Has anyone ever gone to FlatHead Lake in Montana?

[Hamin' X]

Thread Drift Warning

So many people are moving here from cities that it has sparked this popular bumper sticker.

Reminds me of Oregon in the '80s. Good luck, it didn't work for us.

Back to Montana

~Rich

[Russ]

So if you were going to head to a main spot to load up with food and fuel and then launch the boat from there where would that be? Also if I schedule for say 5 days to 7 days on the lake is that enough time or not enough? Too much? Also as far as being on the lake where would you go to see what? I also looked at a map yesterday and noticed that there is a reservation around the south part of the lake. Does that mean anything special in the states as in no trespassing or private land? Thanx for your help:)

Here's a nice map
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q ... 2154,d.cGE

I've not been to Flathead, buy my neighbors own a cabin on the lake and spend a few weeks there with their Bayliner.
I believe their cabin is on the South end near Polson. Polson is the biggest town on the lake. By biggest, that means about 4,000 people.
It's a big lake with mostly public parks and lands. There is some private property but you should be fine.
There is this $78 million dollar house on the lake on its own island. Check it out. http://www.businessinsider.com/shelter- ... 012-6?op=1

It's a deep lake with lots of places to hide and be alone. Several nice islands with wildlife including "Wild Horse Island" with actual wild horses.
Lake boating means watching the weather. Winds are unpredictable and storms pop up over the mountains. Flathead is a natural lake and therefore has deep clear waters.
More on boating http://www.flatheadlakers.org/index.php ... creational

[Catigale]

Do tell Cappyg. Who may some of the famous people be?

• David Letterman: Perhaps the most talked about of famous Montana residents, Letterman bought his ranch near Choteau 15 years ago and often mentions it on his late night TV show.

• Tom Brokaw: One of the most well-known newsmen of our time, the now retired Brokaw lives near Livingston where he raises cattle and bison.

• Jason Newsted: The former bass player for Metallica built a ranch near Bozeman a few years ago where he continues to record music with his band, Newsted.

• John Lithgow: Lithgow married a Montana gal and the two bought a cabin near Flathead Lake where they live year-round.

• Gerald Molen: Long before he won his Oscar for producing “Schindler’s List,” Molen was born in Great Falls and attended Whittier Elementary. Today, the producer lives in Bigfork.

• Peter Fonda: While many celebrities living in Montana have come here in recent years, Fonda moved to the Paradise Valley 40 years ago, just five years after appearing in “Easy Rider.”

• Jeff Bridges: The Dude is a neighbor of Fonda’s in Paradise Valley and has been a fan of Montana since his days filming “Thunderbolt and Lightfoot” in Great Falls. Just like Fonda, Bridges has been here for four decades. Earlier this year, a petition was created to get Bridges to run for senator in Montana.

• Christopher Paolini: Another resident of Paradise Valley, Paolini began writing his “Inheritance Cycle” books as a teenager living in the valley. The books include “Eragon,” “Eldest,” “Brisingr” and “Inheritance.”

• Jeff Ament: The famed Pearl Jam founder was born in Havre and raised in Big Sandy. When he’s not touring, recording music or spending time at his other home in Seattle, he lives just outside of Missoula.

• Huey Lewis: There’s no word whether The News frequent the area but Lewis lives on a ranch near Stevensville and has called Montana home since his career was at its peak in the mid-’80s.

• Andrew Smith: Smith, along with his brother Alex, are filmmakers who have made “Slaughter Rule” and the recently released “Winter in the Blood.” Andrew Smith is an associate professor at the University of Montana.

• Phil Jackson: Few have been as successful at coaching basketball as Jackson, who has so many championship rings (11) that he has to use his foot to wear them all. Born in Deer Lodge, Jackson is a part-time resident on Flathead Lake.

• Michael Keaton: From “Batman” to “Beetlejuice,” Keaton is one of the more recognizable celebrities to hang his hat in Montana. Keaton, who is also an avid outdoorsman, has a sprawling ranch located in southern Montana.

• Kiefer Sutherland: The product of Hollywood pedigree, Sutherland is most known for his role as Jack Bauer on “24.” He has owned a ranch in southern Montana near Columbus for nearly 30 years. He named his production company Still Water Films after the river of the same name that runs through his property.

• Ted Turner: The media magnate created CNN and then brought us TBS, TNT and Cartoon Network and he owns nearly two million acres of Montana, meaning he has twice as many acres as there are people in the state. The famous Montana landowner has been active in conservation and the reintroduction of bison in the region.

John Mayer: Musician owns a home in paradise valley

Dennis Quaid: Actor owns a home outside of Big Timber

Glenn Close: Actress owns a coffee shop in Bozeman

We get a lot of celebs as they like the landscape and relative anonymity as people leave them alone. I've seen Johnny Depp working out at a local health club. It's not unusual to see celebs about.

So many people are moving here from cities that it has sparked this popular bumper sticker.

I did 5 years up in Bozeman and loved the novelty of snow in July.

I remember the bumper sticker. " come to Montana, bring jobs!"

[dlandersson]

What is a "Flathead"?

Hello everyone. Last year I asked everyone if they have ever been to the Shuswaps in B.C. Canada and I got a lot of good information and feedback and it made my trip that much better. Now I am going to do the same but for next summer we are thinking of going to Flathead lake in Montana. I googled some pictures and the water looks crystal clear. We also want to just do a trip south of the border into the USA so I heard of this place. Thanx for your help.

[Tony E]

Hi Guys, Does anyone know if there would be any reason why a person can't stay on the lake over night in your Mac? Are there lakes that actually say "no you can't stay in your sailboat overnight and you have to find somewhere else to sleep?" I have checked all the documents and information and no where does it say that you can't stay overnight but I just want to make sure that it is okay. I am use to going north and spending weeks up there with basically no rules what so ever so this will be my first time heading south to the good old U.S. of A so I just want to make sure I do it right and according to the rules:) Thanx again for your help:)

[Russ]

Hi Guys, Does anyone know if there would be any reason why a person can't stay on the lake over night in your Mac? Are there lakes that actually say "no you can't stay in your sailboat overnight and you have to find somewhere else to sleep?" I have checked all the documents and information and no where does it say that you can't stay overnight but I just want to make sure that it is okay. I am use to going north and spending weeks up there with basically no rules what so ever so this will be my first time heading south to the good old U.S. of A so I just want to make sure I do it right and according to the rules:) Thanx again for your help:)

You can stay on your boat. Much of Flathead is a state park and overnight use is fine. There are plenty of areas you can anchor overnight and not see another boat. Most areas are like this. If you want to camp on shore in a campground, you may need to reserve a spot.

Our lake (Canyon Ferry Lake) is on Federal land and many folks take their boats out and camp on remote shores. We find remote coves without boats to stay.

The only consideration is summer thunderstorms. Watch weather as they can pop up from nowhere and the lake is deep and can whip up pretty bad.

http://fwpiis.mt.gov/content/getItem.aspx?id=34918

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q ... 2154,d.cGE

--Russ

[Tony E]

Thanx Russ, I had to buy a new map for my Lowrance gps/fish finder so I did not want to spend a couple hundred bucks if we weren't going to Flathead. If we couldn't stay over night in the MacGregor then I don't think I would go as that's half the fun. Thanx for the information and brochure. Sounds like a perfect place to sail. After I read your post I just ordered the new GPS maps but at least now I have lake maps for all of the United States. Do you know of any other good places/lakes to go to Russ that is up in northern U.S. to go and try sailing at? If you ever come up here I can point you in the right direction:)

[Sumner]

.. Do you know of any other good places/lakes to go to Russ that is up in northern U.S. to go and try sailing at? If you ever come up here I can point you in the right direction:)

We really enjoyed Priest Lake in upper Idaho and then ...





....going up the river with the boat to Upper Priest Lake. I wouldn't mind going back there. More info here...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... index.html

Sumner

============================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[Tony E]

Wow Summer that lakes looks amazing! I will go on your blog and read up on your trip. Thanx for the tip. Anywhere else?

[Chinook]

Regarding the question about what a flathead is: Name relates to the Flathead Indian Tribe, indigenous to that part of Montana. Several hundred years back, their custom was to carry their young around on a back pack with a board pressed against the forehead, which resulted in a deformed head shape. I believe Lewis and Clark encountered some from this tribe and commented on this practice. We haven't yet sailed on Flathead Lake, but hope to one day. We have sailed on Yellowstone Lake and Jackson Lake in the Tetons, and I expect conditions would be similar to Flathead Lake. All 3 are high elevation mountain region lakes, subject to sudden storms and strong winds, but spectacularly beautiful.

[dlandersson]

Not for "flatheads" aka ethnic norweigians?

Regarding the question about what a flathead is: Name relates to the Flathead Indian Tribe, indigenous to that part of Montana. Several hundred years back, their custom was to carry their young around on a back pack with a board pressed against the forehead, which resulted in a deformed head shape. I believe Lewis and Clark encountered some from this tribe and commented on this practice. We haven't yet sailed on Flathead Lake, but hope to one day. We have sailed on Yellowstone Lake and Jackson Lake in the Tetons, and I expect conditions would be similar to Flathead Lake. All 3 are high elevation mountain region lakes, subject to sudden storms and strong winds, but spectacularly beautiful.

[Catigale]

Hi Guys, Does anyone know if there would be any reason why a person can't stay on the lake over night in your Mac? Are there lakes that actually say "no you can't stay in your sailboat overnight and you have to find somewhere else to sleep?" I have checked all the documents and information and no where does it say that you can't stay overnight but I just want to make sure that it is okay. I am use to going north and spending weeks up there with basically no rules what so ever so this will be my first time heading south to the good old U.S. of A so I just want to make sure I do it right and according to the rules:) Thanx again for your help:)

Its Montana - if you aren't interfering with someone else, you can pretty much make up the rules.

[Tony E]

Ha ha Catigale, Thats funny ... In Canada I would substitute the province of New Found land for your Montana and then that would make it a good Canadian Joke:)