Flathead Lake
Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in the western United States outside Alaska, between Polson and Somers in northwest Montana. It is known for lake trout and lake whitefish.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Lake Trout
Troll deep divers or jig tubes in 80 to 200 feet in summer.
Yellow Perch
Fish small jigs with worms or maggots in 10 to 25 feet near Polson and Big Arm.
Northern Pike
Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.
Cutthroat Trout
Cruising shorelines. Spoons, flies and jigs.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Trout | ||||||||||||
| Yellow Perch | ||||||||||||
| Northern Pike | ||||||||||||
| Cutthroat Trout |
Boat launches
5 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Wayfarers State ParkPublicState park launch near Bigfork on the northeast shoreDirections ↗
- Yellow Bay State ParkPublicState park deep-water launch 14 miles south of Bigfork, east shoreDirections ↗
- West Shore State ParkPublicState park deep-water launch 6 miles south of Lakeside on US 93Directions ↗
- Big Arm State ParkPublicState park launch on the west shore at Big Arm; dock mid-March to NovemberDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee Montana FWP or the lake manager's website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Trout Only 1 over 36 in; applies north of Flathead Indian Reservation boundary; tribal permit/rules for southern portion | Release all 30-36 in | 100 / day |
| Cutthroat Trout North of Flathead Indian Reservation boundary | Catch-and-release | 0 (release) |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Two River GearNearby603 Electric Ave, Bigfork, MT(406) 837-3474Directions ↗
Local tips
- The south half of the lake is on the Flathead Reservation and needs a tribal recreation permit.
- Bull trout are protected and must be released right away.
- In spring and fall, lake trout move up to rocky points where shore anglers can reach them.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Flathead Lake.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.