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
Bill says “This is the best time for northern pike. Catch the pike on cranks towards shore. Walleye are picking up but it changes daily. One group got 47 in one day and then 24 the next day. One was a 25 incher all mostly eaters. The weather is definitely a factor. I have heard no wrd on lake trout at this point. I will not be open for a few months. I have pulled all docks except the two courtesy docks.
We will have minimum services but if you need information leave a message on the answering machine and I will try to get back to you. I will not be around but we will open when the ice comes in later.”
Tongue River Reservoir
Tongue River Marina 1-406-757-2225 Colton/Bob Pederson
There are some crappies being caught right now. All sizes. Pee Wee point is the direction to go. Use jigs. The Tongue River marina is closed for the season.
Clint Thomas- Hell Creek Marina 1-406- 557-2345
Hell Creek-Fort Peck Reservoir
“Northern Pike and bass are being caught, ”Clint says. “If the weather is crappy the bite is way down otherwise they are biting like hell.
Walleye are off and on. Go shallow to 3 to 5 feet at the bank. Jigging is spotty. The marina IS open we are private property and are unaffected by the shutdown,” Clint explains.
Gene Moore Lake Ridge Motel 1-406-526-3597
Gene Moore, of Lake Ridge says,” Northern pike are on fire right now. Lake trout are just starting. Catch them going shallow at about 20 feet. Not many salmon being caught but if they are head to the face of the dam or the dredge cuts with a jig or minnow. Still getting some snagging. A few walleyes are being found at 20 to 25 feet. Northern pike are biting like crazy. Go to the weed line or tree falls. Lake trout are being caught at 60 to 80 feet but only hit and miss.”
Lake Elmo Billings
There has been a few people fishing and getting trout. Mostly off shore.
Deadmans
Bob from FWP says Deadmans is hard to get to. They have drained it way down. Really hard to get a boat in.
Cooney Reservoir Jenny/ Maleri
“Trout fishing is picking up. FWP did netting this week and got a lot of fillet size walleye with a few bigger ones. The netted 600 fist size perch. The Marshall cove dock is out. The other docks, the north Shore and Red Lodge Creek are still in. You can still launch a boat there”, Jenny said. Camp spots are first come first serve. No reservation needed.
Deadmans/Martinsdale Justin
“Some rainbows being caught on Martinsdale. The cooler temps are helping.
Still some difficulties launching but it can be done.
The Musselshell has been decent,” Justin says.
Deadmans is almost impossible to get a boat in right now.
Don’s Lewistown- Dale
“On Spring Creek the spawn sacks are successful. The weather has been in the 50’s so catching is happening. Catch browns on a rainbow lure.
Achley Lake actually is really good. Big browns are running all the way up the upper Creek. There is no access to the Missouri because of the budget standoff. Technically you can’t get to the Missouri right now,” Dale said.
Crooked Creek-Grant
The water is is a half a mile from the boat ramp so access is not good.
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 river is starting to clear right now. Huntley is good for catfish.
From Laurel West the water is clearer. They are catching some smallmouth.
Yellowtail is closed because of the federal budget stalemate.
Cooney- Try fishing at the face of the Dam towards shore for walleye.
Evening fishing is better for walleye it seems.
Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon
“Not much fishing by fishermen this week. Silos is open for. The water is about the same in depth it is still low. It is not coming up. Decent trout are being caught. Shore fishing is good. Call if you need information on the water at the Silos. We will give you the latest information. The docks are low. Be careful at Broadwater Bay. Stay to the north away from the sandbar near Gazebo 1,” Sharon says.
West Side Sports Dan 1-406-654-1611
Nelson fishermen are using bottom bouncers and a jig for walleye. Use a depth of 12 to 20 feet deep. Northerns are being caught at 8 to 12 feet.
Bottom bouncers seem to be working this week. Right now the minnows are tough to find but we hope to have some by the weekend.
Forchette is closed because of the Federal budget stalemate.
Billings-Scheels Nate
Nate says,” Fort Peck is really hot right now I am hearing.”
The Yellowstone is clearing up hopefully it will be clearer by the weekend. The catfish are still biting.
Cooney is on fire for walleyes. They have been catching walleye on jigs.
Rich’s Tackle Richard
The weather has affected fishing this week. We have 26 degrees and lots of fog. Hell Creek fishermen have caught a few nice walleyes. It is truly cold fishing though. The rivers are coming up and rainbow trout has been good fishing.
Canyon ferry fishermen are telling Rich that they either are having a great day fishing or not catching much at all. He says you seem to have to find the holes to have good luck but if you do you really catch them.
The lake has been really affected by wind. One grup of fishermen had decent luck.
Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977
The Stillwater and the Yellowstone have picked up for streamers. Yellow is working. Success seems to be after 2 or 3 pm using blue wing olive. The Stillwater has come up. It is clear and at CFS 950 right now. The lower Stillwater is floatable. The Yellowstone River is off and on It is clear and pretty inconsistent so it will remain to be seen how it is. Hours during the week have changed in the shop and they are open Tuesday to Sat from 9 am to 2 pm now. We are closed Sunday and Monday.
Fort Smith Trout Shop 666-2375 Rich
“Fishing is on fire. It is doing really well. Streamers are working great on the upper three,” Rick says. We are seeing some trico hatch right now.
The river is at 1900 CFS as of today. The Federal budget problem has closed both the After Bay and 3 Mile because they are federal sites. The Big Horn, 3 mile and 2 Leggins are open. Call for specific launching information.
Use dry fly black caddis and caddis pupa. Also use gray Ray Charles and olive pheasant nymphs as they are working. Try pink soft tackle sow bugs and static back baetes are working.
For streamer fishing use black and cream color streamers. They are working very well.
(Report compiled by Carol Henckel; Cover photo: travelguidebook.com)
