Please be advised that warm weather has been making precarious high wind conditions meaning caution should be used in the waters . Call the contact person in the area you are planning on fishing for current daily information. Also use extreme caution on the water at all times. Good Luck Fishing from the Montana Outdoor Radio Crew.
Bill -Rock Creek Marina (406) 485-2560
Bill says ,” No one has been up fishing. The wind has been blowing 30 miles an hour so no one wants to go out. “ He says “The northern are spawning. ”
Bob-Bob’s Bait Shop (406) 429-2086
Crooked Creek Fort Peck Reservoir
“Fishing was real slow this week.” Bob says, “ It was just too cold to go out and the weather changes slowed things way down. Weather is supposed to come in this weekend again so we have that mixing things up again.” he explains. My shop will now be closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Clint Thomas- Hell Creek Marina (406) 557-2345
Hell Creek-Fort Peck Reservoir
Fishing for northerns is slowing down. Clint says, “The northern are starting to spawn in the shallows in 6 to 15 feet.” They are catching a few walleyes, mostly males, using jigs and minnows. The water depths can be from 24’ to 3 to 4 feet. He believes the spawn will come on in the next 10 days.
Gene Moore Lake Ridge Motel (406) 526-3597
Fort Peck Reservoir Dam/Bear Creek/Pines
Gene Moore, of Lake Ridge Motel says, “Fishing is pretty good. From Hinsdale to Nasha on the Milk River and below the power house to Culberson the fishing is good again. They are catching walleye, sauger and northerns on gigs and minnows.” “The shore is just as good as the boat fishing right now” Gene explains. They are catching on jigs, minnows and lindy rigs, he says.
West Side Sports – Dan (406) 654-1611
Nelson, Forchette
Dan at West Side Sports tells us .” Fishing has been pretty slow. It is just too cold at night. Nelson he has heard of only a few northern s being caught. Also a few perch but no walleyes. Forchette Bay is just way too cold, way, way too cold.” he says. On the Milk River they are catching some walleye and northern from the bank.
Deadmans and Martinsdale
Justin says,” Martinsdale is pretty good actually it is getting better. They are catching mostly trout. ” Almost all rainbows and occasionally a brown was caught using worms.
Deadman picking up with the rainbow fishing. “The river is still good. It is full but not cloudy yet”, he says.
Silos Marina Sharon (406) 266-3100
Canyon Ferry
“ It is beautiful with warm sun but we do have wind. The water temperature is 45 degrees. Mostly males are being caught,” Sharon says. “Fishing is slow due to the pressure changes I think. “ Sharon tells us.
Minnow Bucket Allen Camarillo (406) 348-2440
Allen Camarillo says,” The cold snap slowed down the catching on the Yellowstone. The bite was good when the temperature came up.” Allen has entry forms for the catfish tournament on May 12th at the shop. It is for boaters only.
Lake Elmo Billings
On Lake Elmo fishing slowed with the cold snap from shore. The dock is catching fish.
Cooney
The water level is coming up. “ Catching a few walleyes. The docks are up for use.
Don’s Dave 1-800-879-8194
Lewistown East Fork Reservoir
Dave says, “It is really slow fishing. We have had lots of wind and then snow. That changed things and now we are supposed to have bad weather this weekend again. ”
Bob Peterson-
Tongue River Reservoir
Bob’s help says, “ Fishing’s slow. Catching is terrible. The water temp is just too cold. It needs to be much warmer. ” The marina will be open on weekends now.”
The Eastern Montana Fishing Report for the week of 4/9/2012 is compiled by Carol Henckel