Flathead Lake Fishing
A Montana natural lake of 122,885 acres in Flathead and Lake counties.
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A Montana profile of Flathead Lake
Flathead Lake measures 122,885 acres by the FishMT size field; it belongs to Flathead and Lake counties. On the lakes layer the polygon covers about 122,132 acres of mapped outline. Lakeside, about 10 miles away, is the handiest town.
FishMT places it in FWP’s Western fishing district, with FWP Region 1. It has 4 ramps and hand launches on the Fishing Access Sites list. The layer shows 1 walk-in or dock site as well. District limits change here through 4 rule lines.
Size as the FWP FishMT page for Flathead 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 Flathead Lake, read November 12, 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 12, 2026.
FWP on Flathead Lake
FishMT gives the surface at Flathead Lake as 2,896 feet above sea level. FishMT lists Flathead River as the water it drains to. FWP offers a bathymetry sheet for this water. FWP's statewide angling pressure estimate for Flathead Lake is 50,490 angler days in 2021 (give or take 8,387).
FWP flags a fish consumption advisory on its FishMT page for Flathead Lake; read FWP's current guidance before you keep fish to eat.
Site facilities near Flathead Lake, per FishMT: dock, toilet, ADA Accessibility, easy Accessibility, drinking Water and hand Launch.
Montana FWP FishMT waterbody page for Flathead Lake, read November 12, 2026.
Fish FWP maps at Flathead Lake
Abundant, common and rare are FWP's own labels for Flathead Lake, taken from its distribution layer.
| Species | MFISH rating |
|---|---|
| Black bullhead | listed |
| Black crappie | listed |
| Brook trout | rare |
| Bull trout | common |
| Lake trout | abundant |
| Lake whitefish | abundant |
| Largemouth bass | rare |
| Mountain whitefish | common |
| Northern pike | rare |
| Pumpkinseed | common |
| Rainbow trout | rare |
| Smallmouth bass | listed |
| Westslope cutthroat trout | common |
| Yellow perch | abundant |
FWP MFISH fish distribution layer (ArcGIS service) (FWP rating dates 2018 to 2025), read November 12, 2026. Presence is mapping data, not a catch report.
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- Bigfork Fishing Access Site on Flathead Lakefishing access site, dock, ramp (concrete), concrete surface, 2 acres
- Somers Fishing Access Site on Flathead Lakefishing access site, ramp (concrete), dock, concrete surface, 2 acres
- Walstad Fishing Access Site on Flathead Lakefishing access site, ramp (concrete), dock, concrete surface, 1 acres
- Woods Bay Fishing Access Site on Flathead Lakefishing access site, ramp (concrete), dock, concrete surface, 12 acres
Montana bank fishing at Flathead Lake
- Ducharme Fishing Access Site on Flathead Lakefishing access site, hand launch, 51 acres
Alternate Montana ramps beside Flathead Lake
- Horseshoe Lake/Ferndale Fishing Access SiteHorseshoe Lake (Lake County), 11 miles northeast
- Loon Lake/Ferndale Fishing Access SiteLoon Lake (Lake County), 11 miles northeast
- Sportsmans Bridge Fishing Access Site on Flathead RiverFlathead River, 14 miles north
- Echo Lake Fishing Access SiteEcho Lake (Flathead County), 17 miles north
- Smith Lake Fishing Access SiteSmith Lake, 21 miles northwest
FishMT's own hours for these sites are a placeholder, so none are printed for Flathead Lake; the site pages carry what FWP lists, dated.
FWP Fishing Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service) and the FishMT site pages, read November 12, 2026.
How full Flathead Lake is running this fall
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Flathead Lake At Polson Mt | 2,890.68 ft lake elevation | Nov 15 3:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 15, 2026 4:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USACE readings for Flathead Lake, Nov. 12, 12:00 a.m. MST.
USACE Access to Water (water.usace.army.mil), dated readings as served, read November 12, 2026. Not live.
USGS values for Flathead Lake load live on page view; USACE figures are dated readings, not live.
What a Montana cooler from Flathead Lake may hold
Anglers on Flathead Lake follow the exception lines below first, then the district chart for anything they leave unsaid.
| Heading as printed | Section | Rule line | Booklet page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead Lake | Flathead Lake north of Flathead Indian Reservation boundary | Catch-and-release for cutthroat trout. | booklet page 31 |
| Flathead Lake | Flathead Lake north of Flathead Indian Reservation boundary | Lake trout: 100 daily and in possession, only 1 over 36 inches, and all fish 30 to 36 inches must be released. | booklet page 31 |
| Flathead Lake | Flathead Lake north of Flathead Indian Reservation boundary | Yellow perch: no limit, only 10 daily over 10 inches. No possession limit. | booklet page 31 |
| Flathead Lake | Flathead Lake north of Flathead Indian Reservation boundary | NOTE: A Flathead Indian Reservation Tribal Permit is required to fish on the southern portion of the lake. Check Tribal Fishing regulations for the south portion of the lake. | booklet page 31 |
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.
Tribal rules around Flathead Lake
The mapped water touches the Flathead Reservation, where tribal rules and permits can apply on top of anything FWP sells; check with the tribe before fishing.
Read the second set of rules before launching; FWP's booklet is not the only authority here.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Treasure State record fish tied to Flathead Lake
| Species | Weight or length | Year | Place as FWP prints it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake trout | 42.69 lbs. | 2004 | Flathead Lake |
| Lake whitefish | 10.46 lbs. | 2006 | Flathead Lake |
Montana state record fish as FWP lists them (records page), read November 12, 2026.
Contests on the calendar for Flathead Lake
Schedules and weights for Flathead Lake sit on their own page.
Flathead Lake next to area lakes
Swan Lake (Lake County) tops this list at 3,269 acres, per FishMT.
| Water | Distance | Size | County | Ramps | Fish on FWP list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead Lake | 122,885 acres | Lake County | 4 | 14 | |
| Horseshoe Lake (Lake County) | 11 miles northeast | 41 acres | Lake County | 1 | 4 |
| Loon Lake (Lake County) | 11 miles northeast | 45 acres | Lake County | 1 | 5 |
| Swan Lake (Lake County) | 11 miles northeast | 3,269 acres | Lake County | 0 | 10 |
| Lake Mary Ronan | 13 miles west | 1,513 acres | Lake County | 0 | 8 |
| Fennon Slough | 15 miles north | 215 acres | Flathead County | 0 | 6 |
FWP FishMT pages, the Fishing Access Sites layer and the FWP Lakes layer; outline sizes are GIS figures. Read November 12, 2026.
Along the same valley as Flathead Lake
Other Montana still water near Flathead Lake
- Horseshoe Lake (Lake County)11 miles northeast
- Loon Lake (Lake County)11 miles northeast
- Swan Lake (Lake County)11 miles northeast
- Lake Mary Ronan13 miles west
- Fennon Slough15 miles north
Bait and fly shops worth a detour before Flathead Lake
- Lakeside Bay Marinamarina, Lakeside, 10 miles
- Lakeside Marinamarina, Lakeside, 10 miles
- Bayside Park & Marine Centermarina, Bigfork, 12 miles
- Two River Gearbait and tackle shop, Bigfork, 12 miles
- Flathead Lake Marinamarina, Polson, 14 miles
- Zimmer Tacklebait and tackle shop, Ronan, 20 miles
Hiring a Montana guide for Flathead Lake
- A Able Fishing Charters & Tourscharter, Bigfork, (406) 257-5214
- Flathead Lake Charterscharter, Bigfork, (406) 837-3632
- 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
- Cheff Legacy Outfittersfishing guide, Charlo
Montana towns a highway drive from Flathead Lake
- Lakeside10 miles
- Bigfork14 miles
- Polson14 miles
Montana county pages that cover Flathead Lake
- Flathead Countyseat: Kalispell
- Lake Countyseat: Polson
Piscifun tackle chosen for a Montana day at Flathead Lake
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Prairie reservoirs and Rockies lakes by Flathead Lake through a lens
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ethan Kan, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Forest Service Northern Region, CC BY 2.0
Getting Flathead Lake sorted before you hit the road
Which Montana town works as a base for Flathead Lake?
Head for Flathead and Lake counties; the nearest Census town, Lakeside, is about 10 miles away.
How big is Flathead Lake by FWP's numbers?
FishMT says 122,885 acres; the mapped outline is about 122,132 acres of mapped outline.
How many Montana boat ramps serve Flathead Lake?
Start at Bigfork Fishing Access Site on Flathead Lake, one of 4 launches.
What can an angler catch at Flathead Lake?
The species list gives bull trout, lake trout, lake whitefish, mountain whitefish and pumpkinseed.
Which regulation chart governs Flathead Lake?
There are 4 rule lines on file, shown word for word in the limits band.
Do children need their own license at Flathead 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. Fishing is unlicensed for those under 12.
Which land-side points serve Flathead Lake?
There are 1 walk-in or dock site, Ducharme Fishing Access Site on Flathead Lake among them.
Who sells tackle closest to Flathead Lake?
Nearest listed: Lakeside Bay Marina, about 10 miles away.
How full is Flathead Lake running?
The level band carries the figures and their dates.
Does FWP list a record from Flathead Lake?
FWP lists a lake trout of 42.69 lbs. from Flathead Lake, year 2004.
Are contests scheduled at Flathead Lake?
Dates and posted results are collected on one linked page.
Who else manages the shore at Flathead Lake?
Do not assume the license alone is enough. The mapped water touches the Flathead Reservation, where tribal rules and permits can apply on top of anything FWP sells; check with the tribe before fishing.
Set the alarm for Flathead Lake
Buy the FWP license before you tow the boat.