Echo Lake (Flathead County) Fishing
A Montana natural lake of 695 acres in Flathead County.
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Echo Lake (Flathead County) at a Big Sky glance
A FishMT size of 695 acres goes with Echo Lake (Flathead County) in Flathead County. FWP mapping shows about 695 acres of mapped outline. Census lists Bigfork as the closest place, near 3 miles off.
The FishMT page lists FWP’s Western fishing district, with FWP Region 1 for it. The access-site data give it 1 ramp or hand launch.
Size as the FWP FishMT page for Echo Lake (Flathead County) 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 Echo Lake (Flathead County), read November 12, 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 12, 2026.
How Montana FWP describes Echo Lake (Flathead County)
FWP puts Echo Lake (Flathead County) at 3,047 feet above sea level. A bathymetric map is on the FWP list for it. FWP's statewide angling pressure estimate for Echo Lake (Flathead County) is 8,293 angler days in 2021 (give or take 1,600).
Around Echo Lake (Flathead County) the access pages mention dock and toilet.
Montana FWP FishMT waterbody page for Echo Lake (Flathead County), read November 12, 2026.
Species FWP rates at Echo Lake (Flathead County)
These Echo Lake (Flathead County) ratings are lifted from the FWP layer as published.
| Species | MFISH rating |
|---|---|
| Black crappie | listed |
| Brook trout | common |
| Kokanee salmon | common |
| Lake whitefish | common |
| Largemouth bass | abundant |
| Northern pike | abundant |
| Pumpkinseed | abundant |
| Rainbow trout | common |
| Smallmouth bass | listed |
| Yellow perch | abundant |
FWP MFISH fish distribution layer (ArcGIS service) (FWP rating dates 2018 to 2023), read November 12, 2026. Presence is mapping data, not a catch report.
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- Echo Lake Fishing Access Sitefishing access site, dock, ramp (concrete), concrete surface, 5 acres
Other Montana launch points close to Echo Lake (Flathead County)
- Sportsmans Bridge Fishing Access Site on Flathead RiverFlathead River, 4 miles southwest
- Bigfork Fishing Access Site on Flathead LakeFlathead Lake, 5 miles south
- Loon Lake/Ferndale Fishing Access SiteLoon Lake (Lake County), 7 miles south
- Horseshoe Lake/Ferndale Fishing Access SiteHorseshoe Lake (Lake County), 8 miles south
- Woods Bay Fishing Access Site on Flathead LakeFlathead Lake, 9 miles south
Big Sky places to cast from land around Echo Lake (Flathead County)
- Swan River Fishing Access SiteSwan River, 7 miles
- McWenneger Slough Fishing Access SiteMcWenneger Slough, 10 miles
- Shady Lane Fishing Access Site on Flathead RiverFlathead River, 12 miles
- Pine Grove Pond Fishing Access SitePine Grove Pond, 14 miles
For Echo Lake (Flathead County), the site data name facilities and surface only, with no lane counts or hours.
FWP Fishing Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service) and the FishMT site pages, read November 12, 2026.
Montana size and limit rules for Echo Lake (Flathead County)
The booklet carries no water-specific heading for Echo Lake (Flathead County); the Western fishing district rows below are the working limits.
| Chart label as printed | Limit as printed |
|---|---|
| Brook Trout | 20 daily and in possession. |
| Bull Trout | All waters are closed to angling for bull trout and all fish must be released, with no delay unless otherwise authorized in the Western District Exceptions. See bull trout on page 13. Note: Federal rules prohibit the attempted take of bull trout unless specifically authorized by state or tribal regulation. |
| Combined Trout includes brown trout, rainbow trout, golden trout, and arctic grayling | Lakes/Reservoirs: 5 daily and 10 in possession, only 1 over 22 inches daily and in possession. Rivers/Streams: 3 daily and in possession, only 1 over 14 inches. |
| Cutthroat Trout | Lakes/Reservoirs: 3 daily and in possession, no size limit. Rivers/Streams: 3 daily and in possession, none over 12 inches. |
| Lake Trout | 20 daily and 40 in possession. |
| Largemouth Bass | 5 daily and in possession, only 1 greater than 12 inches. Third Saturday in May through June 30: 1 daily and in possession, must be over 22 inches. |
| Smallmouth Bass | 15 daily and in possession, no size limit all year. |
| Crappie | No limit. |
| Kokanee Salmon | 20 daily and 40 in possession. |
| Northern Pike | 15 daily, no possession limit. All waters are open for spearing through the ice and in open water by a person swimming or submerged or as otherwise noted in District Exceptions. |
The district season for still water says: Open all year.
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.
Tournament dates and printed results for Echo Lake (Flathead County)
Upcoming dates and posted weights for Echo Lake (Flathead County) contests, each sourced, are on a linked page.
How Echo Lake (Flathead County) compares with other Montana water
FishMT acreage puts Egan Slough first among these at 249 acres.
| Water | Distance | Size | County | Ramps | Fish on FWP list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echo Lake (Flathead County) | 695 acres | Flathead County | 1 | 10 | |
| Peterson Lake | under a mile southwest | 97 acres | Flathead County | 0 | 7 |
| Fennon Slough | 4 miles southwest | 215 acres | Flathead County | 0 | 6 |
| Egan Slough | 7 miles northwest | 249 acres | Flathead County | 0 | 5 |
| Loon Lake (Lake County) | 8 miles south | 45 acres | Lake County | 1 | 5 |
| Horseshoe Lake (Lake County) | 8 miles south | 41 acres | Lake County | 1 | 4 |
FWP FishMT pages, the Fishing Access Sites layer and the FWP Lakes layer; outline sizes are GIS figures. Read November 12, 2026.
Montana places mapped beside Echo Lake (Flathead County)
Big Sky reservoirs worth a detour from Echo Lake (Flathead County)
- Peterson Lakeunder a mile southwest
- Fennon Slough4 miles southwest
- Egan Slough7 miles northwest
- Loon Lake (Lake County)8 miles south
- Horseshoe Lake (Lake County)8 miles south
Gear stores within reach of Echo Lake (Flathead County)
- Two River Gearbait and tackle shop, Bigfork, 4 miles
- Bayside Park & Marine Centermarina, Bigfork, 5 miles
- Lakeside Marinamarina, Lakeside, 11 miles
- Lakeside Bay Marinamarina, Lakeside, 11 miles
- Pete's Tacklebait and tackle shop, Kalispell, 12 miles
- Triple Divide Sports Warehousebait and tackle shop, Kalispell, 13 miles
Booking a Montana guided day at Echo Lake (Flathead County)
- A Able Fishing Charters & Tourscharter, Bigfork, (406) 257-5214
- Glacier Fishing Charterscharter, Columbia Falls, (406) 892-2377
- Mo Fisch Charterscharter, Kalispell, (406) 755-4414
- State of Mind Fishing Charterscharter, Whitefish, (406) 360-5411
- Bagley Guide Servicefishing guide, Bigfork, (406) 837-3618
- Captain Norm's Fish-N-Funfishing guide, Kalispell, (406) 250-6246
- Diamond R of Spotted Bearfishing guide, Kalispell
- Fish On Chartersfishing guide, Lakeside
Montana towns with motels near Echo Lake (Flathead County)
- Bigfork3 miles
- Lakeside11 miles
- Evergreen13 miles
Montana counties touching Echo Lake (Flathead County)
- Flathead Countyseat: Kalispell
A Piscifun bundle sized for Big Sky fishing at Echo Lake (Flathead County)
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Montana identification photos for fish at Echo Lake (Flathead County)
Photo: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Echo Lake (Flathead County), answered in a handful of questions
What part of the Treasure State is Echo Lake (Flathead County) in?
FishMT files it under Flathead County; the nearest Census town, Bigfork, is about 3 miles away.
Is Echo Lake (Flathead County) a large Montana water?
FWP's figure is 695 acres; the mapped outline is about 695 acres of mapped outline.
Will a trailer rig fit at Echo Lake (Flathead County)?
The access-site data list 1 launch; Echo Lake Fishing Access Site is one.
What does the FWP layer say swims in Echo Lake (Flathead County)?
FWP's layer names brook trout, kokanee salmon, lake whitefish, largemouth bass and northern pike.
What is the daily bag at Echo Lake (Flathead County)?
With nothing water-specific in the booklet, the Western district rows rule.
What does a Montana license cost for Echo Lake (Flathead 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. No license is asked of a twelve-year-old or less.
Which spots let me cast from the bank at Echo Lake (Flathead County)?
No bank site appears in the FWP data.
Is a bait store close to Echo Lake (Flathead County)?
The list starts with Two River Gear, about 4 miles away.
When is the next contest at Echo Lake (Flathead County)?
Contest dates and posted weights share a page apart from this one.
Pick a weekday for Echo Lake (Flathead County)
Prices and limit tables share one Montana page.