; Lake County
FWP fishing access sites in Lake County
- Ducharme Fishing Access Site on Flathead Lakefishing access site, hand launch, 51 acres; Lake County
- Swan River Fishing Access Sitefishing access site, hand launch, 58 acres; Lake County
- Conclow Fishing Access Sitefishing access site, no boat facilities; Lake County
- West Shore State Park Dockstate park dock; Lake County
FWP Fishing Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service) and the FishMT site pages, read November 12, 2026.
Named basins on the Montana map of Lake County
- Lower Crow Reservoirabout 286 acres of mapped outline
- Van Lakeabout 55 acres of mapped outline
- Fatty Lakeabout 22 acres of mapped outline
- Shay Lakeabout 17 acres of mapped outline
- Lily Lake (Lake County)about 10 acres of mapped outline
- Loon Lakeabout 232 acres of mapped outline
- Horte Reservoirabout 98 acres of mapped outline
- Piper Lakeabout 74 acres of mapped outline
- Summit Lake2about 68 acres of mapped outline
- Black Lakeabout 61 acres of mapped outline
- Terrace Lakeabout 59 acres of mapped outline
- First Lakeabout 51 acres of mapped outline
- Turtle Lakeabout 49 acres of mapped outline
- Cedar Lakeabout 47 acres of mapped outline
- Cliff Lake2about 47 acres of mapped outline
- Lucifer Lakeabout 45 acres of mapped outline
- Skags Lakeabout 40 acres of mapped outline
- South Crow Creek Lake 4about 34 acres of mapped outline
- Lake Of The Cloudabout 33 acres of mapped outline
- Ashley Lakeabout 30 acres of mapped outline
- South Crow Creek Lake 5about 30 acres of mapped outline
- Wymore Lakeabout 29 acres of mapped outline
- Mud Lake 3about 29 acres of mapped outline
- Long Lakeabout 28 acres of mapped outline
- Row Lakeabout 27 acres of mapped outline
- Jette Lakeabout 26 acres of mapped outline
- Pablo Lakeabout 22 acres of mapped outline
- Sonielem Lakeabout 21 acres of mapped outline
- Picture Lakeabout 19 acres of mapped outline
- Mud Lakeabout 19 acres of mapped outline
- No Fish Lakeabout 18 acres of mapped outline
- Twin Lakesabout 18 acres of mapped outline
- Ducharme Lakeabout 18 acres of mapped outline
- Wyman Lakeabout 18 acres of mapped outline
- Lake Of The Starsabout 18 acres of mapped outline
- Red Lakeabout 18 acres of mapped outline
- Pony Lakeabout 17 acres of mapped outline
- Hall Lakeabout 16 acres of mapped outline
- Swartz Pondabout 15 acres of mapped outline
- Disappointment Lakeabout 15 acres of mapped outline
Outline area from the FWP Lakes reference layer (ArcGIS service; mapped polygon area, not an FWP surface-acre figure), read November 12, 2026. Names come from the FWP Lakes reference layer; no page and no fish list for these waters.
Montana exception headings that touch Lake County waters
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.
- Flathead LakeCatch-and-release for cutthroat trout. (FLATHEAD LAKE)
- Flathead RiverHooks/lures must have single points, no double or treble hooks. (FLATHEAD RIVER)
- Lake Mary RonanKokanee salmon: 10 daily and 20 in possession. (LAKE MARY RONAN)
- Swan RiverCatch-and-release for cutthroat and rainbow trout. (SWAN RIVER)
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
FishMT stocking rows for Lake County waters
| Date | Water as FishMT prints it | Fish | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 | Peck Lake | 800 | Rainbow trout |
| July 1, 2026 | Van Lake | 1,989 | Rainbow trout |
| June 16, 2026 | Lake Mary Ronan | 13,572 | Rainbow trout |
| June 16, 2026 | Lake Mary Ronan | 13,572 | Rainbow trout |
| June 10, 2026 | Van Lake | 4,998 | Rainbow trout |
| May 28, 2026 | Loon Lake | 1,832 | Rainbow trout |
| May 22, 2026 | Van Lake | 980 | Rainbow trout |
| May 22, 2026 | Van Lake | 30 | Rainbow trout |
FWP FishMT stocking report for 2026, year to date (FishMT plant report), read November 12, 2026.
FWP record entries on Lake County water
| Species | Weight or length as listed | Water | Year | Marked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake trout | 42.69 lbs. | Flathead Lake | 2004 | not marked native |
| Lake whitefish | 10.46 lbs. | Flathead Lake | 2006 | not marked native |
Montana state record fish as FWP lists them (records page), read November 12, 2026.
Contest days on Lake County water
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 20, 2027 | 28th Annual Teena Frank Memorial Fishing Derby | Lake Mary Ronan | Chancy's Fish Camp |
| March 6, 2027 | Perch Assault Lake Mary Ronan | Lake Mary Ronan | Chancy's Fish Camp |
| Oct. 12, 2026 | Chancy's Fish Camp Fall Whitefish Festival | Flathead River | Chancy's Fish Camp |
| Sept. 26, 2026 | MT Student Anglers 2026 Season Points Event | Flathead River Slough, and north end of Flathead Lake | Montana Student Anglers |
| Sept. 10, 2026 | Fall Mack Days (2026) (result) | Flathead Lake | Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) |
| March 12, 2026 | 2026 Spring/Fall Mack Days Fishing Events | Flathead Lake | CSKT |
Event as listed by the organizer (source), read November 12, 2026.
Where Montana anglers in Lake County shop
Tackle counters on the road to Lake County
- Zimmer Tacklebait and tackle shop, Ronan
- Big Arm Marina & Grillmarina, Big Arm
- Dayton Yacht Harbor Rentalsmarina, Dayton
- Flathead Lake Marinamarina, Polson
Montana guide businesses close to Lake County
- Cheff Legacy Outfittersfishing guide, Charlo
- Flathead Lake Charterscharter, Bigfork, (406) 837-3632
- Swan Mountain Outfitters, LLCfishing guide, Swan Lake
Yellow Pages, State Parks and operator listings (city of business), read November 12, 2026. Guides are listed as businesses; no licence status is implied.
A short stretch past Lake County
Town pages within Lake County
- Polson2020 count 5,148
- Ronan2020 count 1,955
Across the Montana county line from Lake County
- Missoula County43 miles south
- Flathead County45 miles north
- Sanders County52 miles west
- Mineral County59 miles southwest
Piscifun gear a Treasure State angler could bring to Lake County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Montana banks and boat docks worth a frame near Lake County
Photo: Luke Detwiler, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Justin Brockie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Barbara Ann Spengler, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 4.0
Lakes, forks and ramps of Lake County, explained
How many Fishing Access Site ramps does FWP list for Lake County?
There are 9 ramps in the state access data.
Where is the widest water in Lake County?
Flathead Lake, with 122,885 acres.
What fish does FWP name near Lake County?
MFISH names yellow perch on the most lake pages within 60 miles, then Westslope cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and largemouth bass; the layer shows presence, not a catch.
Where can I buy bait in Lake County, Montana?
Try Zimmer Tackle; the county has 4.
Where does Montana's Lake County keep its courthouse?
Polson has it.
Which Montana licenses cover fishing in Lake County?
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.
What counties surround Lake County?
Begin with Missoula County, Flathead County and Sanders County.
How many trout may a Montana angler in Lake County take home?
Limits depend on the FWP fishing district and on any exception heading printed for the water; the Western, Central and Eastern district pages on this site give the charts. 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.
Are there special Montana rules on Lake County lakes?
4 waters with a page here carry their own exception lines, beginning with Flathead Lake.
Did FWP hatchery trucks visit Montana's Lake County this year?
The 2026 plant report lists 37,773 fish in 8 rows across 4 waters in the county.
When is the next Montana weigh-in on Lake County water?
6 entries on file; the next is 28th Annual Teena Frank Memorial Fishing Derby on Lake Mary Ronan, Feb. 20, 2027.
What Montana record fish came out of Lake County?
Lake trout, 42.69 lbs., from Flathead Lake (2004).
Set up a Montana fishing weekend in Lake County
Lake pages carry access sites, MFISH species lists and exception rules.