Eastern Montana Fishing Report for the Week of 9.30.13
By angelamontana

Posted: October 2, 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

Bill says “Not many fishermen around. The pike are still biting. My friends caught small walleyes on cranks with worms. They also caught a few bass. The Northern Pike were 42 ½ inches and 39 inches. 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

“September has been a heavy use month by fishermen on the Reservoir,” Bob said. They are catching crappies I all sizes. Find them in the bays west of Pee wee and rattlesnake point. Use jigs as they are working.

The bass fishing has quit. The marina is closed for the year.

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

Hell Creek-Fort Peck Reservoir

Fishing for Bass has slowed. Northern Pike fishing has been fantastic.

They are really doing well. There was a 14.4 pounds and 40 inches, also a 12 and 8 pounder caught. Bottom bouncing with crawler harness will work best. The big news was that someone caught a salmon that was 6.2 pounds.

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

Gene Moore, of Lake Ridge says,” Only a few salmon being caught toward the face of the dam or Duck Creek or Marina boat ramp. They are getting a few walleyes. 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

The fishing has slowed but trout are still being caught. People are definitely still out trying to catch something.

Cooney Reservoir Jenny/ Maleri

All docks are still in. You can still launch a boat. Walleye fishing has slowed down and people are using worms trolling close to shore. The rainbow trout bite seems to be good. Camp spots are first come first serve.

Deadmans/Martinsdale Justin

“Martinsdale is picking up and is up some. The cooler temps are helping.

They are catching rainbow trout and browns. The Musselshell has been pretty good. I have seen guys who limited out on browns. Mostly using worms and spinning,” Justin says.

Deadmans Deadmans has improved. It is definitely better than July or August. Labor day was better fishing. Fishing off shore finds more 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 the browns are up creek. Catch browns on a rainbow lure.

There is a baetes hatch. The water has been warm. It has been in the 60’s off and on.

Achley Lake actually is really good.

On the Missouri it has been phenomenal The moss has worked its way out.

They are bank fishing in shallow water 10 to 15 feet. They are catching catfish and sauger as well. Fall is starting”, Dale said.

Crooked Creek-Grant

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 dirty this week. It poured in Wyoming and is coming down the Clarks Fork. So the Yellowstone is choppy dirty. Laurel going west is awesome. They are catching some nice trout.

Cooney- I hear someone caught walleye off the dam in the early morning.

Then he went to the Tailwater and smoked trout with a crawler and a split shot. He got 10 and 15.

Yellowtail- Guys are catching walleye and sauger.

You can still catch catfish on the Yellowstone. Some nice ones, 7, 9, 12 pounds by Custer in the silty water. Be careful for the debris. The Clarks Fork got some rain and the catfish are also biting.

Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon

“Fishing was quiet this week. We have had some windy days. The water has lowered a lot. I suggest you 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 is good. Use bottom bouncers and a jig for walleye at 12 to 20 feet deep. Northerns are at 8 to 12 feet right now use cranks.

Forchette

The bite is hot for Northern pike. There has been some wind. They seem to be in shallow water.

Billings-Scheels Nate

Hell Creek –Some guys went a couple of days ago. The weather was definitely slowing things down but after it stabilized. Not much catching.

On the Yellowstone in the Huntley area the cats have been biting. Seem to be in shallow water at 2 to 3 feet. Use shrimp and cut bait.

On the Lower Big Horn by Custer the bass have slowed down. The catfish are definitely being caught.

Another group of guys fished between the waterplant and Exon and caught nice bass.

Rich’s Tackle Richard

We had 25 degree last night. Lots of wind and rain. The rivers are coming up because of the fact that they have quit irrigating.

No biters right now. The Jefferson is muddy and up.

Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977

The sun is shining. The waters have cleared and both the Yellowstone and the Stillwater are now floatable. Nymph fishing is working. Use streamers they are working. The rainbow bite has been much better than the browns.

Fort Smith Trout Shop 666-2375 Rich

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.

Use dry fly black caddis and cattis 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. At mallards we are seeing tricos. The browns are not spawning yet so we are seeing more rainbow trout than browns.

(Report by Carol Henckel; Cover Photo: grahamowengallery.com)

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