Flathead Lake

The city's name says it plainly — *epɫx̣ʷy̓u*, the Salish word for "has whitefish." Flathead Lake, the massive inland water anchoring the region, earned that reputation honestly. Lake Superior whitefish were introduced here in the early 1900s as part of widespread stocking efforts, and they held on, carving a niche in cold, deep water already rich with native fish. The southern half of the lake falls within the Flathead Indian Reservation. Come to fish deep, jig slow, and take the lake seriously.