With spring weather here please be aware that it can be unpredictable.  Enjoy yourself but remember alcohol alters your judgment so use it sparingly while enjoying the outdoors. Keep an eye on the weather as temperature, wind and precipitation can change quickly. This report is compiled on Monday and Tuesday and reflects conditions and results of fishing from the past week.  If you wish other information feel free to contact most parties for current daily information. Good luck fishing from the Montana Outdoor Radio Crew.

(Report compiled by Carol Henckel)

Rock Creek Marina-Bill 1-406-485-2560
“It has been windy for days. The temperature here has been 27 to 32
degrees in the morning.  We hope to put the docks in thi weekend.  The
water temp has been in the 30’s to the low 40’s.  It is slow fishing right
now.  No one has had any luck on cranks.  If you go deep in the bays you
can find where they are hiding. We open the marina this weekend on May
1st,”Linda says.

Tongue River Reservoir
Tongue River Marina  1-406-757-2225 Colton/Bob Pederson/Warden Jordan Straley
Ed says,” With the wind blowing, no one has been out the last couple of
days. It also has been cold. We have painted the docks and put them out at
Pee Wee Point.  The main dock is in.  By Monday the boat ramp dock will be
in.”

Stephanie and Wade Bastrom now run  the Tongue river Marina.  Stephanie
said, ”The Marina schedule is tentative during the month of May.  They
will not be there Monday or Tuesdays

On Friday they hope to be open 9 to 3 pm depending on the weather in May.
On Saturday they will open at 8 and close at 6pm.  They will have
minnows, leaches and night crawlers. We are still getting things set up.”

Clint Thomas- Hell Creek Marina 1-406- 557-2345  Craig Putchat-Park Office
Hell Creek-Fort Peck Reservoir
“You can catch a few northern pike in the shallow. The spawn is half done.
They can be found in 3 to 4 feet and 12 to 14 feet. Lakers seem to be real
slow this year.  Don’t really know why.  You can find a few.  Depth wise
there is no rhyme to reason for where they are.  They could be anywhere
from 15 to 40 feet.  Walleyes are better near Timber Creek and west where
it is warmer weather.  At the Tough guy a 22 ½ inch walleye.  A 37 1/2
inch northern pike was also caught. It was really cold weather for the
event,“ Clint says.

Gene Moore Lake Ridge Motel 1-406-526-3597
Gene, of Lake Ridge said,” It has been windy as hell this week.  I know of
a few walleye being caught at Duck Creek.  Also some have been caught at
Flat Creek and Bear Creek.  They have been catching 5 to 6 a day. Try in
the back of the bays as it is out of the wind. Guys are doing well on
northern pike.  They are catching lake trout one fellow caught 14.”

Lake Elmo Billings
Bob said,” There have been a half a dozen fishermen out there on a
regular basis. They are catching some rainbow trouts and a few
cutthroats.  They are using worms.”

Cooney Reservoir Jenny/ Malerie/ Glenis
Bob says,” All docks are in now.  At the shocking they found some nice
size walleye. They are catching a few walleye at night. Someone caught a
14 pound walleye at the dam. They are catching more from the boat than
the shore now.  They are coming out of the spawn so it should pick up.”

Deadmans  Tony Stefani
Tony says, ”Several guys are catching rainbow trout. It is full and nice
and calm. Guys are fishing from boats and shore. I also noticed Broadview
Pond is really loaded with people fishing.  Don’t know if they are
catching but they are trying. ”

Deadmans/Martinsdale Cozy Corner Bar Lavina 406-636-2261
I have heard guys are heading to Martinsdale and Deadman and that fishing
is good at both places. It has been not bad from shore. Using worms they
have caught rainbow trout and some Kokanee.  I drive past Broadview Pond
twice a week and there sure are a lot of fishermen out there, I don’t
know what they are catching but lots of guys are trying,” Gary says.

Don’s Lewistown-Dale 1-800-879-819
“Fishing is good at Spring Creek  Thy are using spinners with worms. For
rainbows try bright spinners.  From the shore fly fishing has been good
using bead head princes and a few baetes have been seen. You can also use
bead head pheasant tails or flash backs.  On Achley they are catching
rainbow trout now. The Missouri has started taking off. It is good  from
the PN up as it is clear. From the PN down  to the lake is cloudy,”
Charlie says.

Crooked Creek-Grant
The number to check if it is open is 1-406-429-2999.

Minnow Bucket-Eddie White  696-1281 (last week report)
Eddie says, “ I fished the Tough Guy Tournament but we dealt with six
foot waves.  You could find some walleye heading to forchette and Timber
Creek.  People were catching northern pike in Hell Creek bay.  The
Yellowstone is mudded up so it is good  for catfish.  It is not good for
walleye and small mouth bass. Fishing for them is done right now.”

We are in winter hours.  Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we
are open 11 to 5. Saturday hours are 7 to 5 pm. “Sunday to Tuesday is
appointment only. I have lockers and can put it in there for you just
call,” Eddie says.

Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon
Sharon says,” We have had no wind,  It has been not bad fishing,  If you
fish on the East side and go shallow with a bottom bouncer or a jig. Try
bottom bouncing jigging.  They are catching walleye anywhere from 50 to
55 feet.” The Marina is open. Hours are 7 am to 7 pm.

West Side Sports Jim Mayer 1-406-654-1611
Jim says, “Nelson has been slow. The water needs to warm up. A few
northerns have been caught but the walleyes are real slow. The Missouri
River below Fred Robinson bridge some fishermen are catching walleye and
sauger using cranks and shad raps,“ Jim said.

Shop hours are 8 to 6 Monday to Saturday and closed on Sunday. Stop in
any time

Billings-Scheels

Josh says,”At Cooney night fishing is what I tried.  We
got 1 alleye and 4 bites using jigheads and 3 inch gulp emerald shinners.
Martinsdale has been decent.  My family went and got 15 trout fishing
between 9:30 to 5:30.  They used cowbells, night crawlers and rapellas. On
Tongue they are catching crappie and walleyes if they don’t get blown off
the lake.  The crappies are moving up. At Fort Peck during the Tough Guy
the guys I talked to said they caught a couple of walleye. It was tough
fishing.”

Rich’s Tackle Richard  406-285-4540
” They are catching walleye at Canyon Ferry.  The guys said they got them
using leaches  and crawlers.  I also heard they are catching walleyes on
Hauser.  The rivers have been good for trout and the water has been really
clear,” Rich says.
Shop hours are Sunday 12 to 4 pm.  Closed Monday.  Tuesday to Saturday
7am to 6 pm.  You can always call ahead if you are coming through and need
Something on off hours and we may be able to help.

Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977
Staff says, “The Stillwater has been good.  Try blue wings and March
browns. If you can get a streamer on the bottom   and slowly retrieve it
you have some success. If you stop right before you recast, wait and
then pull it up you can find some fish. The Yellowstone is muddy from
Reedpoint down to Columbus at least.   We think it may be better in a
few days as we hear Livingston is clearing some. If you try close to the
bank and if it is nice and calm you might have some success using
nymphs,”

We now are in spring hours in the shop and are open Tuesday to Sat. from
9 am to 2 pm. We are closed Monday and Sunday.

Big Horn Trout Shop Fort Smith 666-237
Curt explains,” fishing is excellent. Dry fly fishing has picked up and we
are using baetes and midge patterns. For nymphing use sow bugs and midges
or baetes patterns.  The cfs is at 2007.  Fishing is great , really good
when the winds are not blowing.”
Our shop hours are 7 am to noon now Monday to Sunday.