McDonald Lake (Flathead County) Fishing
A Montana natural lake of 6,867 acres in Flathead County.
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McDonald Lake (Flathead County) by the FWP numbers
In Flathead County, McDonald Lake (Flathead County) is listed at 6,867 acres on FishMT. A mapped polygon puts the shoreline around about 6,867 acres of mapped outline. Columbia Falls sits roughly 19 miles from the shore on a straight line.
It sits in FWP’s National Park Service fishing district, with FWP Region 1, per FishMT. FWP maps no put-in here.
Size as the FWP FishMT page for McDonald 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 McDonald Lake (Flathead County), read November 12, 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 12, 2026.
The FishMT notes for McDonald Lake (Flathead County)
The elevation FWP prints for McDonald Lake (Flathead County) is 3,164 feet above sea level. The outflow named on FishMT is McDonald Creek. FWP's statewide angling pressure estimate for McDonald Lake (Flathead County) is 2,252 angler days in 2021 (give or take 1,075).
FWP flags a fish consumption advisory on its FishMT page for McDonald Lake (Flathead County); read FWP's current guidance before you keep fish to eat.
Montana FWP FishMT waterbody page for McDonald Lake (Flathead County), read November 12, 2026.
The MFISH species list for McDonald Lake (Flathead County)
For McDonald Lake (Flathead County), FWP's map files each species under a rating word where it has one.
| Species | MFISH rating |
|---|---|
| Bull trout | common |
| Kokanee salmon | rare |
| Lake trout | abundant |
| Lake whitefish | abundant |
| Mountain whitefish | common |
| Rainbow trout | rare |
| Westslope cutthroat trout | common |
FWP MFISH fish distribution layer (ArcGIS service) (FWP rating dates 2018), read November 12, 2026. Presence is mapping data, not a catch report.
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FWP shows no put-in at McDonald Lake (Flathead County), so a carried boat or a neighboring launch is the way out.
More Montana launches near McDonald Lake (Flathead County)
- Paul's Memorial Fishing Access Site on Lake FiveLake Five, 10 miles southwest
- Teakettle Fishing Access Site on Flathead RiverFlathead River, 19 miles southwest
- Kokanee Bend Fishing Access Site on Flathead RiverFlathead River, 21 miles southwest
- Blanchard Lake Fishing Access SiteBlanchard Lake, 24 miles southwest
- Pressentine Fishing Access Site on Flathead RiverFlathead River, 25 miles southwest
Montana bank spots near McDonald Lake (Flathead County)
- Skyles Lake Fishing Access SiteSkyles Lake, 25 miles
- McWenneger Slough Fishing Access SiteMcWenneger Slough, 28 miles
- Pine Grove Pond Fishing Access SitePine Grove Pond, 29 miles
- Bootjack Lake Fishing Access SiteBootjack Lake, 29 miles
Gate times and day-use charges at McDonald Lake (Flathead County) are not reproduced here: FWP's fee rows are mostly Conservation License prices.
FWP Fishing Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service) and the FishMT site pages, read November 12, 2026.
How many fish McDonald Lake (Flathead County) lets a Montana angler keep
No district is stated for McDonald Lake (Flathead County) and no exception heading matches, which leaves the three district charts as the place to check.
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.
Fishing within park lines at McDonald Lake (Flathead County)
The mapped water lies inside Glacier National Park, so National Park Service rules apply there; read the park's fishing page before you go.
FWP sells the state license, but another owner can attach permits to the same shoreline.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Sizing McDonald Lake (Flathead County) against nearby Montana water
For more room, Harrison Lake runs 391 acres by FWP's figure.
| Water | Distance | Size | County | Ramps | Fish on FWP list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald Lake (Flathead County) | 6,867 acres | Flathead County | 0 | 7 | |
| Trout Lake | 7 miles north | 216 acres | Flathead County | 0 | 2 |
| Harrison Lake | 8 miles southeast | 391 acres | Flathead County | 0 | 7 |
| Lake Five | 9 miles southwest | 152 acres | Flathead County | 1 | 8 |
| Hidden Lake (Flathead County) | 10 miles northeast | 272 acres | Flathead County | 0 | 1 |
| Camas Lake | 11 miles north | about 18 acres of mapped outline | Flathead County | 0 | 2 |
FWP FishMT pages, the Fishing Access Sites layer and the FWP Lakes layer; outline sizes are GIS figures. Read November 12, 2026.
Grouped near McDonald Lake (Flathead County) on the Montana map
A second lake for day two past McDonald Lake (Flathead County)
- Trout Lake7 miles north
- Harrison Lake8 miles southeast
- Lake Five9 miles southwest
- Hidden Lake (Flathead County)10 miles northeast
- Camas Lake11 miles north
Restocking leaders and line for McDonald Lake (Flathead County)
- Arends Fly Shopfly shop, Columbia Falls, 18 miles
- Montana Fly Cofly shop, Columbia Falls, 20 miles
- Salmon Forks Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Columbia Falls, 22 miles
- Lakestream Fly Fishing Shopfly shop, Whitefish, 23 miles
- Whitefish Lake Marinamarina, Whitefish, 23 miles
- Triple Divide Sports Warehousebait and tackle shop, Kalispell, 29 miles
Montana outfitters who run trips to McDonald 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
Big Sky rooms and campgrounds handy to McDonald Lake (Flathead County)
- Columbia Falls19 miles
- Whitefish22 miles
- Evergreen29 miles
Which Montana county holds McDonald Lake (Flathead County)
- Flathead Countyseat: Kalispell
Piscifun kit to stow in the truck for Montana time at McDonald Lake (Flathead County)
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Treasure State fish to recognize at McDonald Lake (Flathead County)
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
Photo: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Forest Service Northern Region, Public domain
McDonald Lake (Flathead County): what Treasure State anglers ask
Which Montana county holds McDonald Lake (Flathead County)?
It lies in Flathead County; the nearest Census town, Columbia Falls, is about 19 miles away.
How many acres does FWP give McDonald Lake (Flathead County)?
6,867 acres, per FWP; the mapped outline is about 6,867 acres of mapped outline.
Where should a first-timer put in at McDonald Lake (Flathead County)?
The data hold no ramp for it, and the access band gives the nearest ones.
Does FWP rate trout at McDonald Lake (Flathead County)?
Look for bull trout, lake trout, lake whitefish, mountain whitefish and Westslope cutthroat trout, per the FWP layer.
Does Montana set size limits at McDonald Lake (Flathead County)?
No exception names it, so the National Park Service district chart governs; the limits band prints the rows for its fish.
What does Montana ask of anglers at McDonald 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. Montana requires a license from the twelfth birthday on.
Is bank fishing possible at McDonald Lake (Flathead County)?
FWP lists no pier here.
Which counter sells bait around McDonald Lake (Flathead County)?
Arends Fly Shop, about 18 miles away comes first.
Does a state license cover all of McDonald Lake (Flathead County)?
Read the notes: The mapped water lies inside Glacier National Park, so National Park Service rules apply there; read the park's fishing page before you go.
Put McDonald Lake (Flathead County) on the Montana calendar
One click leads to the fee schedule and the limit charts.