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Spring has Sprung in the Flathead Valley

Posted by Troutslayer - Bigfork, Flathead Lake, Flathead Lake Fishing

After a long, cold winter in the Flathead, spring has sprung and that means the boats are on the water, the fishing is excellent and campgrounds are starting to fill up. All of the seasonal businesses are now open and ready to help you have the best vacation ever.

Fishing Report

Flathead Valley Fishing ReportI spoke with Captain Norm last week and he told me that the fishing this year is excellent. What can sometimes be slow this early in the season has surprised everyone with the results. He also said that he is looking for a great fishing report for the Flathead this year.

Although the Captain operates the largest fishing charter company on Flathead Lake, his boats can also be found fishing on Lake Koocanusa and numerous other local lakes. I would recommend that you book your fishing charter soon to make sure the day(s) you want are available.

Whitewater Everywhere

Spring means the snowpack is melting and we had approximately 130% of our normal precip last winter, which has swollen every river in the northwest. If you like to kayak or raft in whitewater, this is your ideal time of year. If you’re in Bigfork and you need to rent some water gear, check out  Bigfork Outdoor Rentals.

We just held our annual Bigfork Whitewater Festival a couple weeks ago and as this video shows, it was a lot of fun.

Looking for ‘Extreme Fun’?

OMG, this is the wildest fun you can have with with clothes on!

One of the newest and most exciting things to happen in the Flathead has been the arrival of FlyBoard® of Montana. FlyBoards are a jet propelled license to fun on the water. You can fly like a super hero or swim like a dolphin on steroids. You will want to give them a call to book a flight; they service Whitefish Lake, which is a short drive north on Rt. 93.

Flyboard Fun!

It’s easy to learn how to FlyBoard

The learning curve is short; most people after flying and diving in the water in 5-10 minutes with instruction from their experienced guides, you will be flying on your own in no time! Be sure to check out their website here.

Not too early to plan for the NW Montana Fair

Although it doesn’t happen until August, tickets are on sale now for the concerts. The best seats will go fast, so reserving yours now is a good idea. Whether you go for the events, displays, rides or the rodeo, this year’s fair is shaping up to be the best one yet. ~ We’ll see you there!

Flathead Valley is the place to be!

The Flathead Valley is a a great place to be during any season of the year, but there is something special about spring. The flowers are blooming in the valley, the mountains are still capped with snow and everyone is outside having fun. If you have a big event that you want to tell everyone about, be sure to and share your news.

Fishing Report, Flathead Lake, Flathead Lake Fishing, FlyBoard of Montana, kayaks, rafting, whitewater

Bar Stool Races at Cabin Fever Days

Posted by Troutslayer - Flathead Valley Announcements, Glacier National Park

Bar Stool Races in Bad Rock Canyon

By the time February rolls around, the holidays are behind us and winter has had its grip on Northwest Montana since November; the locals are suffering from cabin fever.

Located just outside Glacier National Park is a little community named Martin City. They have created a holiday called Cabin Fever Days and it has grown to become one of the most popular events in the area. The highlight of this weekend-long event are the bar stool races held on Sunday. Qualifying races start in the morning with the final races occurring in the afternoon. The streets are closed to traffic and lined with hay bales to separate the racers and the crowds.

Other activities are scheduled throughout the weekend at various solutions in the area; the Dam Town Tavern, Stonefly Lounge, Packers Roost, Southfork Saloon and the Deerlick Saloon to name a few.

Bar Stool Races – the rules

Although it is called barstool racing, the rules to enter are quite liberal. All that is required is that you mount your creation on a pair of skis. You will see everything from beds and overstuffed chairs to bicycles, farm implements and virtually anything else you can bolt to a pair of skis.

Cabin Fever Days

Bar Stool Races

If you are in or around the Flathead Valley in mid-February this is the place you will want to visit. Besides being a great time for all it is also an annual fundraiser used to help these local communities.

Cabin Fever Days, Dam Town Tavern, Glacier National Park, Martin City, Packers Roost, Stonefly Lounge

Bigfork Sushi Surprise

Posted by Troutslayer - Bigfork, Flathead Lake, Flathead Lake Attractions

Best Sushi in the Flathead (IMHO)

Flathead Lake website is NOT a restaurant review site, our focus is sharing information about the area and things we find interesting that should be of interest to residents and visitors alike.  Having said that, I wanted to tell you about a most delightful dining experience I had in Bigfork just yesterday.

Saketome SushiDowntown Bigfork has a number of great restaurants, but one of the real gems is Saketome Sushi. I am embarrassed to admit that I have been so overdue in trying this restaurant as I absolutely love sushi. Years ago I started frequenting another sushi restaurant in Whitefish and out of habit, that is where we always go…but not in the future.  From now on, we’re heading south to Bigfork when the sushi cravings start.

Everything from the décor, food presentation, portion sizes and prices were better than my “old” sushi restaurant.  And it doesn’t end there; the wait staff was more than friendly and responsive, it seemed that they went out of their way to make our visit special. I have traveled to Japan more times than I can remember and I have never had a sushi experience anywhere that topped our visit to Saketome Sushi; find them 459 Electric Ave. in downtown Bigfork.

If you are a Flathead Valley resident or planning to visit us, you need to put this restaurant on your To-Do list. You will not be disappointed and even if you live in Whitefish, it’s worth the drive.

Saketome Sushi does not know I am publishing this post (yet) and they have not asked or paid me to say anything about them – I don’t know any person associated with the restaurant except for meeting that wonderful young lady who served us yesterday.

Bigfork, Flathead Valley, Restaurants, Sushi

Mack Days on Flathead Lake

Posted by Troutslayer - Flathead Lake, Flathead Lake Event

2013 Spring Mack Days Now In Progress

Flathead Lake Mack Days from March 15 through May 19, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays- it’s happening now and it’s not too late to enter.  If you like to fish and you want a shot at winning some of that $150,000 in prize money, hook up the trailer and head to Flathead Lake this weekend.

What began as a plan to correct an imbalance in the Flathead Lake trout by the continually increasing population of lake trout has become a bi-annual fishing derby of sorts and growing in popularity.

Mack Days Trolling and Dock Fishing Videos

The official website for Mack Days is http://www.mackdays.com. You can get all the details on the prizes and rules. Also, they just added some great videos that can help you land those big fish.

Mack Days Fishing Tips Videos

If you participate and get some photos of your catch, send us an email and include your pics – we’ll post them here. Thanks and good fishing!

Fishing, Flathead Lake, Mack Days

Have you heard about the new “Flathead Guide”?

Posted by Troutslayer - Flathead Lake Attractions, Flathead Valley Announcements

A Flathead Valley Guide to Local Businesses

Launched in January of this year, the Flathead Guide is a directory of businesses and services for the Flathead Valley.  Visitors to the Flathead have to do their own research to locate restaurants, motels and all other vacation related products and services. Now there is one convenient resource for all things Flathead Valley.

Flathead Valley tourist informationGet the Flathead Guide on your Smartphone!

A business directory is a good idea, but having a directory that is accessible from your mobile phone is a great idea. Now you can take it with you and have information available 24 x 7 at your fingertips.

Find local restaurants, hotels, taverns, boat rentals, fishing charters and virtually anything else you want to do when you visit the Flathead Valley. Each business listing is like a ‘mini-website’ giving you the information you want to find fast. In addition to the business’ name and contact info. you can see a Google map for quick directions, an overview of their products or services and “Tap to Call’ their phone number and talk to the company.

Calling Flathead Valley Businesses

If you are a local business and you do not see your listing in the Guide, learn more about the Flathead Guide and why you should list your business in the directory.

Flathead Guide, Flathead Valley, Flathead Valley Businesses

Flathead Lake Vacation

Posted by Troutslayer - Flathead Lake, Flathead Lake Attractions

What can you do on vacation to Flathead Lake?

Is Flathead Lake the ultimate NW Montana destination?

The answers to these question are as varied as the people who visit this area every year. The Flathead Lake area offers so many things to see and do that there isn’t any one thing that makes us famous; it’s the combination of things! Take this video as just one example of the fun you can have staying at a guest ranch on Flathead Lake.

You could fill a vacation with unique experiences if you never left Flathead Lake. The boating, fishing and water sports are fabulous and great family-oriented attractions surround the lake. Yet, within a short drive you can experience the grandeur of Glacier National Park, the world-famous ski slopes of Whitefish Mountain or hike tens of thousands of miles of the Bob Marshal Wilderness area.

Northwest Montana draws vacationers from all over the world. They come to experience our natural beauty and to relax and recharge from the stress of urban living. If you and your family are looking for America’s best vacation spot, you can’t do better than this.

* This video was filmed at Flathead Lake Lodge – Montana Dude Ranch.

Flathead Lake, Flathead Lake Lodge, Glacier National Park, Vacation

August Update

Posted by Troutslayer - Flathead Lake, Flathead Lake Fishing, Wild Horse Island

Woman, 91, conquers her fear of water

A Flathead Valley resident all her life, she was born along with twin sister Irene in May 1921 on her grandparents’ farm in LaSalle, an area near Glacier Park International Airport. She can’t recall any water-related trauma happening to her. Schroeder said she never had a near-drowning incident or other water accident. Read her story and get inspired…

Special Forces soldiers treated to Flathead Lake vacation

Five families have welcomed active Special Operations soldiers into their homes as part of a special retreat. The Special Forces Association Chapter 28 and US Army Special Operations Command in Fort Bragg organized the all-expense paid trip for active duty Special Forces soldiers and their families to a retreat at Flathead Lake and Bigfork. Read the story here…

Super Scoopers Fighting Polson Fire

Two “Super Scooper” air tankers have joined the fight against the West Garceau Fire burning about 15 miles west of Polson. Currently based at Glacier Park International Airport, the distinctive yellow Canadair CL-215s can scoop up more than 1,400 gallons of water in just 10 seconds. More…

Flathead Lake Fishing Outstanding

Captain Norm’s Fish~N~Fun charter is having the best year ever. We spoke to the Captain this week and he told us that business had never been better and he was having some record-breaking fishing outings.

Flathead Lake Fishing Charters Breaking All Records

Wild Horse Island

New video posted of the Spanish Mustangs that call Wild Horse Island home.  Let us know what you think.

 

 

Flathead Lake, Flathead Lake Fishing, Kalispell, Polson, Wild Horse Island

Flathead Lake News

Posted by Troutslayer - Flathead Lake

News and Info for Flathead Lake Montana

  • Flathead Lake Montana cherry growers organized late-season picking sessions this week, as orchard operations got back into full swing after a bumper crop across the Pacific Northwest forced prices down and halted picking for several days. Read story…
  • In its inaugural year, the Polson Triathlon is believed to be the town’s first ever and is most likely the first one in the area to dip into Flathead Lake. Read more…
  • Visible water clarity is key to determining the health of a water body and this fall Flathead Lake viewers should be able to see up to 17 meters below the surface. Read more…
  • Not everyone who visits Flathead Lake is a fisherman who wants to fish the lake, but everyone who visits wants to see and experience as much of the lake as possible. Read Flathead Lake boat tours…

Over Woods Bay on Flathead Lake with the Cinestar 6

Over Woods Bay on Flathead Lake with the Cinestar 6 from GravityShots.com on Vimeo.

Flathead Cherries, Flathead Lake, Polson, Woods Bay
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