Almost Everything is Biting on Fort Peck Reservoir: Eastern Montana Fishing Report
By Matt Schauer

Posted: October 17, 2012

Please be advised that the water levels are extremely low on some area waters. Please use caution while on the waters. Call the contact person in the area you are planning on fishing for current daily information. Use extreme caution on the water at all times. Good luck fishing from the Montana Outdoor Radio Crew.

***Bill -Rock Creek Marina 1-406-485-2560

“Good fishing is still going on. The northern pike fishing is still active. I saw someone who caught 47 northerns,” Bill says.  “Fishermen are doing really well. They are using cranks on pike. Walleye fishing is also good and many have limited out. The size is 2 to 4 pounds.”

***Grant-Crooked Creek Marina 1-406-429-2999

Crooked Creek Fort Peck Reservoir

“The fishing has slowed a bit,” Grant says. “People are still catching walleye and northerns. The walleye are being found a couple miles out from shore. The northerns are still active. Cranks are working better. Boats have to be really careful between the ramp and a mile past Anderson point.”

***Clint Thomas- Hell Creek Marina 1-406- 557-2345

After numerous attempts unable to contact. This is last weeks report:

Walleye are picking up right now. They are up in the bays because of the cooler water. Fishermen are going 10 to 12 feet deep using jigs. Perch are half way back in the bay at 6 to 10 feet deep. They are catching fish on cranks and spoons in the weeds. Northern pike are biting on the color brown with crankbaits. You can find pike by fishing in the thicker weed beds.

***Gene Moore Lake Ridge Motel 1-406-526-3597

Fort Peck Reservoir Dam/Bear Creek/Pines

“The fishermen are finding good fishing here,” Gene says. “Lake trout are now being caught at the face of the dam. Northern pike are good all over. Salmon are being snagged off the Marina Bay, the face of the dam and Spillway. Salmon are 22 to 25 pounds. On the river walleye are fishing good with crank baits.

“Pheasant hunting is really good,” Gene reports.

***West Side Sports – Dan 1-406-654-1611

Nelson, Forchette

Dan at West Side Sports tells us, “fishing is still good on Nelson. It is picking up with the temperature change. They are using jigs with minnows or crawlers for walleyes. Northerns are being caught by cranks. It has been fairly good, decent.”

“Forchette hasn’t changed. The guys are using bottom bouncers on walleyes. Some jigging happening as well,” Dan explains.

***Deadmans and Martinsdale

Fishing is the same. Martinsdale has shore fishing producing some rainbows no browns. Cool weather is probably changing things. Water is very low. It is difficult because it is so low. Just not many fishermen out right now.

Deadmans is low and the dock is pulled. Few fishermen so it is slow knowing. Trout fishing is about the same.

*** Tongue River Marina & Scheels

Tongue River Reservoir

The marina is closed for the season. Jordon, the Park warden says, “Tongue is slow fishing. With the cold spell there are few being caught. The guys that are out catching are getting decent size smallmouth bass. Occasional pike are being caught. They have pulled the docks. Check conditions before you go. Water is extremely low but it is rising a little bit.

*** Silos Marina Sharon 266-3100

Canyon Ferry

Sharon says, “fishing is still good on Canyon Ferry. Trout fishing is good. Walleye fishing is decent. It is good towards Confederate to Duck Creek on the East side to Goose Bay. They are going deep, 30 to 50 feet deep. Perch fishing is good. Nice big fat perch with 12 inch girth. Cooler weather is firming fish up.”

*** Minnow bucket Allen Camarillo 348-2440

“The river has milked up a bit because of the rain. They are catching walleye and sauger at Hyshum with minnows and gigs,” Allen reported. “They are catching walleye at the dam and shoreline. They are catching their limit on dark colors and jigheads”

***Lake Elmo Billings

Fishing has slowed with the cool weather. Few fishermen out. I saw one fisherman off shore fishing and he was catching.

***Cooney Jenny at Cooney

Allen from the Minnow bucket says, “anglers are catching eater size walleye. The perch fishing is good closer to the dam. The ramps are out because of low water.”

***Don’s Charlie 1-800-879-8194

Lewistown East Fork Reservoir

Dale says, “Spring Creek is fishing slower. They are using bead heads in any pattern, nymphs and in darker colors. On the Missouri fishing for walleye and northern pike has also slowed down. Crooked Creek has also slowed.”

***Scheels Nate McClenning

The river is the place to go to get fish. Smallmouth bass and sauger are definitely good. They are catching 12 pound walleye by Hysham. Cooney has only one usable boat ramp on the South side. It is really low. It is much tougher to get in to. Boats have to be careful.

On the Missouri River, off the Fred Robinson bridge, they are catching sauger and walleye using cranks with flicker shads. Nothing huge but nice.

The Eastern Montana Fishing Report for the week of 10/16/2012 was compilied by Carol Henckel.

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