Smith Lake
Open water. Hearing reports of Pike mostly. Use your smelt or spinnerbaits.

Thompson Chain
All lakes are ice free. We haven’t heard any reports yet.

Loon Lake
Open water. No reports yet.

​What: FREE Map and Compass Skills Class.

When: Saturday, April 14th, 2018 - 9 am to 3:30 pm.

Time: We will meet at 9 am at Snappy Sport Senter for approximately 2.5 hrs. to cover basics and head to field.

Where: Snappy's, 1400 Hwy 2 East, Kalispell, Montana. Website: www.snappysportsenter.com  phone: 406-257-7525.

Who: Mr. Baxter is a forester, wildlife researcher, and land survey technician, with several decades experience getting in and out of the woods safely! Brian has been teaching outdoor education programs for over 16 years.

Description: Be totally prepared for this hiking season by sharpening your mind and brushing up on your navigational skills with an experienced woods professional! We'll spend about 2.5 hours in the classroom setting learning how to properly read topographical maps, determining accurate distances, reading map scales, and setting precise magnetic declination. The second phase will be a field exercise, where we will apply the skills absorbed in the skull session! Please come prepared with proper boots for weather conditions, water, and lunch.

Recommended Materials: Please bring pencils, 360 degree protractor, calculator, ruler (10ths of inch), topographical maps at a 1:24,000 scale, and an orienteering compass with adjustable declination! Snappy's will have the professionals recommended adjustable declination Silva Ranger Compass on sale, and topographical maps as well. Note: Most students who learn the methods taught in this class, will be able to perform the basic navigation skills necessary for an average hike.

​The ice is finally starting to melt! Put you ice buckets away and get your nets out!

Flathead Lake
Fishing well for Lake Trout. The docks are in at West Short State Park, Sommers Bay and Wayfarers State Park. Fishing the delta is turning out good numbers of big Lake Trout and some Pike. Fish with whole dead fish on bottom: 15’-30’ water. Also cast large spoons or jigs. They are still catching some Lake Whitefish using Pete’s Whitefish Slayers as well.

​South End
Getting reports that East Bay is picking up for Perch. Try 1-1/2’-3’ water with small jigs and Pete’s Crappie Candy tipped with worms.

Rocky Point, Yellow Bay Point and The Narrows are all jigging well for the Lake Trout.

West Short State Park to Painted Rocks is still doing well trolling 150’-180’ with Flat Fish.

Go Fish Open House sponsored by Flathead Wildlife, Inc. and Snappy's.

Saturday, April 14 from 1-4 PM in Snappy's Courtyard.

Go Fish Open House aimed at providing basic fishing information to beginning anglers, single parents and newcomers to the Flathead. The Open House will feature anglers from the Western Montana and Echo Lake Bassmasters, Flathead Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited, Flathead Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Flathead Wildlife, Inc to answer basic questions on tackle, techniques and locations to fish for bass, pike, perch, kokanee and trout in streams and lakes in the Flathead and best places to take kids fishing.

There will be casting instruction for spinning, bait-casting and fly fishing. Meet informally one-on-one with local experts to pick up information to make you more successful fishing and to learn about fishing clubs in the area. The public is invited and welcome. More information? Call Jim Vashro at (406)270-9914.

Looks like Duke made it back. Showed up just this evening at 5:40pm. This signals the start of another year for us to observe Duke and Duchess raising their chicks. We can't wait to see what this year has in store! 

​You can watch 24/7 at www.ospreymontana.com and follow along.
Please feel free to pass it along to your friends and family.

What a great thing to wake up to on April 1st this year. Two birds touched down in our nest. They felt right at home and were soon nestled down and enjoying their perch. Feels great to have birds in the nest starting our 2018 season!