Flathead Lake - Flathead County, MT - American Guide Series on Waymarking.com

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Flathead Lake - Flathead County, MT

in American Guide Series

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11U E 706868 N 5322629

Flathead Lake is the largest natural lake in the U.S. west of the Mississippi River, with a surface area of 191.5 square miles and a maximum depth of 370.7 feet. It lies in both Flathead and Lake counties in northwest Montana.

FLATHEAD LAKE, about 30 miles long and 10 miles wide, has an average depth of 220 feet. A product of glacial action, it is fed mostly by the icy waters of melting glaciers and snowbanks in the high mountains to the east and north. Its outlet during the glacial age was westward through the Big Draw at Elmo into Little Bitterroot River; as the ice receded, a new outlet, from Poison Bay into Flathead River, developed. Local lore has it that Paul Bunyan became interested in Polson (see below), and in an effort to boom that town dug the new channel that replaced the Big Draw.

Flathead Lake offers opportunities for boating, swimming, and fishing. (Fishing best in June.) It is stocked with salmon, trout, whitefish, and bass. Several charming islands lie near the west shore. Near Dayton, accessible only by boat, are the PAINTED ROCKS, signs and characters in vivid colors left by an unknown Indian artist or historian long before white men saw the region.

For several years, land-locked sockeye salmon have been increasing in Flathead Lake. Large land-locked salmon are taken from Flathead Lake by trolling or snagging in late September and October. In the milder valleys west of the Continental Divide certain fruits do well. Sweet cherries have been grown in the Flathead Lake region for many years.

Motor boat Racing: Although the sport is in its infancy in Montana, some exciting races have been held on Flathead Lake and at Anaconda and Thompson Falls.
Montana: A State Guide Book, 1939

Much has changed along the shores of Flathead Lake since 1939, primarily in the way of development, both residential and recreational. There are several municipal and state parks on the lake, most being on the west side of the lake along Highway 33.

The lake remains a very popular fishing and recreational spot. It is renowned for being one of the cleanest lakes anywhere within a populated area. There are now several towns and communities around the lake, with Polson, the seat of Lake County, on the lake's south end being the largest.