Eastern Montana Fishing Report for the Week of 10.28.13
By angelamontana

Posted: October 30, 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 northerns have not quit biting. Not many fishermen but the ones coming are catching. Blue and silver are still working. We will not be open for a few months. Bill has pulled all docks except the two courtesy docks.

He will have minimum services but if you need information leave a message on the answering machine and he will try to get back to you. He says he will not be around but will be open when the ice comes in later.”

Tongue River Reservoir

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

“We only got 1 inch of snow with the storm. All the docks have been pulled and are not in. Bob said, “there has been fog most mornings.

The weather was warm before the day of the storm although it did not affect things here that much. The water is up 3 to 4 feet. Before the storm a few perch and crappie were being caught. You have to go deep, approximately 25 to 30 feet. Bass has slowed down they are only catching only a few”. The marina is closed for the year.

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

Hell Creek-Fort Peck Reservoir

“You can get pike and bass by going shallow 6 to 8 feet. Walleye have slowed way down. Lake trout are at 20 to 25 feet and are being caught around Crooked Creek. Northern pike are real aggressive just about anything is working that you throw in. We only got an inch from the storm”, Clint says. The docks are still in.

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

Gene Moore, of Lake Ridge says,” Lake trout are being caught at the face of the dam and at Bear Creek and Hakesbee point now. Some nice ones are being caught. Try a crank and go to the bottom and bounce it. Some nice Salmon are being caught at the face of the dam and in Marina Bay. There have been some nice size ones like 29 pounder. The KO wobbler is working.

They are getting only a few walleyes in the dredge. Northern pike are being caught.”

Lake Elmo Billings

Cold weather slowed shore fishing. Only a few fishermen out there. Trout are still being caught.

Cooney Reservoir Jenny/ Maleri

We got three inches of snow here. On the weekend rainbow trout was the only thing I saw was being caught. They are getting them on the point of Red Lodge Creek, ”Jenny says. All docks have been pulled. Camp spots are first come first serve.

Deadmans/Martinsdale Justin

“Martinsdale is still fishing well. Some trout from shore. The cooler temps are helping. It is difficult to launch a boat and will be from now on,” Justin says.

Deadmans

Deadmans can only be accessed by the ramp not the dock because of very low water. Not a lot of fishing there and no reports of any results.

Yellowtail

Some action fishing at Yellowtail is being reported. Some guys are catching but that was before the storm.

Don’s Lewistown- Dale

“We are making ice with this weather. The temperatures have been in the 20’s. There has been some fishing action on the Missouri. They are catching sauger and walleye. We gt 4 inches of snow ”, Charlie says.

Achley Lake is fishing well. They are using worms and spawn sacks.

The Missouri is clear. You can catch catfish. They are also finding some walleye and sauger ”, Dale said.

Crooked Creek-Grant

The water is a long way out so boat launching is not possible. 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 again has muddied up. Cat fish are being caught on cut bait.

Some people are catching some sauger using minnows at Custer,” Allen says.

At Cooney I hear they are catching a few trout. Someone said a few perch are also being caught.

Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon

“Fishing is decent. The fishermen have been less this last week. Guys are getting some walleyes. Rainbow trout are mostly what they are getting.

We had three days this week that were pretty darn good. Then the storm came but we only have a dusting of snow. Call us for 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

“We only got a skiff of snow and the temperature has been around 29 degrees. There was a lot of wind early in the week. Nelson was still good. They are using a jig for walleye. The walleye bite has gone down though. Northerns are still at 8 to 12 feet right now using cranks”, said Dan.

Forchette

The Northern pike are still biting. There has been some wind. They seem to be in shallow water and people are using minnows.

Billings-Scheels Nate

Nate says,” We haven’t heard much because f hunting seson and the snow storm. I did hear Yellowtail was fishing fairly well early in the week.

They were biting at Baileys. They were catching sauger on crank baits.

The Yellowstone has been muddy and a few people are catching at Hysham.”

Rich’s Tackle Richard

Rich said,”I fished Canyon Ferry this week and we caught fish A couple of nice eater walleyes and the rest were rainbows. Got a lot of nibbles from trout and caught them on smiley blades and slow death at 30 feet.

On the Jefferson they are catching trout on crawlers at 30 feet from shore.

I heard on Hauser they are catching some perch. It was a good day of fishing and the fellow thought it was good enough that he was going back the next day.”

Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977

I am not seeing anyone fishing here because of the storm. We got 4 to 5 inches of snow and lots of wind. If it warms up streamers will be good.

If the weather warms up dry fishing will increase in success. Continue to use blue wing olive. Both the Stillwater and the Yellowstone is still floatable. 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 pretty good. The river flow is at 2400 CFS. We are seeing tricots on the water but not in mass. It all depends on the air temperatures. We are seeing tricots from After Bay to 2 leggins on all 30 miles. Look for them right on the surface. Use on the surface a black caddis or a mottled tan caddis. They work well after noon from the middle to the lower section. You can use midges 365 days of the year and they work.

The lower river is dirty from moss. The lower river is dirtier.

Wet nymphing would be good. Use a washed out scud in light white pink.

Others that would work would be a san-juan I red orange two tone. Use also pink soft hackle, zebra midges, olive pheasant tail and a tongue teaser zebra midge. The water temperature is 40 to 43 degrees depending on where you are on the river.

For streamers the best way to catch fish is with using the dirty hippie or Mutca or any light cream colored one. You can also use the j-J Special Big horn but only at 2 to 3 inches or you will not have success. Only that length.

(Cover photo: macholtphoto.wordpress.com)

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