Holiday Weekend Fishing: Captain’s Column (5.29.14)
By angelamontana

Posted: May 29, 2014

It has been a while since you probably have heard or read a good fishing report out of Canyon Ferry Reservoir, at least in my weekly column. Fishing in the last month for trout or walleye might have been good but most anglers that might of wanted to find out could not launch their boat on one of the eleven boat ramps that surround the lake except for the Yacht Basin boat ramp. Thanks to higher day time and night time temperatures the spring run-off is starting to fill Canyon Ferry Reservoir back up. The Bureau of Reclamation had no choice but to draw down Canyon Ferry earlier this spring in anticipation of this year’s strong spring run-off.

This past Memorial Day weekend, some of the boat ramps on the south end of the reservoir by the Silos Campground area were under the minimum launch elevation for the first time since the massive water draw down began on the lake. Anglers took advantage of the opportunity to get on the lake and found out the walleye bite was on. “The walleyes were on the bite and anglers hit the water over the holiday weekend,” reported Bob Culp from Frenchtown. Culp was one of those anglers enjoying the great fishing and he reported some larger fish being caught on average. “We caught some nice walleyes in the 16-20 inch class, it certainly is an improvement over the past few years as far as size goes”, he said. The surface water temperature was in the upper 60’s which is ideal for the walleyes to turn on. With the warmer water nightcrawler harnesses with smiley and tomahawk blades seemed to work the best pulled behind a bottom bouncer. “We were catching fish all over the south end of the lake but Pond One seemed to be the best”.

Paul Lindsoe, who lives in Three Forks, called me and gave this report, “The walleye fishing is red hot for two days we ended up catching a releasing over 60 walleyes”. Lindsoe also mentioned he thought the majority of the fish were bigger that he caught this year over last year. It is still very shallow in spots on the south end of Canyon Ferry so boaters are advised to use caution, but the good news is the water is coming up every day. For up to date information on the water elevation and fishing call Silos RV 406-266-3100.

The warm weather is also having a good effect on the fishing over on Fort Peck Reservoir. At both Hell Creek Marina, which is located 25 miles north of Jordan and situated basically in the middle of the lake, and Rock Creek Marina, which is located on the Dry Arm the fishing reports have been excellent for walleye and northern pike. “The water is finally warming up and the fish bite is too”, reported Bill from Rock Creek Marina 406-485-2560. Minnows and nightcrawlers are the popular choices of bait this time of the year on Fort Peck. And there is plenty of water on the 134 mile reservoir, in fact all the boat ramps are usable including the ramp at Crooked Creek on the west end of the lake. Check with Don’s Sporting Good in Lewistown(406) 538-9408 on fishing and boat ramp conditions at Crooked Creek before you head out.

(Written by the Captain)

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