Hungry Horse Reservoir

Boat Ramps: 3
Access Points: 3
Species: 4

Located in northwestern Montana, Hungry Horse Reservoir is a vast 23,500-acre body of water created by Hungry Horse Dam on the South Fork Flathead River. Situated just 5 miles east of Columbia Falls and about 20 miles northeast of Kalispell, this remote reservoir boasts impressive statistics with 170 miles of shoreline and sits amid beautiful mountainous terrain. The reservoir is known for its pristine waters and natural setting, surrounded by more than 25 mountain peaks and less than 30 miles from the Continental Divide. While primarily managed for power production and flood control, Hungry Horse Reservoir offers anglers a unique fishing experience in a wilderness setting.

Montana licenses and regulations4 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Hungry Horse Reservoir and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Cutthroat Trout

Oncorhynchus clarkii

Bull Trout

Salvelinus confluentus

Mountain Whitefish

Prosopium williamsoni

Northern Pikeminnow

Ptychocheilus oregonensis

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Hungry Horse Reservoir. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

Know where you can legally fish on Hungry Horse Reservoir

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Montana licenses and regulations

Montana Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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Montana Fishing License

All anglers 12 and over must possess a license.

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Montana Fishing Regulations

This river has a variety of species and regulations, including potential floating and/or watercraft restrictions. Because this river is specially managed for species, seasons, angling methods, and watercraft, it is strongly encouraged you check all federal, state, and local regulations before fishing. Visit any of the links below, inquire locally, or contact a local fly shop to learn current regulations and restrictions.

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Montana Stream Access Laws

Under the Montana Stream Access Law, the public may use rivers and streams for recreational purposes up to the ordinary high water marks. Although the law gives recreationists the right to use rivers and streams for water-related recreation, it does not give them the right to enter private lands bordering those streams or to cross private lands to gain access to streams without landowner permission. Montana's stream access law ensures public access to surface waters by public bridge or county road right-of-way. The width of a public bridge or public road right-of-way easement is the same as the public highway to which it is attached.

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Take Hungry Horse Reservoir with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Hungry Horse Reservoir to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Hungry Horse Reservoir to find where and when fish are biting for you.
HD depth charts from Garmin
Find drop offs, ledges, channels, points and shallow flats with Garmin depth charts in the app.