This is National Fishing and Boating Week and although Montana has no official celebrations going on, just being able to fish and boat in this state’s lakes and rivers should be reason enough to celebrate.
Montana offers, in my opinion, the most diversified and exciting collection of rivers and lakes anywhere to fish in or just go for a boat ride. Just in Western Montana, there are so many opportunities to hit the water that I can’t even cover them all in this column.
Swan Lake, Lake Inez, Rainey Lake, Seeley Lake, Flathead Lake, Whitefish Lake and Salmon Lake are simply beautiful with some nice fishing, too!
This weekend, June 13-14, the Mister Pike Tournament is going to be held on Seeley and Salmon lake. If you want to enter contact Brad Walters 677-5253 to enter for only $25.
Most everyone knows about the fun that can be had on Flathead Lake. Lake trout fishing is very good right now and the lake is about full pool for the summer boating and fishing season.
West of Flathead Lake is Lake Mary Ronan where the bass fisherman are doing well and the kokanee anglers are also having some great catches. The kokanee are small but they smoke up real nice.
Head further west and you will find Noxon Reservoir, which boasts some of the best bass fishing in the state. Noxon is hosting a bass tournament this weekend that is sanctioned by the Montana Bass Association. Contact Curtis Spindler to enter 544-4968.
In a bass tourney last month Darin Williams from Idaho, who was fishing the tourney, caught a new state record largemouth bass out of Noxon that weighed 8.9 pounds and was 22.5 inches in length.
Noxon also offers up some great northern pike fishing.
Speaking of bass, Ninepipes has been fishing well lately. If you would like to travel a little bit and spend some time fishing, some fun lakes then head west of Kalispell. Ashley Lake, the Thompson Lakes, Little Bitterroot Lake, and Lake McGregor all offer great fishing for trout, perch and kokanee salmon.
If you don’t get your fill of lake trout fishing, then McGregor is the place to fish them as well. For more information on McGregor and the surrounding lakes call the resort on the lake at 858-2253.
And if you really have an adventuresome spirit, then head all the way up to Lake Koocanusa north of Libby. The Kamloops rainbow trout fishing is challenging but if you hook into one, you will remember the fight of a lifetime.
In between try your luck on some of the kokanee salmon fishing. For information on Koocanusa, contact the Marina and Resort on the lake at 293-7474.
Yes, it may be National Fishing and Boating Week, but here in Montana it just happens to be a year-round event.
