Bozeman/Butte Recreation Report by Bob Ward & Sons 1.10.14
By angelamontana

Posted: January 10, 2014

Hunting:    

Trapping, Wolf, and Mountain Lion seasons are still a go.  Archery closes January 15th and duck and goose season closes January 14th, so get out there and enjoy the last weekend.

Bozeman Fishing:

Nymph fishing is still your best bet.  Focus on using larger patterns and use smaller midges and nymphs as a dropper…this is especially successful on the Gallatin.  As for the other water ways focus on using Pats stones, Red spot shrimp, bh rainbow Czech nymph, copper bob greens, pheasant tail flashbacks, bh purple prince flashback, and hot head ray charles pink.  Streamer fishing can still be effective but has not been as much as of late.  This time of the year the fish are slowing down and you may have to change your technique some to accommodate their slower movements and metabolism.  Focus on the deeper slower waters and think about using indicators.  Sometimes, their strike is almost imperceptible to your eye and the indicator will help with that.  Switch it up some throw out some crazy attractor nymphs like the cone head Purple Psycho.

Hyalite-ice is pretty good at 9 – 10 inches.  Fishing has been better towards the dam.  Definitely use worms and maggots right now, along with the tear drop jigs in bright colors.

Bozeman Pond has good solid 5 to 6 inches.  Use maggots and the tear drop jigs and Swedish pimples.

Butte Fishing

Georgetown reservoir is hot fishing for Kokanee and trout. Vertical jigs or glo hooks in size 12 or 14 are ideal for the salmon. Glo hooks with maggots or night crawlers work ideally for the trout in size 8 or 10 at about 8-10ft deep. Hot orange or red have been good colors. There is no limit on daily possession. The Swedish pimple with holographic fin and Red flasher has been slaying trout.

The ling fishing has been fair at Clark Canyon with sucker meat for bait. Deep water fishing near the bottom of the reservoir has yielded the bigger ling. Trout are also being taken on the south western end of the lake on Rapala vertical jigs and nightcrawlers with marshmallows fished about a foot off bottom.

The fishing calendar shows excellent fishing everywhere this week so get out and drill some holes!

(Report by Ryan Corwin-Bob Ward & Sons)

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