Walleye Bite is Red Hot on Canyon Ferry
By OutdoorAly

Posted: May 23, 2014

It has probably been a while since you have heard or read a good fishing report out of Canyon Ferry Reservoir. Fishing in the last month for trout or walleye might have been good, but most anglers that wanted to find out couldn’t 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 this year’s strong spring run-off. This 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 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 nice 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 on Friday, 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 blades 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,” said Culp.

It is still very shallow in spots on the south end of Canyon Ferry so boaters are advised to use caution.

For up to date information on the water elevation and fishing call Silos RV 406-266-3100.

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