Eastern Montana Fishing Report for the Week of 12.2.13
By angelamontana

Posted: December 5, 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.
Ice conditions are dangerous so be very aware of what you are walking on.
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
Rough water and cold temps have made fishing difficult. Wind is a factor.
Just no one out because of it. Just waiting for ice. We will not be open
for a few months. All docks except the two courtesy docks have been
pulled. There is only a minimum of services but if you need information
leave a message on the answering machine and Bill will try to get back to
you.  He says he will not be around but will be open when the ice comes in
later.

Bill reports, “I have not seen any fishermen out. Wind is definitely a
factor. We only have one and a half inches of snow at this time. There is
a bit of ice in the Back Bay but it is not thick. It seems to come and go.
The main like is not frozen at all.”

Tongue River Reservoir
Tongue River Marina  1-406-757-2225 Colton/Bob Pederson/Warden Jordon
No fisherman have had success. Things have slowed way down. Ice is still
forming on the south end but only thin. It is just a waiting game for
the ice to firm up.  All the docks have been pulled. The water is up 3
to 4 feet. The marina is closed for the year.

Clint Thomas- Hell Creek Marina 1-406- 557-2345
Hell Creek-Fort Peck Reservoir
It is so cold. No fisherman are out there right now. There is still ice
forming in the coolies but the wind pulls it out in the middle.  We know
winter is here but not good ice yet. We have 4 to 5 inches of snow.

Gene Moore Lake Ridge Motel 1-406-526-3597
Gene Moore, of Lake Ridge says,” It has been really nasty here. No one
wants to go out in this weather. We don’t have any ice yet. You could go
out for lake trout if you can handle the elements with jigs and cut
minnows. It takes going deep.Lots of geese and ducks out there right now.”

Lake Elmo Billings
Cold weather as made ice and a few fishermen were out there. They have
heard no reports of whether they had success or not.

Cooney Reservoir Jenny/ Maleri
Few fish being caught here. Word has it that the lake is covered with
ice.    Some people have been fishing but no reports are catching up and
heard. All docks have been pulled. Camp spots are first come first serve.

Deadmans/Martinsdale Justin
“ Harlow had temps of 17 below. Martinsdale has very thin ice but Justin
thinks that there will be decent ice by the end of the week.

Deadmans
Deadmans is also making ice but not as quickly. It may be next week before
its fishable. No fishing happening from shore as ice is forming. You
absolutely cannot walk on it right now.

Don’s Lewistown- Dale
“Everything is frozen here. You can fish anywhere. People are using
nightcrawlers and jumping worms as well as small jigs and Swedish pimples.
They are catching perch and trout. Some places have as much as 3 inches of
ice. We will be getting minnows and about the 14th or 15th of December, ”
Charlie says.

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 cold weather is stopping people from going fishing. If you do go you
could try crankbaits, jigs and minnows from shore.

Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon
Frigid cold weather has slowed most fishing.  There still are a few
fishermen fishing from shore and catching trout. The weather is pretty
cold to be out there.  We have had ice but the wind has blown it out into
the middle and a way. The temperature has been about 6°.
Call us for information on the water at the Silos.  We will give you the
latest information.

West Side Sports Dan 1-406-654-1611
“We are snowed in. We have had 6 inches of snow and temperatures of 20
below. Thick ice could be found on the edges before the storm. The small
ponds have ice but I am not sure it is safe yet. It is overweight and see
situation”, said Dan.

Billings-Scheels Nate
Nate says,” The reports I’m getting are that they are ice fishing on Lake
Elmo, Riverfront Park, and Cooney. Nelson had 5 inches of ice last week
and they were doing some fishing on it. I also hear that Fresno Bay by
Havre  on Fresno reservoir has 6 inches and they are ice fishing there.”

Rich’s Tackle Richard
I hear the Lake is freezing over at Canyon Ferry. That was almost a week
ago though with this cold weather hopefully it continued. I also heard at
Confederate there is ice.

You can fish the Jefferson if you are crazy enough to go out in 14°
weather. Use crawlers at 30 feet from shore.

Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977
Really not much fishing going on. With the cold weather and snow and the
slush that was on before the temperature change it really is too dangerous
right now. You have to watch or shelf ice in this kind of weather. If you
do go nymphing should work on the Stillwater. Some midges can work.  On
the Yellowstone streamers should work. If the weather warms fishing dry
fishing will see success. Blue wing olive can work for fishing from shore.
Don’t be in a hurry to get fishing go late in the morning. Don’t be in a
hurry to get out there right now. Our hours during the week have changed
in the shop and we 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
Cold weather has slowed fishing. Dry fly fishing has been really good. The
water is cold. It still can be done. Before the cold be were seeing
tricots and baetes coming off. Streamers can really work especially when
it is cloudy. For dry fly fishing use CDC baetes pattern and dark olive
colors. For streamers black wooly buggers and zonkers because of the off
color water. Our shop hours have changed and we are open 7 am to noon.

(Report compiled by Carol Henckel; Cover photo: troutunderground.com)

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