Eastern Montana Fishing Report for the Week of 12.9.13
By angelamontana

Posted: December 11, 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 constantly and some days wind and snow 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
Snow and high wind have made fishing tough. Wind is a huge factor.” This
week there is some ice in the front bay but I would not walk on it. I can
say it is open to the dam right now,” Bill says. 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.

Tongue River Reservoir
Tongue River Marina  1-406-757-2225 Colton/Bob Pederson/Warden Jordon
Jordon says,” The south end has 8 to 10 inches of good ice.  From the
marina to the north and is 4 to 8 inches thick. Fishing is slow because
of the cold spell.  The few people that headed out said the crappies had
started to turn on and they had some success. There were mixed results.
I saw some perch, some crappie and a few walleye.  Average size of
walleye was 14 inch.” 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
We are pretty drifted in.  Only have 4 inches as of today but the winds
have been 35 to 40 mph. Drifting is a factor. There is 4 inches of ice at
the marina but we can see open water at Lucky point. It is supposed to
warm up but right now it is really cold. No fisherman are out there right
now. It is just not safe.

Gene Moore Lake Ridge Motel 1-406-526-3597
Gene Moore, of Lake Ridge says,” No one wants to go out fishing in this
cold. Our temperature today is zero. Still don’t have any ice yet. Not
even in the river. Lots of geese and ducks out there right now. Come up
for that instead.”

Lake Elmo Billings
Bob says,” Cold weather has made ice and a few fishermen have come out.
Have not heard whether they had success or not but the guys are out there
even with the cold.”

Cooney Reservoir Jenny/ Maleri
Cooney is covered with ice and is frozen over.  People have been fishing
with some success.  All county roads have been plowed as of Tuesday am.
We have seen few fisherman at fisherman’s point and the north shore. Red
Lodge Creek is not accessible as of now. All docks have been pulled. Camp
spots are first come first serve.

Deadmans/Martinsdale Justin
“Martinsdale is okay.  Plenty of ice about one foot or so. Fishing is just
so so. People are fishing and catching some rainbow trout about one and a
half pounds,” Justin said.

Deadmans
“Deadmans has great ice, about one foot. I checked 25 fishermen and all of
them had salmon. The average was 6 to 10 fish per fisherman.  There is a
35 fish limit there and the salmon are spawning,” Justin said.

Don’s Lewistown- Dale
“If you want to fish come in the store we have a pipe broke you might
catch something. Seriously, everything is frozen here. Ice fishing is
good. People are using night crawlers and jumping worms as well as small
jigs and Swedish pimples. They are catching perch and trout. Nelson has
steady ice, 7 to 8 inches and 6 to 8 inches in some other areas. It has
been fair fishing and that has been pretty steady.  It just has been
pretty cold.  We will be getting minnows and about the 14th or 15th of
December,” Dale 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
Allen says,” there is ice fishing going on at Cooney I hear but it is
slow.  They seem to be catching at Fisherman’s Point. Tongue River fishing
I hear   is good. The Yellowstone is iced over.  You really need to watch
walking on it though as there are fast currents underneath and the shelves
are pretty rough and dangerous. I do have minnows if anyone is heading out
elsewhere for sale.”

Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon
It has been very cold here so we have ice.  The ice is 5 to 7 or 8 inches
thick and there is ice as far as Goose Bay we know. It is good clear ice I
am told. They are catching nice size trout.  We have 2 to 3 inches of snow
right now. 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
“There is 8 inches of ice and 6 inches of snow on Nelson. They are
catching but spearing has not been successful yet I am told. Guys are
getting on the ice by 4 wheel or walking only.  Forchette is not iced
over.  It is just not safe.  We had a ground blizzard yesterday and today
it is 25 degrees. Conditions change all the time so watch the weather”,
said Dan.

Billings-Scheels Nate
Nate says,” The reports I’m getting are that ice fishing is happening on
Lake Elmo, and Cooney. Guys are fishing the south end of Tongue through
the ice. They also are ice fishing on Deadmans as well.  Nelson has more
than 5 inches of ice. Fresno Bay by Havre on Fresno reservoir has at
least 6 inches of ice as well. The Yellowstone has way too much ice. It
is very dangerous. Barry’s and Sutherland I hear has ice but it is not
the best yet.”

Rich’s Tackle Richard
“They are ice fishing over at Canyon Ferry. The rivers of the Gallatin,
Madison and Jefferson are frozen over.  In fact the Gallatin is flooding
and the Madison is going over the banks into farm lands in some places.
The Causeway at Hauser is froze and they are ice fishing. I also heard at
Confederate there is ice,” Rich says.

Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977
No fishing going on. With the very cold weather and snow it really is too
dangerous right now. You have to watch or shelf ice in this kind of
weather. Lots and lots of ice out there. It would be tough fishing if you
went out and access would make it way too dangerous.  The Yellowstone was
slushy before this so the edges are pretty built up. Just don’t take the
chance. 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
We have had wind some days. Cold weather has slowed fishing.  If you can
get to the water you can try nymphing with sow bugs. It still can be done.
Baetes might be coming off late in the day.  Make sure you dress warm for
the cold if you do go out. Our shop hours have changed and we are open 7
am to noon.

(Cover photo: lonemountainranch.com)

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