FWP’s Helena Area Reservoir Report for the Week of 1-14-13
By angelamontana

Posted: January 14, 2013

(above picture courtesy of KXLH.com)

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:  Fishing has been slow throughout the reservoir and cold temperatures are keeping anglers at home.  Some rainbow trout are being caught at shallow depths between Pond 4 and the Silos using mostly wooly buggers or ice flies tipped with maggots or worms.  Yellow perch are being caught in 30 to 40 feet of water between Hole-in-the-Wall and Duck Creek Bay using Swedish pimples and Hali jigs tipped with maggots or perch eyes.  Ice conditions have been reported at 10 to 14-inches between Pond 4 and Confederate Bay, 10-inches near White Earth and 7-inches on the north end of the reservoir.  Adam Strainer, FWP, Helena.

Hauser:  Rainbow fishing is slow in the Causeway and Black Sandy where there is 8-10 inches of ice.  A few rainbows are being caught below Canyon Ferry Dam from shore while using worms.  No report for perch or walleye. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Holter:  Rainbow fishing is very good around Log Gulch while using spawn sacks.  Log Gulch has 8 inches of ice.  Perch and walleye fishing was slow.  Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir: Kokanee fishing is very good.  The kokanee are being caught in 22-25 feet of water on pink ice jigs tipped with maggots.  Perch fishing was slow.  There is over 15 inches of ice. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Report compiled and written by Troy Humphrey and Adam Strainer of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

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