Flathead Monster is Not a Myth to Some

photo courtesy Leney Hanzel

If you have not heard of the Flathead Monster, let me tell you a little about it.   In the largest fresh water lake , west of the Mississippi River is the Flathead Lake. Located in the northwestern part of the state of Montana lies this large body of water and nestled among peaked mountains.  From the pictures you can see the erratic shape and the size of Flathead Lake too.  The length is  30 miles  and the width varies, however is stated in Lake county as 15 miles wide at the broadest point.  This largest natural Lake in the western United States has 160 miles of shoreline, which has bends galore. To lend you to the magnitude of this Flathead Lake, the depth is 300 feet deep.              .

All of the sightings of the Flathead Monster have not been by the same person, which creates a real significant question.  Could all these people be seeing things? Many people,  that have been documented in a journal were upstanding citizens, National Park employees and out of state visitors.  Age, alcohol or any other factors did not seem to be governing ones ability to be able to see the Flathead Monster. It was not necessary to be in a boat, on the Polson Bay Bridge or any other particular place to get a glimpse of the Lake Monster.

As early as the beginning of the  late 1880s, sightings have been reported and documented, even up to the present decade.  “Nessie” has been described by many with such similar detail, it is thought to be one in the same.  The length has been reported to range between 12 and 20 feet long with a grayish color to the huge body.  Up close views have been stated by  a reputable police officer who later became chairman in the Montana Fish and Wildlife Game Commission.

In the mid 1950’s a 181 pound white sturgeon was given the honors as being the Flathead Monster with much dispute.  As far as the Supreme Court, the battle as to ownership was discussed.  Griffith, the man who caught the  Monster, was given display rights in the Polson- Flathead Historical Museum.

By the dates on the sightings on the map above, you can plainly see the Flathead Monster still is viewed in the lake. There could have been more than one seen.  There certainly is more than one monster in the lake, since the capture of the middle 1950s .  Is this a legend, a hoax or fact?  Go to the Lake and see for yourself, if you are privileged enough to view this creature.