Mid-Flathead Lake

The morning northerly, which you do not want to miss even if it means abandoning your Mid-Flathead Lake activities, quite often makes its way as far south as the Painted Rocks and east as far as the Bird Islands, sometimes as far south as the narrows, but rarely does it bend around and blow into Dayton or Big Arm Bays. However, Dayton and Big Arm Bays generally offer the best sailing on the lake, it just takes a bit longer to get things going.

If there is high pressure in place over western Montana, the breeze in Dayton and Big Arm Bays will generally come in from the east, blowing harder and harder throughout the day, topping out at as much as 18 knots or so, as the valley to the west (as far away as Hot Springs, MT - about 30 miles to the west) heats up and draws the cool air off the lake. However if there is a front coming in from the west, the valley will act as a funnel and direct the west winds right into Big Arm Bay, offering anywhere from 15-20+ knots of breeze. To a lesser degree, Dayton Bay will receive the westerly, but it is generally gusty as the puffs make their way over and around Wildhorse and Cromwell Islands.