Ice fishing is a great way to get outside during the cold winter months. Just make sure to bundle up to keep yourself warm while you're out on the ice.
Where To Go Ice Fishing:
Flathead Lake
Half way between Kalispell and Missoula (roughly a 120 mile distance), Flathead Lake is the largest natural body of fresh water west of the Mississippi River. The lake itself does not freeze, but bays lying along both western and eastern shores often freeze enough to successfully ice fish. Expect to find Lake & Whitefish Trout, Yellow Perch & Cutthroat Trout.
Directions.
Georgetown Lake
A popular ice fishing location near Anaconda, MT (90 miles from Missoula, or an hour and 40 minutes by car) that has easy access, and only a short distance from the Discovery Basin Ski Area. Be looking for Salmon, Rainbow & Brook Trout. Directions.
Seeley Swan Valley
Among the many numerous lakes present in the Seeley Swan Valley are the highly popular Salmon, Holland & Placid Lakes that are an easy day trip from Missoula. Expect to find Bull Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Kokanee Salmon & Northern Pike. Directions.
Rules and Regulations:
- 2 lines with 2 hooks per line on all lakes and reservoirs open to fishing. When a line is
used through the ice, the angler need not be in immediate control but must be in the
vicinity and in visual contact with the line.
- In waters not open to spearing, the maximum size hole that may be used for ice fishing
is 144 square inches or 12 inches in diameter.
- There is no size limit for a hole used for fishing with a spear.
Shelters
It is illegal to use any ice fishing shelter not conforming to the following rules:
- Definition/use: Any hut or enclosure constructed of any material, except ice or snow,
for the purpose of ice fishing.
- Identification: Identification must be painted on or otherwise affixed to all unattended
shelters in legible, 2-inch letters plainly visible at a distance of 100 feet. Identification
must include the owner?s name and address, name and phone number, or 9/10-digit
ALS number. Attended shelters at Brown?s Lake and Georgetown Lake must also be
identified.
- Inspection: Each closed shelter shall have a door that an officer may readily open
from the outside for inspection when it is occupied.
- Waste and rubbish disposal: Owners and occupants of shelters are required to
keep their shelters (and the area immediately around them) free from rubbish and
trash. Anglers must remove waste materials before they leave for the day.
- Removal: Daily removal of shelters is required on:
Browns Lake (near Ovando)
Echo Lake (near Anaconda)
Georgetown Lake
- Removal after the season: The owner of an ice fishing shelter shall remove it from
the ice before it becomes irretrievable at the end of the season, or within five days
from receipt of notification from FWP to remove the shelter.
More Information
Remember to recreate responsibly as you explore all of the winter activities available in and around Missoula.
