Flathead Lake, Montana

[JohnnieMo]

Has anyone boated in Flathead Lake Montana? It is the largest freshwater lake in the western US.

I'm headed down there to meet up with my college buddies for a college reunion... plan to take the new RZ2. One local marina was nice enough to give me a slip for a week to store it.

I don't know anything about the lake, the water, if its busy, any good to fish, is it warm/cold? If anyone has boated here, let me know!

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...32715&t=h&z=10


JohnnieMo

[dingleberry]

It's been many years since I've been, but my memories of it are generally:
Cold water and very slow to warm in the summer.
Often windy and choppy.
Good fishing for lake trout.

Maybe you could give a call to the Tige dealer down in Helena and get his thoughts. http://www.montanaboatcenter.com/

[MTtigekid]

suuper cold.. its a glacial lake so its also really clear, fishing is good in some of the bays. like dingle said it is choppy often, sometimes to the point of dangerousness. its usually crowded on the weekends as well

that being said its a really beautiful lake

[Iwndr]

Like they said it's a beautiful lake, awesome fishing but I do not think it warms up at all

[Gr8Wake]

Beautiful lake. Vater very similar to Tahoe - bring at least your shorty and you'll be fine. You want to stick more to the West shore for better skiing as that is the flatter side of the lake - waves build and move to the East shore. West side has more coves/protected bays that are best for skiing. Can't beat the view...

[IDBoating]

Boated there long ago. As others have said, it's absolutely beautiful. It's size leads to lake-effect weather and chop from the slightest winds.

On the day we boated there, we pulled into a marina gas station to refuel behind a really large (had to be at least 25-30+ feet) cabin cruiser. As I approached, I could heard the boat owner complain that his tanks weren't that empty, etc. Suddenly he started shouting at the marina guy pumping the gas that he had inserted the gas nozzle into one of his bilge vents and now his bilge was full of gasoline (!!!). I backed carefully until I was safely away, then punched it out of there in a hurry - with one eye looking back for the fireball.

[JohnnieMo]

Interesting.... in all my searching, no one ever said it was a cold lake. I guess they don't advertise that fact! Lots of pictures of people doing watersports though. My lake can hit 85 deg in the summer, so this will be a change.

We are staying on the east side, sadly, but are in one of the only bays. Are there better lakes in Montana I should be looking at?

[Iwndr]

Bighorn Canyon or Canyon Ferry are my favorites

[MTtigekid]

Interesting.... in all my searching, no one ever said it was a cold lake. I guess they don't advertise that fact! Lots of pictures of people doing watersports though. My lake can hit 85 deg in the summer, so this will be a change.

We are staying on the east side, sadly, but are in one of the only bays. Are there better lakes in Montana I should be looking at?

any of the lakes are fun.. i would look at these though

canyon ferry- bigger lake and warmer (mid 70 in august), but usually is really choppy unless your in a bay

hauser lake- best water for watersports during anytime of day, but is colder on average than canyon ferry. watch out for rocks and mine tailings near the shorelines (stick to the middle if you can)

holter lake- a lot like hauser, but has the gates of the mountains that you can boat through which is pretty cool, again a bit colder than canyon ferry.

dont know much about the lakes on the eastern side of the lake.. but these three and flathead are the ones that i frequent much of the summer

[Kurby]

If you are staying near Flathead lake why not go for a drive to Whitefish Lake not far from where you are at and I have always had a great time there with the Tige and always able to find decent water. If you want excitement stay close to the city beach and the town but for good water go to the opposite side of the lake.

[JohnnieMo]

If you are staying near Flathead lake why not go for a drive to Whitefish Lake not far from where you are at and I have always had a great time there with the Tige and always able to find decent water. If you want excitement stay close to the city beach and the town but for good water go to the opposite side of the lake.

Not a bad idea. I had to find a location that would take 25 odd people and be close to the lake at a reasonable price. That's why I settled on Flathead. I know nothing of the region, so it was really just throwing a dart. Maybe we will try Whitefish for warmer water.

[JohnnieMo]

suuper cold.. its a glacial lake so its also really clear, fishing is good in some of the bays. like dingle said it is choppy often, sometimes to the point of dangerousness. its usually crowded on the weekends as well

that being said its a really beautiful lake

How cold is "super cold?" I'm going August 15.

[MTtigekid]

in august.. maybe in the mid 60's, not really sure cause we dont spend a whole bunch of time up there. when we were there in the end of july it was still mid 60's.. but it really doesn't warm up a bunch over the summer because of the glacial flow

[JohnnieMo]

That is sooo odd to me. Shuswap Lake in BC hits mid 60's in June and mid 80's in August. Snow fills that lake well into July. The lake is 300 to 600 feet deep. I assumed Flathead would be the same.

[MTtigekid]

That is sooo odd to me. Shuswap Lake in BC hits mid 60's in June and mid 80's in August. Snow fills that lake well into July. The lake is 300 to 600 feet deep. I assumed Flathead would be the same.

unfortunately not the case.. were lucky at canyon ferry to get to 80.. and if it even reaches that its only for a week at the most