Midge Hatch on the MO in the Helena Area Outdoor Report
By Matt Schauer

Posted: April 21, 2012

Hi folks, Angie here from BOB WARD & SONS, & it’s TIME to get on these HELENA area waters!

If you’re not partaking of the phenomenal midge hatch on the MISSOURI, and likewise the Blue Winged Olives, you’re definitely missing out! Get yourself a spot below any of the 3 Dams in the late afternoon up until dark, out of the wind, & try your midge clusters! Add a CDC Pulsating Emerger below, & that should do the trick! Nymphing is SUPERB too…don’t discount the impact of a San Juan, Soft Hackle or Bat Wing Emerger! The water has bumped up a bit, but so far this isn’t affecting fishing at all!

Spin fishing on the LAKES is grand, try a Marabou Jig in rainbow or yellow perch colors! Bank fishing is good with Spawn Sacs and Crawlers at CANYON FERRY, HOLTER or HAUSER, and SPRING MEADOW LAKE has got it going on too! We hear that if you are planning on fishing near the ramps at the GATES, pick up a couple floating Rapallas before you head out.

The water levels at HAUSER & HOLTER are still low, so Walleye fishing has been sporadic. HAUSER’s reporting a little walleye luck using Gulp Minnows on jigs…otherwise, it’s kind of a waiting game at HOLTER & CANYON FERRY for Walleye just yet!

We reminded you last week about the Special Drawing Hunting Permit deadlines this season: and forgot to mention ANTELOPE! So it’s Moose, Sheep, Goat & Bison by May 1…and Antelope, Deer B & Elk B by June 1!

We’re continuing to get in the 2012 Spring & Summer product lines here in Helena, so drop by to see what’s new! Check out our NEW pontoons, or if you’re gonna wade, get the shoes or waders you want right now! More great fishing next week, from your friends at Helena Bob Wards!

New Podcast!

Riley's Meats - Butte Wild Game Processing