Both Hard Water and Open Water Fishing Opportunities In Helena Reservoir Report
By Kjel

Posted: March 12, 2012

Anglers are reminded that ice conditions can be extremely variable on the reservoirs.  Ice thickness can range from thick enough to support a vehicle to open water.  Extreme caution should be used when accessing the ice. 

Canyon Ferry:  Rainbow trout fishing continues to be very good from Pond 4 to the north end of the Silos.  Black, green, brown or pink jigs, tipped with maggots or worms, are working best in 3 to 12 feet of water.  The yellow perch bite has slowed, but some fish are being caught out from Duck Creek Bay.  Swedish Pimples, Hali Jigs and Glo Hooks, tipped with maggots or perch eyes, continue to be the method of choice in 40 to 50 feet of water.  Some ling are being caught mid-reservoir while searching for perch.  No report for walleye.  Ice is starting to go, so please use caution.  Ice Report:  10 to 14 inches on the South End (Silos Area), 6 inches around mid reservoir and 5 to 6 inches on the north end (Dam Area).  Adam Strainer, FWP, Helena

Hauser:  Rainbow fishing is fair in open water areas at the Causeway Bridge, Devil’s Elbow and York Bridge while using worms or egg sacks.  Rainbow action is slow in the Causeway and at Black Sandy through the ice.  A few are being caught on spawn sacks or green ice jigs tipped with maggots or a worm.  Ice at the Causeway is 0-4 inches thick and very unstable while Black Sandy has 5-6 inches.  Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Holter:  Some rainbows are being caught from shore and boat in the Gates of the Mountains area.  The lower reservoir is still mostly ice covered, but too unstable to access.  The Log Gulch area has open water along the shoreline and a few rainbows are being caught there as well.  Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir: Kokanee fishing is good with Swedish Pimples and green or pink ice jigs tipped with a maggot or corn.  The kokanee are being caught in 30 to 35 feet of water. Ice is 6-9 inches thick, but open water is showing up in places.  Access to the ice from the ramp is becoming very difficult, so use extreme caution. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

New Podcast!

Riley's Meats - Butte Wild Game Processing