The waters of Glacier National Park abound in fish. All popular species
of trout have been planted. They have thrived owing to the abundant
natural fish foods and the nearly constant temperature of the waters
the year around. Cutthroat, eastern brook, and rainbow, are the most
abundant. Fly fishing is the greatest sport, but spinners and the
ever-abundant grasshopper may be used successfully by those not skilled
in the use of the fly. In the larger lakes a Mackinaw or Dolly Varden
weighing 40 pounds is a possibility. All fishing must be in conformity
with the park regulations.
[Illustration: _Hileman photo._ FISHING THE RAPIDS]
_Two Medicine Chalets._--Two Medicine Lake has become well known for
its eastern brook and rainbow trout. Good fishing is also found in the
Two Medicine River below Trick Falls. This lake and stream are probably
better stocked than any in the park, because of the proximity to the
hatchery at the eastern entrance.
_Cut Bank Chalets._--This camp is located on the banks of the North
Fork of Cut Bank Creek, which may be fished both ways from the camp for
a distance of from 3 to 5 miles. Cutthroat and eastern brook inhabit
this section, and the fisherman who takes the center of the stream and
fishes with skill is sure of a well-filled creel. The South Fork at Cut
Bank Creek is a wild little stream, well stocked, but little known.
_St. Mary Chalets._--St. Mary Lake is the home of the Mackinaw trout,
as well as cutthroat and rainbow trout. Numerous streams empty into
this lake from which a goodly toll may be taken with fly or spinner.
Red Eagle Lake, easily reached by trail from St. Mary Chalets, is one
of the best fishing spots in the park. There is also good fishing in
Red Eagle Creek.
_Going-to-the-Sun Chalets._--The lakes in Roes Creek Basin will furnish
excellent sport. For the large Mackinaw trout the upper end of St. Mary
Lake is a good place. Gunsight Lake, 9 miles distant, is well stocked
with rainbow trout.
_Many Glacier Hotel._--Lake Sherburne contains pike, Lake Superior
whitefish, and rainbow and cutthroat trout. Pike, and often a
cutthroat, are readily taken with the troll. Swiftcurrent River affords
good stream fishing for the fly caster. Swiftcurrent, Grinnell,
Josephine, and Ptarmigan Lakes are famous for cutthroat, eastern brook,
and rainbow trout. The small lakes along the Swiftcurrent Pass Trail
abound in eastern brook and rainbow trout. Cracker Lake is always ready
to fill the creel with a small black-spotted trout.
The North and South Forks of Kennedy Creek are excellent for fishing.
Cutthroats are abundant in them and in Slide Lake. Lower Kennedy Lake
on the South Fork abounds in grayling.
_Lake McDonald Hotel._--Fishing in Lake McDonald is good but there is
unusually good trout fishing in Fish Lake (2 miles), Avalanche Lake (9
miles), Snyder Lake (5 miles), and Lincoln Lake (11 miles). Trout Lake
(7 miles) and Arrow Lake (11 miles), as well as McDonald Creek, also
furnish a good day's sport.
There is a good automobile road to within 3 miles of Avalanche Lake.
_Red Eagle Tent Camp._--Red Eagle Lake and Red Eagle Creek, both above
and below the lake, abound in large cutthroat trout, some attaining the
weight of 7 pounds.
_Crossley Lake Tent Camp._--Crossley and other lakes on the Middle Fork
of the Belly River furnish excellent sport. Cutthroat and Mackinaw
trout are found here. Large rainbow trout and grayling abound in
Elizabeth Lake. In the Belly River proper, rainbow and cutthroat trout
and grayling are plentiful.
_Goathaunt Tent Camp._--Large Mackinaw and cutthroat trout are found in
Waterton Lake; eastern brook trout are numerous in Waterton River; Lake
Francis on Olson Creek abounds in rainbow trout.