Helena Area Reservoirs Ice Fishing Report
By Kjel

Posted: January 18, 2012

Tom Humpery provides us with a great ice fishing report from the Helana Area Reservoirs.

Canyon Ferry: Ice conditions of 10 to 12 inches have been reported south of Confederate Bay and Hole-in-the-Wall. The current ice line is just south of White Earth. The rainbow bite has been consistent around Pond 4 and Confederate Bay using dark colored jigs or ice flies tipped with worms in 3 to 9 feet of water. Yellow perch are being caught between Duck Creek and Hole-in-the-Wall. Hali Jig’s or Swedish Pimple’s, tipped with maggots or worms and fished in 40 to 50 feet of water, continue to work well. No report for walleye or ling. Be safe around pressure ridges. Adam Strainer, FWP, Helena.

Hauser: Rainbow fishing is good from shore below Canyon Ferry Dam while using egg sacks or Marabou jigs. Rainbows are being caught through the ice at the Causeway and on the Lake Helena side. Jigs and maggots are the bait of choice. Ice is only 4 inches thick at most. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Holter: There is too much ice for open water fishing, but the ice is not thick enough to walk out on. With this week’s colder weather the lower reservoir should soon be ready for ice fishing. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir: Kokanee fishing is good with orange, pink or chartreuse jigs tipped with a maggot or wax worm at 18 to 35 feet deep. There is 8-9 inches of ice. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Troy Humphrey

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

930 Custer Avenue West

PO Box 200701

Helena, MT 59620

406-495-3266

 

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