Fishing Report, March 11

That “in like a lamb” feeling is officially transitioning as the “lion” prepares to wake up. Currently in Kalispell, it is 36°F with light snow showers and a southwest wind at 12 mph. While the recent sunshine was a welcome break, we are moving into a much more active pattern.

The forecast for Wednesday, March 18, shows a high of 62°F with a low of 39°F and mostly cloudy skies. Over the next seven days, we expect a shift towards more consistent moisture. This is part of a significant atmospheric river event expected to bring heavy snow to high elevations through Saturday, which is critical since the Flathead River Basin is currently at 87% of its median snowpack. This moisture could go a long way in closing that gap toward 100% before the season turns.

Fishing Report, March 11

Fishing Report, Whitefish

With the ice fishing season officially behind us, the focus has shifted entirely to the open water, and the timing couldn’t be better.

  • Flathead River: Flows have bumped up slightly to 4,180 cfs, and temps are peaking at 41 on the sunny days. The river is currently running a bit off-color due to the recent warm spell and localized runoff. Still, we expect clarity to improve over the next few days as temperatures drop and stabilize—fingers crossed! Who knows what this severe winter storm has in store for us. The trout remain active in the deep, slow runs, responding well to nymphs like stoneflies and San Juan worms.

  • Whitefish Lake: The lake trout (Mackinaw) bite is currently excellent. We are finding the most success vertical jigging in the 140–180 foot range. White tube jigs or heavy lead-heads tipped with cut bait are the “old reliable” setup right now. Staying mobile and using your electronics to stay on top of the schools is the key to a high-count day.

Fishing Report, Kalispell

Same as whitefish, but there are a few more open lakes west of town that are fishing great for lakers. We’ll have some more info for you as new lakes thaw out and are open.

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