Helena Area Reservoirs Fishing Report for the Week of 2.17.14
By angelamontana

Posted: February 18, 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: The rainbow trout bite really picked up over the past week throughout the reservoir. Successful anglers are doing well in less than 10 feet of water using dark colored jigs or ice flies tipped with maggots or worms. The yellow perch bite has been spotty, but successful anglers are catching fish between Hole-in-the-Wall and Duck Creek Bay in 40 to 60 feet of water using Hali jigs or Swedish Pimples tipped with maggots, worms or perch eyes. Ice conditions have been reported at 20 to 22-inches between Pond 4 and Confederate Bay, 14 to 16-inches from Confederate to White Earth and 8 to 10-inches on the north end. Adam Strainer, FWP, Helena

Hauser: Rainbow fishing is good in the Causeway on ice flies tipped with maggots in 8 to 10 feet of water. A few rainbows are being caught at Black Sandy through the ice on jigs and worms. There is 14 inches of ice at the Causeway and 12 to 14 inches at Black Sandy. No report for perch or walleye. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Holter: Rainbows are being caught at Gates of the Mountains and Holter Lake Ramp on egg sacks 4 to 8 feet deep. Log Gulch and Departure Point are producing a lot of small perch on jigs and maggots 40 to 50 feet deep. There is 12 inches of ice around Departure Point and Log Gulch and 6 inches of ice out from the road going to Gates of the Mountains. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir: Kokanee fishing has slowed down with a few being caught in 20 to 30 feet of water on ice jigs tipped with corn or maggots. A lot of small perch are being caught around weed beds in 8 to 12 feet of water. There is 13 to 16 inches of ice. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

(Report by Adam Strainer & Troy Humphrey – Montana FWP)

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