Stumping for more fishing access on the Flathead River

The most common fishing question being asked in the Flathead Valley this week is, “Are the whitefish in the river?”

And the most common fishing statement is, “I don’t know where to go whitefishing this year, now that the Highway 35 hole has blown out. And I’m guessing Old Steel Bridge will be a zoo.  I wish I had another place to fish.”

Ya, well, join the crowd. 

Veteran whitefishers know that the tasty lake whitefish on their annual spawning trek up the Flathead River generally move at night and rest during daylight in deep holes.

And anglers who float the river in warmer months pretty much know the location of those deep holes between Columbia Falls and Old Steel Bridge.

Problem is getting there now.

Floating is an option, but Teakettle Fishing Access Site (never mind, it’s closed now), try Kokanee Bend FAS to Pressentine FAS is at least a couple hours.

Pressentine to Old Steel is much longer.

Setting up, at first light, in either case would require floating in the dark.

Motorboats greater than 10 hp are allowed Teakettle-to-Old Steel, but don’t ask to borrow mine!  There just isn’t enough water in the river.

Carefully operated small kickers on car-toppers would work, but put another person or two in the boat and upstream distance is severely impacted by slow speed.

Jet outdrives are out of the question for most of us.

Montana’s Stream Access Law says, if you gain legal access to the water, you can walk between the normal high water marks.

Might work, if you’ve got lots of time and don’t plan to keep more than a few whitefish.

For years, I’ve been an advocate for establishing a new FAS between Pressentine and Old Steel Bridge.

Montana state legislatures waiver on acquiring fishing access sites, even though they are partially funded by the feds. 

The previous legislature wasn’t very sympathetic towards acquiring additional public access sites. Hopefully, future lawmakers will see the benefits of providing additional public access on the Flathead River between Columbia Falls and Kalispell.