Report compiled by Carol Henckel
Please be advised that ice conditions can change daily so please call the contact person in the area you are planning on FISHING for current daily information. Also, use extreme caution on the ice at all times. Good luck FISHING from the Montana Outdoor Radio Crew.
Bill -Rock Creek Marina 1-406-485-2560
“Fishing is awesome! One group caught 60 walleye with an eight pounder and a six and a half pounder. Someone caught a ten pound lake trout as well. Northern Pike are still good usually 7 to 10 pounds. The ice is 12 to 16 inches thick and everyone is using minnows.”reports Bill of Rock creek Marina.
Bob Peterson-Tongue River Reservoir
We are seeing lots of fishermen . The ice is good, over a foot. We had new snow this week that dropped 6 to 8 inches of new snow. It is good for crappies, walleye and they are catching a some perch. South end.to Rattlesnake to mine office has been catching crappies.Bob says, “The road ways are melting and can be slushy and slippery when you are coming in and out so you have to be careful.”
Clint Thomas- Hell Creek Marina 1-406- 557-2345
Hell Creek-Fort Peck Reservoir We have good northern pike fishing in the bay. The main bay has 11 inches and Hell Creek Bay has 10 inches. Hell Creek west to Timber Creek has 8 to 9 inches. Northern pike are good and are using live minnows. A few walleyes are being caught.
Gene Moore Lake ridge Motel 1-406-526-3597
Fort Peck Reservoir Dam/Bear Creek/Pines/Gene Moore, of Lake Ridge says” The weather has been nice. They are
actually catching more walleyes. The walleye are out in the points as well. The ice is freezing over more. They are catching lake trout out in the lake right now.”
Lake Elmo Billings
The ice is still empty of ice fishermen this week. The ice is good. Catching rainbows is slow fishing right now.
Cooney Reservoir Jenny
“The ice is pretty good. There is some open water in places because of the varying air temperatures. The reservoir is also coming up a bit”, Jenny says. Lots of people out but trout fishing has slowed down. Ling are being caught now more consistently at night.
DeadmanslMartinsdale Justin
Fishing is good depending on the location right now. Martinsdale has good fishing. People are catching good rainbows. Really
all species have been good. Ice is 12 to 14 inches thick. They are using a Swedish pimple and a worm. At Deadmans, there is difficulty getting on the ice. The edges are really soft. There has been some real weird thawing and freezing going on. People are not fishing wisely as it is not good ice,” said Justin.
Don’s Lewistown- Dale
Fishing for trout has slowed on the ponds. The lake bite is off as well. Fort Peck has good ice and the bite is still strong. It is excellent ice and access is good. Spring Creek is good nymph fishing. Forchette Bay is fishing as well. The Lake has had a steady perch bite. They are catching northerns and walleye fishing is steady.
Crooked Creek-Grant
According to fishermen they are catching. Using 4 wheelers they are traveling quite a way out to catch fish. No supplies available.
Lewistown Sports-Dave
Fishing has been good here. They are using glow hooks and power bait on Ackley Lake for trout.
Minnow Bucket-Allen Camarillo 861-0156
Tongue for walleye is good I hear. They are catching lots of little and getting their limit. The river is looking good on the lower end. It is open in the Huntley area so people might want to try for ling and trout. It looks good for that. Fort Peck people are heading to Crooked Creek. Devils Creek and Rock Creek have been doing good for northern pike. Forchette Bay has been good for walleye and pike.
Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon
Perch have been illusive and you have to go really deep to 50 to 60 feet. They appear to have not moved south yet. They have changed their pattern. They are catching medium size trout. The walleye fishing is good. Ice is still thick but the locals have marked some areas with pressure ridge issues. Make sure to stop before going on the ice because of these issues
and we can show you exactly where they are. It is really important to stop at the store before going out pressure
ridges are changing daily.
West Side Sports Dan 1-406-654-1611
Ice looks good at Nelson. The ice is 16 to 20 inches deep. Perch and northern pike are on the bite. Walleye have slowed up. Minnows are the choice of bait. Forchette has ice but access is a problem. The weather is changing a lot. People say it is hit or miss for walleye and they are small.
Billings-Scheels Nate
Nate says, “I have had mixed reports on Tongue. Ice has lots of traffic. Few crappie and walleye are being have been caught. It has slowed down a bit.
Venture out 8 to 10 miles and fishing is good on Crooked Creek. Towards Lost Creek they are catching. On Fort Peck Hell Creek has turned on for pike. They are catching 30 to 50 a day in fish. Walleye fishing is good.
Nelson fishing is still good fishing. Big Horn is fishing good right now. Catching is good. On the Musselshell down from Rouundup they are catching catfish, small mouth and carp so fishing has picked up.
