By Beacon Staff May 21, 2013 The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission voted against new boating rules on Echo Lake during its meeting earlier this month. All watercraft operating on public lakes and reservoirs in the western fishing district that are 35 acres or less of surface water are limited to no-wake speed. A temporary boating restriction is in effect on Flathead Lake at Skidoo Bay adjacent to the Boulder 2700 Fire within the exterior boundaries of the Flathead Indian Reservation. No wake speed is defined as a speed whereby there is no "white" water in the track or path of the vessel or in created waves immediate to the vessel. A pair of bays on the northwest side of the island are used for protection from high winds and are deep enough for anchoring sailboats with keels. Whitefish, Montana, US is the #1 House in Whitefish, United States McGregor Lake - Middle . Take a short drive to restaurant, bar and public boat launch. Fish, Wildlife & Parks wardens are authorized to stop, halt, or inspect vessels in order to enforce the laws of this state. Please be sure . Always operate a vessel at a safe speed so that you are able to stop within the assured visible distance ahead or take proper and effective action to avoid collision. Fishing. Flathead Lake angler and guide Mike Howe shows off one of the lake's prized, though controversial, catches: a lake trout. Hauser Reservoir, Lewis & Clark County: Boats must travel at no-wake speed in the following areas: Lakeside Marina and Hauser Lake State Park at Black Sandy beach within 300 feet of the docks or as buoyed. An accident must be reported immediately to the local sheriffs office or game warden if it caused: The operator of a boat involved in a collision, accident, or other casualty must: Boating accident report forms are available from the county sheriff's office, game wardens, or anyMontana Fish, Wildlife & Parks office. Topless Lake, Topless Lake is in the Thompson Chain of Lakes, Lincoln County: Boats must travel at no-wake speed, Upper Carter Pond, Fergus County: Boats must travel at no-wake speed. Site Regulation: 10" minimum length limit with a creel limit of 10 fish per day. Parking. All parking regulations are listed on your current dockage lease. Any resident of the Flathead Indian Reservation can request bear spray for $10 when purchasing a 2021 Tribal recreation, camping, or fishing/hunting permit from our Fish, Wildlife & Recreation Conservation office in Polson. All watercraft operating on public lakes and reservoirs greater than 35 surface acres within the western fishing district are limited to no-wake speed from the shoreline to 200 feet from the shoreline. Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir, Lewis & Clark County: Manually powered or electric motors only. Individuals and nonprofit organizations may identify hazards on state waterways by placing a sign or marker at the hazard. 17.37 mile(s) Connect. Middle Thompson Lake, Lincoln County: Boats must travel at no-wake speed, only the channel between Middle and Lower Thompson lakes. display the name and telephone number of the individual or nonprofit organization that placed it; be maintained or removed by the individual or nonprofit organization when dictated by changing water conditions or seasonal changes; be placed only to signal a hazard in the waterway; they may not be used to mark swim areas, safe channels, speed limits or water skiing cources; be located on state waterways; they are not allowed on navigable waters with federal jurisdiction. Cottonwood Lake, Missoula County: Manually powered or electric motors only, Crystal Lake, Fergus County: Manually powered or electric motors only, East Gallatin Pond, Gallatin County: Closed to all motorboats. The safety of the public and firefighters, including fire aircraft and pilots is the highest priority. Willow Creek Reservoir (Harrison Lake), Madison County: Boats must travel at no-wake speed in all of Willow Creek Arm and Norwegian Arm as buoyed 6 PM-11 AM. Please check with destination park staff for local restrictions. "It's a chance to visit a place where the ecosystem is still untouched. Speaking of skeptics, others say the sturgeon was trucked in from elsewhere. A person with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more is considered under the influence of alcohol. ARM 12.8.212defines the rules for boating and swimming areas. Lake Marshall, Missoula County: Limited to manually operated watercraft and watercraft powered by electric motors. The . Boat owners must obtain a certificate of ownership (title) and certificate of number (registration) and pay allfeesto the County Treasurer in the county where the owner resides. Flathead. View the quick reference onUnderstanding Montana's Required Boat Decals. In the evenings northern pike are landed in the northern part of Flathead. There are a number of boat ramps near Polson. Boats that are properly registered in another state or country may operate in Montana for up to 90 consecutive days. . Flathead Lake is very popular for pleasure boaters. By continuing to use our website, youre agreeing to our cookie policy. It is illegal as well as unsafe to overpower a boat. The lake is thirteen miles long and three miles wide and has 162 miles of shoreline. He's currently an executive editor for Westwood One Radio. (2) Motorized watercraft of 20hp or less are permitted from June 16 to September 30. The following list of waterbodies have restrictions on the type of watercraft allowed, define no-wake speed areas, and identify lakes with water-ski directional rules. (. Boat owners should prepare their vessel for launching before parking at the boat ramp, should launch the vessel quickly, and move the tow vehicle so that others may use the area. For your Flathead Valley Real Estate needs Contact Dusty Dziza TODAY! Other dams not listed here may also be posted for restricted access. A Type V life jacket may be used in place of any life jacket if specifically approved by the U.S. Coast Guard for the activity in which the wearer is engaged. At Old Faithful Watersports, we believe there is no better way to experience Montana than from the water. Enjoy the days on the beautiful lawn which borders two hundred feet of Flathead Lake. 250' above the dam to 600' below the dam. $125+ /hour. The Swan and Flathead Rivers, fed by water from the snow-capped peaks on either side, empty into the lake near Bigfork along the northeast shoreline, and the result is clear and frigid water. Due to the lakes size and beauty, sailboats are common on the lake, along with pleasure boats of all kinds. Fuel stations are scarce out there. America's celebrated scribe John Steinbeck drove from Maine to California and back in 1960 in a truck with Charley, his poodle, on a 10,000- mile adventure to learn about the United States. Sheriffs, peace officers, and U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement officers also have authority to enforce these provisions. Salton Sea 4. Come aboard for an awe-inspiring adventure on Flathead Lake. Take a look at the new fees that were approved on January 4, 2022 and will be effective March 1, 2022: Flathead River (North Fork), Flathead County: Closed to all motorboats from the Canadian border to Camas bridge. ft 1 bedroom 1 bed Sleeps 12 1 bathroom 1 full bath Spaces Kitchen Deck/Patio Dining Area Because there are so few marine pumpout stations in Montana, boaters should check on the local availability of waste disposal stations before using their on-board facilities. Fishing regulations around Flathead Lake A fishing license allows a person to fish for and possess any fish or aquatic invertebrate authorized by the state's fishing regulations. "People are surprised by Flathead Lake," local resident Robert McDonald will tell you. [View map of Restrictions (PDF)]. For additional information and daily fire updates, visit inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7754 and follow the CSKT Division of Fires Facebook page. Consider this: A recent state figure suggests there are 100 lake trout for every one bull trout. Beaver Lake (near Whitefish), Flathead County: Boats must travel at no-wake speed from 5 AM-10 AM and 7 PM-11 PM each day. A white plastic milk jug attached by a cord to the hazard may also be used. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Boating Laws Resource Page; Boating Law Enforcement. Flathead Lake State Park. CAMPGROUND HOST. Lake trout: 100 daily and in possession, only 1 over 36 inches, and all fish 30 to 36 inches must be released. . Utah Lake 14. Now, he's already facing daily backlash about having it removed. San Luis Reservoir 5. The exceptions include: All watercraft operating on public lakes and reservoirs in the western fishing district that are 35 acres or fewer of surface water are limited to a no-wake speed. Earlier this year, the tribes suggested allowing gill nets to land more lake trout, but this idea has sparked a huge debate about how many native fish may also be caught in a gill net in an effort to reduce the lake trout numbers. The 'Painted Rocks' area, north of Wild Horse Island on the west shore, contains Indian paintings dating back hundreds of years. With years of guiding experience and a genuine passion for fishing and people, we guarantee you will have a wonderful trip. Check your fuel tank before going out. You can launch just a half-mile south of Bigfork at the 67-acre Wayfarer State Park. 500' above dam to 100' below the waterfalls. Lakes 35 Acres or Less(PDF) Lakes Greater than 35 Acres(PDF) The following dams are closed to all boating, sailing, floating and swimming or closed to all public access as marked by boat restraining systems or signs. All operators and riders must wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket, or personal flotation device (PFD). Flathead Boat Company is a family-owned and operated business with over 30 years of experience renting boats on Flathead Lake in the beautiful town of Polson. Closed to motorboats over 10 horsepower from the Camas bridge to the confluence of the Middle Fork. (Photo: Robert McDonald). All non-members must have on their person; whenever engaged in recreation activities on Tribally owned lands of the Reservation, a valid Flathead Reservation Use Permit, and any additional bird, fishing, or camping stamps as required. 2 bds; 2 ba; 3,059 sqft - Active. The application fee is $5. Exceptions to Standard Regulations: Flathead River Flathead Lake north of Flathead Indian Reservation boundary Catch-and-release for cutthroat trout. The area immediately above the dam is closed to all watercraft as posted or marked. Don't take a chance. From Canyon Ferry Dam to Riverside boat ramp. The Flathead River flows along Polson's shoreline for four miles until it comes to the Kerr Dam, which provides hydroelectric power to the nearby area. Fishing only six to eight feet from each other, we both set the hook at the same time, and reeled in a fish that had my tube jig in its mouth, and her jigging spoon in its lower jaw. New boat owners can obtain a validation decal from their County Treasurer when registering a new boat. Boats that are properly registered in another state or country may operate in Montana for up to 90 consecutive days. When a fixed fire extinguishing system is installed and operational in the machinery space of a boat, one less B-1 fire extinguisher is required. Colt Lake, Missoula County: Manually powered or electric motors only. The U.S. Coast Guard Capacity Plate on each boat provides the recommended horse power for that vessel. A combined total of 20 for one or more species of flathead (excluding dusky flathead) Near the south end of the lake, Finley Point is tucked into a conifer forest with camping, boat docks, and swimming. A personal watercraftis a motor boatthat the rider sits or stands on, rather than inside of. At the opposite end of Flathead and in the heart of the Salish-Kootenai Indian Reservation is the city of Polson. (2) Motorized watercraft towing a skier from a dock or the shore. Hyalite Reservoir, Gallatin County: Boats must travel at no-wake speed. The following lakes located with the Thompson Chain of Lakes in Lincoln county: Echo Lake in Flathead County is limited to a 200 feet from shoreline no wake speed except for the following areas: (a) the upper three islands in the southwest corner of section 5, approximately 1/4 mile southeast of the entrance of Blackies Bay; (b) the narrow corridor that serves as the entrance and exit to Blackies Bay located in the northwest corner of Echo Lake; and (c) the narrow corridor that serves as the entrance and exit to Causeway Bay located in the northeast corner of Echo Lake. There are five public landing sites on the island. Motorboats 40 feet to not more than 65 feet long must have at least three B-1 or one B-1 , and one B-II fire extinguishers. It is roughly 34 miles long and five miles wide. The river is wide and frequently quite deep. There must be a wearable life jacket (Type I, II, or III) for each person on vessels less than 16 feet long (including canoes and kayaks of any length). The lake itself is ringed by vacation homes of increasing size and elegance, as more and more individuals from outside Montana build exotic homes on the lake. At least one exhaust duct must be installed so as to extend to the lower portion of the bilge. Beautiful Rustic Cabin with a bedroom on the main floor and loft bedroom upstairs with breath taking views. The permanent decal must be displayed on the left (port) bow behind the boats number. Bighorn River, Big Horn County: Closed to all motorboats from Afterbay Dam to the Bighorn Fishing Acess Site. Boat owners must obtain a certificate of ownership (title) and certificate of number (registration) and pay allfeesto the County Treasurer in the county where the owner resides. 100' above the dam to the dam. Lake Tahoe 2. The boat owner is responsible for permanently affixing the HIN number on the boat and having the boat inspected by a peace officer. Inez Lake, Missoula County: Boats pulling, taking off with, and landing water skiers will travel in general counterclockwise direction. Pyramid Lake 8. If the personal watercraft is equipped with a lanyard-type cord that shuts off the engine if the operator falls off the craft, the lanyard must be attached to the operator's wrist or PFD. Clearwater River, Missoula County: Boats must travel at no-wake speed from the outlet of Seeley lake to the first bridge downstream from Camp Paxson swim dock; and from Boy Scout Road Bridge north of Seeley Lake to the mouth of Clearwater River at the north end of Seeley Lake. Placid Creek, Missoula County: Boats must travel at no-wake speed from its headwaters to the confluence with Placid Lake. ARM 12.11 covers no-wake zones, boat equipment requirements, and regulations for specific bodies of water. When the question comes up about where your next boat-and-trailer destination should be, vote "Montana." White Sandy Recreation Area within 300 feet of docks and swim area as buoyed. Wild Horse Island was used as a hiding place for the Pend d'Oreille Indians after numerous horses were seized on land by members of the Blackfeet Tribe. If the operator is 12 or younger, the observer must be at least 18. Flathead Lake is approximately 28 miles long and is a water-lover's recreational paradise. It's a state park with daytime-only access and reachable only by boat. Closed to all public access below ordinary high-water mark from the dam to 100' below the waterfalls. Certain Tribal campgrounds and recreation areas may have special regulations, which are posted, on site. The closed portion is described as Boulder Creek to Station Creek beginning at the shore and extending half a mile out into Flathead Lake. Blaine, Choteau, Fergus, Phillips Counties: Boats must travel at no-wake speed. operating a boat in a careless manner including such things as weaving through congested traffic, passing unreasonably or unnecessarily close to another vessel, and buzzing or wetting down others, crossing or jumping the wake of another boat within 100 yards of the vessel or within 100 yards of a water skier being towed by the vessel (except when directly entering or leaving a marina or other watercraft docking/loading area), travel at a speed which does not permit bringing the boat to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead, a reckless approach to, departure from, or passage by a dock, ramp, diving board, or float. RESTRICTIONS AT DAMS. Generally, the 12-digit hull identification (HIN) number is on the exterior of the vessels transom in the upper-right corner. Top Flathead Lake pontoon boat rentals. All colored lights must be visible for a distance of at least one mile. Old Faithful Watersports is conveniently located at the northern tip of Flathead Lake, in beautiful Bigfork, Montana. You can buy the lots or rent them by the week or month. It is the second largest impoundment in Illinois. There is also a popular launch on Finley Point, a peninsula that is also part of Flathead Lake State Park. The duct should not be located so that a normal accumulation of bilge water would obstruct it. They are quick to tell you there's nothing to see, nothing to do, and the trout and salmon are already gone and have moved to Canada. Gartside Reservoir, Richland County: Manually powered or electric motors only. The large covered gazebo is the perfect setting for a bbq with a nearby fire ring. Fresno Reservoir, Hill County: Boats must travel at no-wake speed in the area around the Fresno boat club docks, public boat ramp area, swimming, and beach area as buoyed and signed. They'll be on a boat or on a raft and look down and see rocks and then look again and realize the rocks are 12 feet beneath the water. Flathead Lake - Somers, MT, Flathead Lake Boat Ramp . Powerboats, sailboats and boats under sail may not be used to kill, capture, take, pursue, concentrate, drive, or stir up any upland game birds, game, or fur-bearing animals. Boats pulling, taking off with, and landing water skiers will travel in general counterclockwise direction. You can take a peaceful early morning journey, a scenic tour of our beautiful coves with a hike on Wildhorse Island, an evening sunset cruise on Flathead River or let us create a fully customizable tour just for you. The decision has left some. The rules dictate who has the right of way when vessels meet in open water and in crowded anchorages. Are motor boats allowed on Flathead Lake? The largest fresh water lake in the West, Flathead Lake provides miles of great boating. The southern half of Flathead Lake is within the boundary of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Flathead Reservation. Now here's a place so special that the locals prefer we not even write about it, fearing we'll encourage too many folks to visit. Only authorized exceptions such as search and rescue craft are exempt. Latest Posts. Angler blogs about the lake have a multiple theme, as in kinds of fish. Exception: (1) Motorized watercraft, except personal watercraft, are permitted from May 1 to June 15. on Flathead Lake in Woods Bay, MT. This is a large lake with large areas that have no sheltered spots so small boats can have difficulty getting in when the waves begin getting large, and they can get that way in a hurry. Closed to all public access below ordinary high-water mark from the dam to the east end of Ryan Island. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701. But these numbers don't do justice to the most-talked-about Flathead characteristic: It is stunning. Lake Trout: 100 daily and in possession, only 1 over 36 inches, and all fish 30 to 36 inches must be released. Steinbeck went on to write about his trip two years later in his novel, Travels with Charley; In Search of America. Personal watercraft must follow the same rules and equipment requirements as other boats. Features concrete boat ramp and a wheelchair-accessible fishing pier. Henry Reservoir, Toole County: Closed to all motorboats, Hidden Lake, Missoula County: Manually powered or electric motors only. Jet Ski Ramp and Boat Ramp included. Similar to a temporary flight restriction for aircraft, the boating restriction creates a no-public-boating zone on the surface water in order to ensure public and firefighter safety during wildfire response. Subscription to the print version of BoatUS Magazine, 4% back on purchases from West Marine stores or online at WestMarine.com, Discounts on fuel, transient slips, repairs and more at over 1,200 businesses, Deals on cruises, charters, car rentals, hotel stays and more. Lake freezes in winter. They always tell me they don't have clear water like this in the Midwest or on the East Coast.". Holter Lake, Lewis & Clark County: Boats must travel at no-wake speed in the following areas: Bureau of Land Management boat landing as buoyed, Juniper Bay, Log Gulch, Departure Point, Merriweather Camp, and Holter Lake Lodge docks.