Eastern Montana Fishing Report for the Week of 9.16.13
By angelamontana

Posted: September 18, 2013

(Report compiled by Carol Henckel)

Please be advised that conditions can change daily so please call the contact person in the area you are planning on FISHING for current daily information. Weather is changing and some days wind can be a big factor.

Keep an eye on the weather while you are out there and stay safe.

Good luck fishing from the Montana Outdoor Radio Crew.

 

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

Linda says “Northern pike bite has slowed some this week but smaller ones still are being caught. Walleye and bass have done well this week. Just a quieter fishing week here.

Tongue River Reservoir

Tongue River Marina 1-406-757-2225 Colton/Bob Pederson

The Tongue River Marina has closed for the season.

Crappie fishing is good right now. Bass fishing has gotten better.

Watch for low spots with your boat as you might ruin your prop. The water level has gone up a little. A few pike still being caught trolling on crankbaits.

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

Hell Creek-Fort Peck Reservoir

“Fishing for bass has been great. Bass are being knocked down left and right. Walleyes are picking up as well. One 13 pounder was caught although most are eater size. Some guys limiting out. Guys are getting northern pike as well cranking. There was a 13, 12, 9, and 8 pounder caught,” Donna says. Bottom bouncing with crawler harness will work best.

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

Gene Moore, of Lake Ridge says,” Salmon fishing definitely has picked up.

More salmon were caught this week than all season. Many coming in with three salmon this week. Walleyes, northern pike and small mouth are fairly good. Find biting lake trout in the river channel from Hacksbee point to the face of the dam. Lake trout are being caught at 100 to 115 feet. Walleye are at 30 to 40 feet from the major points.”

Lake Elmo Billings

People are definitely still out trying to catch something. The rain and heat have changed the fishing but people are catching a few.

Cooney Reservoir Jenny/ Maleri

“The fire restriction has been lifted. So you can have a fire in a fire ring again. Walleye fishing is good using worms trolling close to shore.

For trout fishing head to Red Lodge Creek close to the ramp off fisherman point. The water level is up with the rain but there is some beach. They don’t see it going down this year.

Deadmans/Martinsdale Justin

“Martinsdale is up a bit. You still need to load or unload at the point South of the ramp because of the water level. Only small boats are able to go out at this point. Fish Martinsdale very early mornings and evenings to have any success,” Justin says.

Deadmans It is tough fishing at Deadmans. It is mostly off shore for success. The launch is okay. You can get in and out using the concrete part of the ramp.

Don’s Lewistown- Dale

“On Spring Creek it was fair fishing this week. The water has been clear and cold. You will find a PMD hatch in the evening. Use blue wing olives. During the day Adam’s are having success.

Not much action on Achley. Water is still too hot. Fishing is very slow.

Forchette Bay at Fort Peck is doing well. The walleye are coming on. They are catching 16 to 20 inch fish on the average. Go 15 to 25 feet with worm harness’ for success.

On the Missouri at Fred Robinson fishing for catfish has picked up a bit.

Use traditional bait. Fall is coming”, Dale said.

Crooked Creek-Grant

Crooked Creek is very low. The marina is not open. It is closed but cabins are still available for other uses just call 1-406-429-2999.

Minnow Bucket-Allen Camarillo 861-0156

“The Yellowstone got real dirty from the rain. The cats are still biting with the dirty water. Use minnows and nightcrwlers,” Allen says. Before the blowout sauger and walleye were biting. Once it clears a little they will once again I think.

Milos Canyon Ferry-Sharon

“Fishing has been decent this week. We have had rain some days,” Sharon says. The walleye are 16 to 18 inches. Trout being caught. The water level is up a bit but still be careful at Broadwater Bay. Stay to the north away from the sandbar near Gazebo 1.

West Side Sports Dan 1-406-654-1611

The weather has been cooler this week. On Nelson try bottom bouncers for walleye at 12 to 20 feet deep. Northerns are at 8 to 12 feet right now.

We are not hearing much changing on Nelson these days.

Forchette

Road conditions can change with rain so watch the forecast. At Forchette Bay go deep for walleyes. Northern pike seem to be in shallow water.

Billings-Scheels Nate

Lucky says, ”Not much good fishing this week. The rain has made many waters dirty. Lots of dangerous scary water so be careful!

Yellowtail Fishermen are saying the water is really dirty and fishing is poor.

“I went down the Yellowstone clear to Miles City and it was really dirty. Only fishing that was good was for a few bass”, Lucky said.

Tongue River-Fishing was good this past weekend at Tongue for crappie or walleye. Try pearl and red, red and white and chartreuse. Anything you put in would work right now.

Rich’s Tackle Richard

Madison

Had a group of Pennsylvania fishermen who went to the Bear Trap on the Madison and caught lots of fish. I know nightcrawlers were working because they used 500 and caught a lot of fish.

Canyon Ferry

I hear Canyon Ferry is definitely good. The walleyes are eater size.

Rainbow trout is also pretty good. The size is nice.

Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977

The waters are all blown out. There is more dirty water coming down.

There is a big rise in the Stillwater and Yellowstone. The Stillwater was 200 CFM and is now 1700 CFM. Lot and lots of limbs and mud coming down.

No floating right now. You might be able to fish from a bank. About the only thing that will work are streamers right now.

The blown out water hopefully will clear out some by the weekend. Late September and October will be great fishing we are thinking.

Fort Smith Trout Shop 666-2375 Rich

We are at 1900 CFS. The water is 45 degrees at the After Bay. At 3 mile use baetes for dry flies. At 3 mile on the Big horn black caddis and PMDs are working for dry flies. You can also use green Ray Charles and olive pheasant nymphs as they are working.

As far as nymphing try pink sow bugs, Barr’s emerter or static back baetes for success.

PMD’s student and snowshoe PMD can be used as well. The PMDs hatch seems to be tapering off.

(Report compiled by Carol Henckel; Cover photo: wikipedia.org)

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