Paul Fugleberg, a freelance writer and former editor and co-publisher of the Flathead Courier in Polson and the Ronan Pioneer, suggests that you “keep your eyes open and your binoculars and cameras handy” when you’re at Flathead Lake. Dresbach, MN. Lake trout. There have been more sightings of the monster than this, but the year 1993 proved to be a very significant year in hunting the Flathead Lake Monster. "Paul Fugleberg: Flathead Lake sturgeon catch still controversial". Hanzel doesn't know if the Monster is really out in the lake, but regardless, the 97 sightings since the late 1800's are still part of the Flathead's rich history. Gallery | Flathead Lake Fishing Charters View photos from the past few years of our fishing tours! Flathead Lake’s bottom is 370 feet at its deepest point, and its average depth is 164 feet. And while Nessie has not been discovered, the real story behind the Ogopogo or the Flathead Lake monster or those in Manitoba and the Great Lakes must be treated with a deal more seriousness. The narrative holds that the Kutenai never strayed far from the lakeshore after that, and white settlers later reported occasionally seeing the monster. Since 1889, there have been more than 100 recorded sightings of super-sized fish and other strange objects or critters in the lake. According to the Minnesota DNR length, girth, weight relationship chart, this fish is over … The current state record measurements are 73 inches long with a girth of 30 inches. https://galactic-creatures.fandom.com/wiki/Flathead_Lake_Monster This is a huge body of water presenting fishermen with several challenges. However, an alternative explanation is that one of the more common fish in the lake, such as a sturgeon, is being mistaken for the monster and that is why multiple people are seeing it. Its appearance is very similar to that of the Loch Ness Monster, and the two have often been said to be the same type of creature. alt="First Strike Lures"; With … A man named C. Leslie Griffith was reported to have caught a 7-foot, 6-inch, 181-pound, 1-ounce white sturgeon, now displayed at the Polson-Flathead Historical Museum. [4], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}47°54′14.39″N 114°6′44.39″W / 47.9039972°N 114.1123306°W / 47.9039972; -114.1123306, Montana Myths and Legends: The True Stories behind History’s Mysteries, "Paul Fugleberg: Flathead Lake sturgeon catch still controversial", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Flathead_Lake_Monster&oldid=987240895, Legendary creatures of the indigenous peoples of North America, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 5 November 2020, at 20:12. Like any worthwhile lake, it is home to a legendary monster. Kaitlin Woodward’s Kayak Bowfishing Setup, The Lake is Calling and I Must Go - Advice From Avid Fishermen Jane Davis, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Posts: 172. The majority of reports, as previously stated, would suggest that the creature looks nothing like a sturgeon, but more like a large eel, leaving the mystery of the Lake Flathead Monster alive and well. General Inquires: info@polsonflatheadmuseum.org  In the 1950s, a significant cash reward was offered by Big Fish Unlimited to anyone who could catch what was termed the "superfish" of Flathead Lake. • Hank caught his first fish over 60 years ago, and has been dedicated fisherman ever since. More sightings of the creature were reported every year. The last two state-record sturgeon, including the current state record, came from the Rainy River. The majority of reports, as previously stated, would suggest that the creature looks nothing like a sturgeon, but more like a large eel, leaving the mystery of the Lake Flathead Monster alive and well. Thinking the antlers belonged to some animal, the girls decided to chop them off and take them. At twenty-eight miles long, sixteen miles wide, and 370 feet deep, Montana’s Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River, and similar in size to Scotland’s Loch Ness (although larger in surface area, but only half as deep). Flathead Lake Monster Virtual Fishing Tournament, 708 Main Street, PO Box 206 Polson Montana 59860. The Montana Flathead Lake Monster is a cryptid that lives in the Flathead Lake in Montana, as you might have guessed. Fish Lake is home to some massive lake trout, but Flaming Gorge is where the true monsters dwell. One winter while crossing the frozen lake to move camp, two girls saw antlers approximately two feet in length protruding through the frozen ice. There are two kinds of Minnesota state records: One for catching and keeping the biggest fish in each species based on certified weight; and the other for the length of a caught-and-released muskellunge, northern pike, lake sturgeon or flathead catfish. The Missoulian. Carved out by a glacial dam long ago, Flathead Lake is one of the cleanest and most well known lakes in western Montana—but several residents claim that hidden beneath the scenic beauty, something sinister resides. Local residents have reported sighting other aquatic fauna in the lake as well, such as sturgeon and the Flathead Lake Monster. - Muskie - Sturgeon - Carp - Flathead Catfish - Paddlefish - Blue Catfish - Largemouth Bass - Alligator Gar - Lake Trout - Striped Bass Muskies Giant fish with a nasty attitude If you are looking for the most exciting fish to catch in the heavyweight division, this may well be it. They used sharp-edged rocks to cut through the ice when the antlers suddenly started shaking, the ice around them split open, and the head of a monster appeared through the ice shaking its giant antlers. Sturgeons can grow to be over ten feet long and may even be described as having prehistoric looking features. The MN DNR came up … Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi in the lower 48 states. References ↑ "About Lake Flathead." Flathead Lake is on the southern tip of the Rocky Mountain Trench. See our “Big Fish,” the 7 1/2 foot, 181 lbs. The story of the Flathead Lake Monster dates back well over 100 years. The Flathead… The majority of reports, as previously stated, would suggest that the creature looks nothing like a sturgeon, but more like a large eel, leaving the mystery of the Lake Flathead Monster alive and well. Captain Hank Campbell It’s more than just fishing, it’s a passion! ‘Monster’ sightings still occur each year as area residents and visitors spot mystery creatures on the lake surface. Included on the monster fish list are alligator gar, lake sturgeon, paddlefish, flathead catfish, and blue catfish. You need to buy a tag, and the limit is essentially one monster … But he won’t tell you it doesn’t. Flathead Lake Monster (686 words) exact match in snippet view article find links to article ISBN 978-1-4930-2350-9. Please consider making a donation to the Museum. Some local groups even offered cash rewards for sturgeons caught out of Flathead Lake. “I enjoy passing my knowledge on to people, which is why I like to provide a hands-on approach for customers. This is the largest lake in the western United States, reaching 370 feet at its deepest point. The lake is inhabited by the native bull trout and cutthroat trout, as well as the non-native lake trout, yellow perch, and lake whitefish. Flathead Lake Monster Charters – Bigfork, Montana. The current state record measurements are 73 inches long with a girth of 30 inches. This lake is on the southern tip of the Rocky Mountain Trench. Participant. APRIL 05, 2015 5:00 PM * PAUL FUGLEBERG With the Spring Mack Days fishing derby underway, this may be an opportune time to tell about the controversial Flathead Lake sturgeon catch of May 28, 1955. At that time, the lake was more comparable to the size of Lake Michigan and would have supported many more species than it currently supports. In Montana folklore, the Flathead Lake Monster is a lake monster located in Flathead Lake in Montana. Some describe a whale or giant sturgeon, said to weigh up to 1,500 pounds. It is located in northwest Montana and is the largest lake in the western United States, approximately 28 miles (50 km) long and 16 miles (25 km) wide, and 370.7 ft (113.0 m) in depth at its deepest point. In the case of sturgeon, the only harvest opportunities exist on the Rainy and St. Croix Rivers. Fishing Flathead Lake without a fishing guide would be like playing darts with a blindfold; only blind luck would determine if you scored. This is the largest of the monster fish found in Missouri. Since 1889, there have been more than 100 recorded sightings of super-sized fish and other strange objects or critters in the lake. The monster fish weighed over one hundred and eighty pounds. South of Polson is the town of Pablo, Montana, where you can make use of the services of Native Ed-Ventures, which provides visitors a personal tour guide to the local native cultures and cultural events, … The other 53 reports, again according to Vashro, generally describe "a creature greater than 10 feet long" - even up … Posts: 7,891. Many speculated that the lake monster was an overgrown sturgeon. Polson Flathead Historical Museum Administrative Matters: office@polsonflatheadmuseum.org  According to the story, one of the passengers on the steamer shot at the creature and sent it diving for safety. Among the most … The lake is almost 30 miles long and 15 miles wide at its broadest point. 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