Helena Area Reservoirs Fishing Report for the Week of 2.24.14
By angelamontana

Posted: February 25, 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 continues to be strong throughout the south end of the reservoir. Anglers are having success in less than 10 feet of water using dark colored jigs or ice flies tipped with maggots or worms. The yellow perch bite remains inconsistent, but some anglers continue to catch fish between Hole-in-the-Wall, Duck Creek Bay and Goose Bay, in 40 to 65 feet of water, using standard perch gear tipped with maggots, worms or perch eyes. Ice conditions have been reported at 20 to 23-inches between Pond 4 and Confederate Bay, 15 to 18-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 pink or orange ice jigs tipped with maggots 4 to 6 feet under the ice. 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 or pink jigs with a maggot 4 to 8 feet deep. Log Gulch and Departure Point are producing a lot of small perch on jigs and maggots 30 to 50 feet deep. There is 12 inches of ice around Departure Point and Log Gulch and 8 inches of ice out from the road going to Gates of the Mountains. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir: Kokanee fishing has picked up again with good catches being reported while using pink ice jigs and maggots or corn. The kokanee are being caught near the bottom in 25 to 30 feet of water. A lot of small perch are being caught around weed beds in 8 to 12 feet of water. There is 14 to 16 inches of ice. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

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

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