Helena Area Reservoirs Fishing Report for the Week of 1.27.14
By angelamontana

Posted: January 27, 2014

Anglers are reminded that ice conditions can be extremely variable on the reservoirs. Ice thickness can range from thick enough to support a vehicle to open water. Extreme caution should be used when accessing the ice.

Canyon Ferry: Rainbow trout continue to be caught in 10 feet of water or less between Pond 4 and the Silos using dark colored jigs or ice flies tipped with maggots or worms. Yellow perch continue to be caught between Hole-in-the-Wall and Duck Creek Bay in 40 to 50 feet of water using standard perch tackle tipped with maggots or perch eyes. Ice conditions have been reported at 14-inches between Pond 4 and Confederate Bay, 10 to 12-inches from Confederate to White Earth and the north end still has OPEN WATER. Adam Strainer, FWP, Helena

Hauser: Rainbow fishing is good in the Causeway on pink or orange ice flies tipped with maggots or a worm. Black Sandy is producing a few rainbows as well. There is 13 inches of ice at the Causeway and 14 inches at Black Sandy. No report for perch or walleye. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Holter: Ice is very questionable with a maximum thickness of 5 inches around the Log Gulch and Departure Point areas. Ice along the shoreline is broken up and access is difficult. A few anglers ventured out on the ice around Departure Point and found good success for perch. Rainbows are being caught in open water at the Holter Lake Ramp while using nightcrawlers or wooly buggers. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir: Kokanee fishing is inconsistent with good catches some days and poor fishing other days. The kokanee are being caught in 18-22 feet of water on chartreuse ice jigs tipped with corn or maggots. Some perch are being caught in 8-10 feet of water. There is 13-14 inches of ice. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

(Report by Adam Strainer & Troy Humphrey-Montana FWP; Cover photo: helenair.com)

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