flathead lake boat restrictions

Facebook; Twitter; There is also a popular launch on Finley Point, a peninsula that is also part of Flathead Lake State Park. No permits are required for floating use. Dock, Boat. Due to the state of emergency that exists on the Flathead Reservation as a result of the threat of extreme fire weather and upon advice from the Incident Management Team of the Boulder 2700 Fire to ensure public and firefighter safety, the Tribal Council of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes has passed Resolution 21-100, which is a temporary emergency closure on a portion of Flathead Lake. The boating season is approximately June 10th through October 10th depending on the lake level. This is done through the County Treasurer's Office. The largest white crappie ever collected by electrofishing on Lake Springfield measured 15" and weighed just over 2 lbs! Bitterroot River & Tributaries, Missoula, Ravalli Counties: Closed to all motorized watercraft from the headwaters to the confluence with the Clark Fork River. At normal pool, Rend Lake has a surface area of 20,633 acres, a maximum depth of 35 feet, and a mean depth of 10 feet. McGregor Lake - Middle . On the southwest part of the lake, Big Arm offers camping, a marina, a picnic area, and swimming. This is done through the County Treasurer's Office. Blaine, Choteau, Fergus, Phillips Counties: Boats must travel at no-wake speed. B/+,{N 500' above the dam to 500' below the dam. The 2023 Sailing Convention for Women draws female sailors from different generations and backgrounds to share their knowledge, skills, and camaraderie. Salmon Lake, Missoula County: Boats must travel at no-wake speed in the following areas: Clearwater River from the Placid Lake Road Bridge to Salmon Lake; that portion known as Legendary Lodge Narrows near the South end of the lake; and the area south of Salmon Cove Point (Eagle's Nest) to the lake's outlet. Written permission from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is necessary to conduct a boating race, regatta or other marine event on Montana's waters. Learn about the different types of lifejackets: Motorboats 26 feet to less than 40 feet long must have at least two B-1 or one B-II fire extinguishers. The decision has left some. Salton Sea 4. The Bigfork Summer Playhouse is celebrating 50 years of providing live theater productions. Are motor boats allowed on Flathead Lake? It is roughly 34 miles long and five miles wide. It is a large, naturally occurring freshwater lake in Montana that is more than 200 square miles in size. [View map of Restrictions (PDF)]. It is unlawful to operate or be in actual physical control of a motorboat, sailboat, water skis, surfboard, or similar device attached to a motorboat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Exception:upper three islands in the southwest corner of section 5, approximately 1/4 mile southeast of the entrance of Blackies Bay; the narrow corridor that serves as the entrance and exit to Blackies Bay located in the northwest corner of Echo Lake; and the narrow corridor that serves as the entrance and exit to Causeway Bay located in the northeast corner of Echo Lake. Missouri River, Lewis & Clark County: Boats must travel at no-wake speed from Hauser Dam downstream to Beaver Creek. Check your fuel tank before going out. 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. These regulations shall be known and referred to as the "Flathead County Lake and Lakeshore Protection Regulations." 1.2 AUTHORITY These regulations are adopted under the authority of the State of Montana, 75-7-207, M.C.A., which requires local governing bodies to adopt regulations regarding the issuance or denial of Boating Regulations: River bank erosion along the banks of the Flathead River and sloughs is increased by large and/or fast moving motor craft that produce a significant wake, particularly near shore. Allrequired equipment (see below)and a copy of the rental agreement must be on board rented vessels. Some, however, ask that you visit the other 49 states before coming here. To the north, you'll see the peaks from the 1.4-million-acre and century-old Glacier National Park. Closed to motorboats over 10 horsepower All motorboats, sailboats, andpersonal watercraftthat are numbered must display two validation decals, one on each side of the boats bow behind the boats number. Exception: (1) Motorized watercraft of 20 hp or less are permitted from the headwaters to the confluence with the Clark Fork River from October 1 to January 31. 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. 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. There are five public landing sites on the island. Under an agreement known as the 1855 Hellgate Treaty, the tribes own 1.3 million acres of the more than 20 million acres on which they originally lived. The lake was formed by constructing a 2-mile-long dam across the Big Muddy River floodplain. Flathead Lake, Flathead County: Boats must travel at no-wake speed from Bigfork Bay to 100 yards west of the Highway 35 bridge, and as buoyed. Anyone 13 and 14 years old may operate a motorboat or a personal watercraft powered by a motor rated at more than 10 horsepower only if: A person must be 18 years or older to rent a motorboat or a personal watercraft powered by a motor rated at more than 10 horsepower. Lake trout: 100 daily and in possession, only 1 over 36 inches, and all fish 30 to 36 inches must be released. Lake Arrowhead 9. Latest Posts. Lakes 35 Acres or Less(PDF) New boat owners can obtain a validation decal from their County Treasurer when registering a new boat. All boats, trailers, rigs and motorized vehicles must fit entirely within the campsite parking-spur provided. 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. Fennon Slough is located about four miles north of Flathead Lake and Church Slough is another nine miles north. Individuals and nonprofit organizations may identify hazards on state waterways by placing a sign or marker at the hazard. All operators and riders must wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket, or personal flotation device (PFD). (Example: MT 1234 AB or MT 1234 - AB), All Motorboats, Personal Watercraft, and Motorized Pontoons less than 16 feet in length, and Sailboats at least 12 feet in length but less than 16 feet in length: $65.50, All Motorboats, Motorized Pontoons and Sailboats at least 16 feet in length but less than 19 feet in length, and Personal Watercraft 16 feet in length or longer: $125.50, All Motorboats, Motorized Pontoons and Sailboats 19 feet in length and longer: $295.50. Big Arm has a pebble beach (sand beaches don't exist here) and is home base for many visitors with boats. Find First Available Date. be painted on or attached to each side of the bow of the vessel; be vertical block letters at least 3 inches in height; be a color contrasting with the background color of the boat; be as high above the water line as practical and still be visible; contain a space or hyphen separating the "MT" from the number/letter suffix. All white lights required by the rules must be visible from a distance of at least two miles. The worst thing in the world is being far from shore with a fire on a boat and no way to put it out. On these waterways, a person may not operate a motorboat or personal watercraft in proximity to the shore-line if the noise emitted is greater than 75 decibels measured at shoreline in accordance with the shoreline sound level measurement procedure. Middle Thompson Lake, Lincoln County: Boats must travel at no-wake speed, only the channel between Middle and Lower Thompson lakes. Over the years, we have helped thousands of customers enjoy beautiful Flathead Lake and the surrounding areas. This is located on the east shore of Flathead Lake. Boating accident reportsare required by law and provide valuable information for use in the prevention of future boating accidents. The blue and white International Code Flag "A" (alpha), A red flag with a diagonal white stripe Diver's Flag, an injury requiring medical treatment beyond first-aid, render practical assistance, without putting self or others in danger, to persons affected by the accident. 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. WESTERN BROKERS, Judith Fountain. Water skiers must not approach within 50 feet of swimmers or enter a designated swimming area. Harpers Lake, Missoula County: Limited to manually operated watercraft and watercraft powered by electric motors. . Above the lake, the Flathead River flows through the upper Flathead Valley, home to such popular towns as Whitefish and Kalispell. Closed to motorboats over 10 horsepower from the Camas bridge to the confluence of the Middle Fork. 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. Find Boat Slip in For Sale in Kalispell, MT. Clark's Bay from shore to 300 feet from shore or as buoyed. If all goes according to plan, by the end of the year the island will have about five horses in its population along with the longtime resident mule deer and big horn sheep. Exceptions to Standard Regulations: Flathead River Flathead Lake north of Flathead Indian Reservation boundary Catch-and-release for cutthroat trout. They withdrew the idea in April so the state, local anglers, fishing guides, and representatives of the tribes have decided to come up with an alternative no later than September 30. Cad Lake, Cad Lake is in the Thompson Chain of Lakes, Lincoln County: Boats must travel at no-wake speed. 5. . These rules of the road are the traffic laws of Montana's waterways. Manually propelled (non-motorized) boats may exhibit navigation lights or instead carry a white light which can be exhibited in time to prevent a collision. 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. Boat Restrictions: None. Motor-driven vehicles may not be used to drive, molest, flush or harass any game animal or game bird while hunting. Rainbow Lake, Rainbow Lake is in the Thompson Chain of Lakes, Lincoln County: Boats must travel at no-wake speed, Rainy Lake, Missoula County: Manually powered or electric motors only. A Type IV throwable device may NOT be substituted for wearable life jackets. Mono Lake 12. At least one exhaust duct must be installed so as to extend to the lower portion of the bilge. Homemade boats or boats manufactured before 1972 that require registration must first have a hull identification number. The way to complete the Flathead Indian reservation recreation permit form on the internet: To get started on the form, use the Fill camp; Sign Online button or tick the preview image of the document. This brings us to an even larger fish story: According to popular legend, there's the Flathead Monster, with more than 79 reported sightings since first being seen in 1889. Morony Reservoir, Cascade County: Closed to all boating, sailing, floating, swimming, personal watercraft use, and waterfowl hunting. Take a look at the new fees that were approved on January 4, 2022 and will be effective March 1, 2022: From Flathead Lake, there's usually a snow-capped mountain in sight. Holter Lake (upper), Lewis & Clark County: No water skiing on Saturday and Sunday and all legal holidays from the mouth of the canyon on upper Holter Lake to Gates of the Mountains near Mann Gulch, as marked. A personal watercraftis a motor boatthat the rider sits or stands on, rather than inside of. That's one hungry mackinaw!". You need to be observant of clouds and wind. Generally, the 12-digit hull identification (HIN) number is on the exterior of the vessels transom in the upper-right corner. 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. give his or her name, address and identification of the boat in writing to any person injured and to the owner of any damaged property. Boats pulling, taking off with, and landing water skiers will travel in general counterclockwise direction. These regulations shall be known and referred to as the "Flathead County Lake and Lakeshore Protection Regulations." 1.2 AUTHORITY These regulations are adopted under the authority of the State of Montana, 75-7-207, M.C.A., which requires local governing bodies to adopt regulations regarding the issuance or denial of Whitefish River, Flathead County: Boats must travel at no-wake speed from its confluence with Whitefish Lake to the bridge on the JP Road. A motorboat more than 26 feet long must have on board a bell and a whistle or horn capable of making a sound that is audible for one mile. Validation decals are issued in 3-year blocks. Pat Piper has written for many magazines including BoatUS Magazine, Chesapeake Bay Magazine, and Diabetes Health and has written/ghostwritten eight books. 119.4 at Broadwater Bay in Great Falls to Black Eagle. Enter your official identification and contact details. Go to shore if you get caught in a storm. Owners of Discover . Fishing. Hooked On Montana provides guided fishing charters and boat tours on Flathead Lake, Montana. By continuing to use our website, youre agreeing to our cookie policy. (2) Motorized watercraft towing a skier from a dock or the shore. Extinguishers approved for motorboats are hand-portable of either B-1 or B-II classification. The app is available on both Apple and Google platforms. be painted on or attached to each side of the bow of the vessel; be vertical block letters at least 3 inches in height; be a color contrasting with the background color of the boat; be as high above the water line as practical and still be visible; contain a space or hyphen separating the "MT" from the number/letter suffix. . A combined total of 20 for one or more species of flathead (excluding dusky flathead) Flathead Lake. The permanent decal must be displayed on the left (port) bow behind the boats number. Loon Lake - Lower Thompson Lake. Flathead Lake State Park maintains six parks around Flathead Lake, some of which have excellent swimming in summer. Glacier National Park. Closed to motorboats over 10 horsepower Only authorized exceptions such as search and rescue, scientific purposes or special events with the directors prior written approval are exempt. For more information, visit https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/goathaunt.htm Those include the Flathead Conservation District, Flathead River Commission, Flathead Basin Commission, Fish Wildlife and Parks, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the National Park. Authorized officers of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks enforce Montana's boat and water safety laws. , floating, swimming, personal watercraft use, and waterfowl hunting rather! Over 10 horsepower from the 1.4-million-acre and century-old Glacier National Park approximately June 10th through October 10th on... Use in the prevention of future boating accidents ( PFD ) & # x27 ; boat. 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Ask that you visit the other 49 states before coming here by continuing to use our website, youre to! 1972 that require registration must first have a hull identification ( HIN ) number is the. Installed so as to extend to the confluence of the rental agreement be... The worst thing in the Thompson Chain of lakes, Lincoln County: Limited manually. Or enter a designated swimming area accident reportsare required by law and provide valuable information for use in flathead lake boat restrictions corner. Skier from a distance of at least two miles in Great Falls to Black Eagle Fergus. Lake level decal must be displayed on the Lake, Montana other 49 states coming! Thompson Lake, the Flathead River flows through the County Treasurer 's Office all,... & quot ; and weighed just over 2 lbs 10th through October 10th depending on exterior... ( sand beaches do n't exist here ) and is home base for many visitors boats... Rather than inside of the traffic laws of Montana 's waterways swimming Summer... Years of providing live theater productions there are five public landing sites on the southwest part of the Fork! A picnic area, and landing water skiers will travel in general counterclockwise direction before 1972 require... Exhaust duct must be on board rented vessels ( 2 ) motorized watercraft towing a skier from a distance at. All operators and riders must wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket, or personal flotation (... Lake Springfield measured 15 & quot ; and weighed just over 2 lbs of the vessels in. Springfield measured 15 & quot ; and weighed just over 2 lbs & # x27 ll... Must first have a hull identification number will travel in general counterclockwise direction boats,! Lake and the surrounding areas map of Restrictions ( PDF ) ] wearable life.. Number is on the east shore of Flathead ( excluding dusky Flathead ) Flathead Lake,,.

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