The first three-day weekend of 2007 awaits us with the Memorial Day holiday this weekend.
Many folks will be heading to a nearby river or lake to enjoy some camping and fishing. There are many choices for anglers whether they are going to fish in a boat or try flies or lures or bait from the banks of a stream.
Most area rivers are still in the high and muddy range, especially after the rain we received earlier this week. But the weatherman says it should be getting nice this weekend.
Rock Creek is now home to its annual salmonfly hatch with the first of the big bugs spotted on the lower part of the creek. By this weekend they should be hatching in full force if and when the sun comes out.
“We are anticipating a good fishing weekend,” says Doug Persico from Rock Creek Fishermen’s Mercantile. You can call the store for daily updates on the salmonfly hatch at 825-6440.
Georgetown Lake opened for fishing last Saturday and the anglers that fished for trout seemed to do OK according to Bill from the Sunshine Station in Phillipsburg.
The reports that he received indicated the boat trollers were doing well on trout, but he had not had a chance to talk to any salmon fisherman. Call Bill at 859-3450 for more info.
Tiber Dam Marina is now open and Sarah said the walleye fishing has been slow even though an angler caught some really nice walleyes and a northern pike last Saturday before cold, wet weather set in.
The marina has live bait including minnows and you can call Sarah for more camping or fishing information at 759-7100.
The Helena area reservoirs are always a good bet to try your fishing luck. The walleye bite is on at Canyon Ferry Lake on the south end.
“Some of the fisherman say this is the best early bite they have seen in years,” ,said Dave from Silos RV (266-3100). That is until the cold wet weather set in on Sunday.
The weekend looks like the weatherman will be kind to the anglers with a warming trend of a high-pressure system. The walleye fishing should pick up again.
A combination of spinner set-ups with night crawlers, jigging with leeches, or even pulling Rapalas is working on the south end. Trout anglers can still catch some nice trout by trolling 2 to 3 colors pulling a Rapala south of White Earth Campground.
Hauser looks good for trout and the walleye fishing is said to be fair. The same can be said for Holter Lake. Call Paul at the Canyon Store 235-4111 for information on Holter.
The lakes up in the Seeley-Swan area should be active with trout anglers doing well. The northern pike trollers have been doing OK when high-pressure systems stay in place for a few days. The pike have been on the smaller side but should be getting bigger once the water warms a little.
Noxon Reservoir is producing some nice bass and northern pike.
I got a call from Matt at Mo Fisch Charters 755-4414 and he said last week they trolled the mid bar on the north end of Flathead Lake in about 100 feet and pulled out a couple of 20 pounders and a 17 pound lake trout.
The Big Dry Arm is fishing well on Fort Peck Reservoir. The crappie bite has begun on Tongue River Reservoir. And a few tiger muskies are being caught on Deadman’s Basin, near Harlowton.
No matter where you decide to head, please be careful and take a kid fishing if you want some real fun now and into the future!
