Eastern Montana Fishing Report for the Week of 9.2.13
By angelamontana

Posted: September 4, 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

The marina was really full this weekend. A father and daughter went out and she got a 41 inch pike, 16.5 pounds while dad got a 9 pounder 28 ½ inch pike almost at the same time. They were using a green pink rubber worm and a worm with a pink rubber worm. Someone also caught a 7 ½ pound walleye off the point. Look for the walleye chops on the water. Smiley blades and a worm for walleyes are working right now. Go to 8 to 15 feet.

Use worms for walleye. Bass are being caught on the rocky points. The whistler jig seems to be working. Northern pike and bass are biting about the same.

Tongue River Reservoir

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

“They are catching nice fish here right now. Pitch of the bank for some surprising catches. One person caught a 18 pound catfish and another 10 pound catfish. You sure can catch them right now. If you are in a boat there are low spots where you really have to watch out so you don’t ruin our prop. Bass fishing is excellent. People are buying blood and stink bait and it is woking. Some crappie fishing is good.

Walleye are doing well on cranks. Go deep using a jig with a worm or a bottom bouncer with worm harness. Pike are still being caught trolling on crankbaits using orange red colors”, Colton said.

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

Hell Creek-Fort Peck Reservoir

Walleye fishing is definitely slow. They are using bottom bouncers with the fire tiger color. The water has flipped. The Northern pike and bass are good. Using crank baits at 14 to 16 feet. A new state record bass was caught by Melvin McDonald and weighed here for record as 6 pounds 7 ounces and 22.3 inches.

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

Gene Moore, of Lake Ridge says,” Everybody is catching fish right now.

Walleyes, northern pike and small mouth are catching good . Salmon fishing at the dam is happening. It is off and on. Some are being caught on a squid with an 11 inch flasher. Find lake trout in the river channel from Hacksbee point , York island to the face of dam. Lake trout have been good fishing on an evil eye flutter spoon at 100 to 115 feet. Walleye are being caught at 30 to 40 feet from the major points.”

Canyon Ferry-Check for information. I received a another fisherman report this week who said Broadwater Bay is way down. Check on the boat dock this week as it may not be useable. Goose Bay is better for boats he says. Low water may change where you can fish.

Lake Elmo Billings

Fish in the early morning and late evening. Small boats are getting trout but before the heat of the day.

Cooney Reservoir Jenny/ Maleri

Stage II fire restriction is in effect. You cannot have a fire in a fire ring. No open fires allowed at all. Restrictions on generators are also on as well.

Fishing is slowing down. Walleye fishing has slowed because of the heat but most are going deep. They are heading to the South shore jigging and a few are bottom bouncing. Shore fishing has been successful between 6 and 8 am. For trout fishing head to Red Lodge Creek close to the ramp and the cove close by to fisherman point.

Deadmans/Martinsdale Justin

“Martinsdale is very low. Small boats are only able to load or unload at a point South of a ramp because of low water. Fish Martinsdale very early mornings and evenings is best because of the heat. Fishing is real slow but a few rainbow trout and browns are being caught. It is slightly better for rainbow”, Justin says.

“At Deadmans the launch is okay. You can get in and out off the concrete part at ramp. It is slightly better for rainbows this week. Some are being caught from shore. It is tough water right now.

The Sell Creek on the Musselshell still has access. It is okay fishing although low. Morning anglers are having more luck. Look for opportunities in periodic deep holes. You can catch a few rainbow trout.

The area is in Stage I fire restrictions.

Twin Lakes has very low water. It is in Stage II fire restriction right now, “Justin said.

Don’s Lewistown- Dale

“On Spring Creek hoppers are working. It is fair fishing. Use PMDs and blue winged olives.

Not much action on Achley as fishing is very slow.

Everything in this area is slowing up right now. Ponds are mossed up and just are way too warm.

On the Missouri at Fred Robinson people are still fishing for catfish.

Use traditional bait”, 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

“If you can’t catch a small mouth on the Yellowstone you forgot to put a hook on,” Allen proclaims. Small mouth bass have been eater size. Up by Waco and the dam sauger and bigger catfish have been caught this week.

“Many 10 to 17 pounders have been caught using cut shinners,big ones like 6 to 8 inches long,” Allen says. Going down East sauger and walleye are just starting. You can catch them on bright colors in places 18 feet down where there is moss.

I hear the Tongue is fishing well fo crappies.

On Yellowtail people are telling me that they ae pitching crangs and jigging. They are catching “Cooney size walleye”.

Allen also wants to remind people to be real careful fishing the Yellowstone. Fish close to shore there are a lot of unexpected drop offs as close as 4 feet off shore. Stay close to shore as there is some very swift currents out there.

Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon

Fishing has been very good. Lots of walleye and perch being caught. The average size is 16 to 19 inches. The successful color has been blue. Water temp is 74 degrees going 15 to 20 feet.

West Side Sports Dan 1-406-654-1611

Nelson is still slower. Use bottom bouncers for walleye. Try cranks at 8 to 12 feet for pike.

Forchette

At Forchette Bay heat has locked up the walleye bite. Big northern pike were caught this week. Try cranks as they are working. No fire restrictions here.

Billings -Sheels Nate

Rich’s Tackle Richard

The fish just aren’t biting. We are so smoky here from fires in Idaho and California you can’t see the Tabletop Mountains.

The Jefferson has come up a little. The Gallatin has also come up a tiny bit. If you go on the river you will be pushing a boat more than wading.

Some are catching despite the restrictions. Between the low water and heat, fishing is not good. I was told Harrison Lake is almost dry only a third of the water left.

Canyon Ferry-I went fishing last Sunday on Canyon Ferry and we had lots of waves. We caught five between 14 to 21 inches. Got them on the north end. We saw them on the screen but they were just not biting. We were see them at the points. If we caught any they were full of minnows.

The rivers are low. They shut off the irrigation ditch on the Gallatin and so it is up just a bit. Harrison Lake which feeds into the Jefferson is only half full. It is muddy and you cannot put a boat in.

The Big hole, Jefferson and Madison have hoot owl rules for fishing because they are so low. We have heard of rain south of here but we sure have not seen it here.

West Gallatin The West Gallatin is really low. Really hard fishing.

Pretty shallow here.

Petrolia

I heard again from a couple of guys that are perch fishing. They said it is hit and miss at Petrolia. They said they caught them early in the day.

Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977

On the Yellowstone it is running real shallow. The only place we are floating is from Pelican access by Gray Cliff down to Reedpoint. It is real tough fishing. Look for cooler water like the ripples which are more oxygenated. The water is 70 degrees. Fish early morning and late evenings. The colors pink and peach hoppers are working the best. Use an improved flathead #4 streamer or do some nymphing. You can try Jack Cabes as well.

The Stillwater is really low. Wade only you can’t use a boat. Use sink type flies. Look areas of oxygenated water and ripples to fish.

We are fishing on the upper past the mine either wadding or off of the bank.

Due to the low water and water temps be aware of how you handle the fish you catch. Do as little handling as possible.

Fort Smith Trout Shop 666-2375 Rich

The CF is 1900 and the water is cold at 48 degrees at 3 miles. PMDS are working on the upper three of the river. Use PMD students, parachuete Adams, black caddis and the Big Horn Special. Olive colors seem to be attracting.

When nymphing use gray parachutes, static baetes nymphs and Barr’s baetes.

Pink sow bugs are also having success. The Big Horn Lake has not turned over.

(Cover photo: militarymentalhealth.org)

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