NBM Dive Site Resource
Flathead Lake — Woods Bay
Bigfork, Montana, United States
A large, cold Montana lake with public access and tourism documentation specifically identifying scuba diving.
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Historic Picture Placeholder
Aquatic life at this dive site
What divers may encounter
Three reviewed connections are featured here. Sightings vary by season, conditions, and chance, so they are never guaranteed.
Lake Trout
Salvelinus namaycushCurrent Montana regulations specifically manage lake trout in Flathead Lake. Divers are most likely to encounter them along cold, deeper slopes rather than in warm shallows.
Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceOpen Aquatic Life Profile →
Lake Whitefish
Coregonus clupeaformisMontana fisheries sources identify lake whitefish as an abundant deep-water Flathead Lake species. Sightings are most plausible near deeper bottom contours and cooler water.
Seb951Open Aquatic Life Profile →
Yellow Perch
Perca flavescensMontana’s current Flathead Lake regulations include yellow perch. They favor shallower habitat, making protected bays, vegetation, and bottom transitions the most plausible encounter areas.
Robert CollettaOpen Aquatic Life Profile →
Site media
Photographs
Three views rotate from the published gallery on each visit.
Contributor media
Dive videos
Three featured video positions are reserved on every profile.Published reference location
Location map
The marker shows the public coordinates associated with this profile. Confirm current access, moorings, and departure details before the dive.Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Recent field observations
Diver-reported temperatures
Automatically checked observations from dives during the past 14 days. Three reports are visible at a time; scroll for more.A report that passes the automatic checks will appear here with the dive date, diver’s display name, and temperatures at each depth.
Reports are automatically checked for plausible dates, depths, and temperatures. They are observations, not forecasts; confirm conditions before diving.
Why divers know this place
Highlights
Large clear natural lake, mountain scenery, rocky shorelines, and deep-water profiles.
Before you arrive
Access notes
Confirm Montana FWP access, tribal-jurisdiction boundaries and permits, parking, boat traffic, weather, and dive-flag rules.
Plan within your training
Conditions and hazards
Cold water, extreme depth, wind, waves, boat traffic, steep drop-offs, and jurisdictional boundaries.
At the site
Facilities and support
Public ramp and toilet at Woods Bay; broader park and marina facilities around the lake.
Independent resource notice
This record is a starting point for independent verification. Access, closures, moorings, weather, currents, depth, visibility, operator availability, and site conditions can change without notice. Confirm current information with the responsible operator, property owner, managing authority, or another qualified local source before planning or attempting a dive.