The first thing to know about Ashley Lake is that it is lesser-known. Why is this important? In Northwest Montana, Flathead and Whitefish Lakes are the Flathead area’s divas. Everyone knows about them, and everyone wants to live and recreate in and on them – and with good reason - they are gorgeous and a water enthusiast’s dream. Because they are so well known, however, they tend to overshadow some of the smaller lakes in the region. 

 

Ashley Lake, as you are about to learn, is no slouch on the Montana lake stage. The fact that locals can live in Montana their whole lives and not know anything about it, means fewer people, more privacy, and the ability to truly enjoy all the outstanding recreation the lake offers. 

 

2. Size and Elevation

Unlike some high-elevation lakes, Ashley Lake is not a mountain mud puddle. Nestled at about 4000 feet in elevation, this lake is just shy of five miles long, and nearly a mile across, and deep! Ashley Lake is 225 feet deep in places and the average depth of this lake is 89 feet. By now, we should have the attention of all the fishermen and fisherwomen reading this – deep water means BIG fish. More on that in a minute… 

3. Tropical Hue

One of the most unique things about Ashley Lake is that it has a tropical hue in spots and at its edge. The lake has patches of aqua-marine, turquoise water that will make you feel like you are on the Gulf Coast. This is the result of the way the sun reflects off of the sediment that is fed into the lake from a freshwater creek. 

 

4. Large Fish

You’ve been patient, fishing fanatics! May we present an Ashley Lake fishing report. Because of this lake’s depth and lack of pressure, it grows its fish are large and plentiful. Ashley Lake has perch, cut-throat, rainbow, cut-bow, and (according to the owner of 5470 Ashley Lake) brown trout. A four and five-pound rainbow on the end of your fly rod is not uncommon, and legend has it that lucky fishers snag a ten-pounder on occasion! This lake is truly a fisherman’s paradise. 

 

 

5. Ashley Lake Has Loons!

If you are a birder, you know that loons are not common in Montana and that they are more likely to be spotted in states with lots of lakes like New England states and Minnesota.

 

According to the National Park Service, the common loon in Montana is a “species of concern” – meaning the species is at risk, and ongoing conservation management is required to mitigate that risk. There are currently only 72 breeding pairs of loons in Montana, with their habitat stretching across the Crown of the Continent ecosystem. 

 

Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks report that the common loon prefers lakes over five acres in size, clear water, little disturbance, and a good supply of fish and/or aquatic invertebrates. These characteristics are all present in the pristine Ashley Lake. 

 

Loons live a long time – 25 to 30 years, they typically do not breed until they are seven years of age, and they only have two chicks that are slow to mature. 

 

The loons are telling us everything we need to know about Ashley Lake – it’s less disturbed than other lakes in Montana, the water is pure, and the fish are plentiful. It’s an incredible place to call “home,” just ask the ten-pound trout who have been swimming in Ashley Lake for years.