Eastern Montana Fishing Report for the Week of 9.19.16
By angelamontana

Posted: September 21, 2016

Report compiled by Carol Henckel

The changes into fall weather means fishermen should stay aware. The weather and water levels can change drastically. Enjoy yourself but remember alcohol alters your judgment. So use it sparingly while enjoying the outdoors. Keep an eye on the weather as conditions such 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.

***Please be aware that there is still a closure and some fishing restrictions in the Paradise Valley area on the Yellowstone in areas. Other areas are open to fishing and floating. Check the FWP site for further information as waters may change after this report is submitted. ***

Rock Creek Marina-Bill 1-406-485-2560

“Bill says,” This week pike fishing was good . The fall pike fishing has started. Two fishermen caught a 38 pound and a 37 pound pike. I went fishing and in 4 hours we caught 6 pike in 12 feet of water close to shore. Walleye fishing has been slow. The docks are still in. Some guys are finding salmon when looking for the pike. Someone caught a 15 pound salmon right in the Rock Creek bay this week. ”

Tongue River Reservoir /Bob
Bob says,” We had a slow weekend as far as the number of fishermen but the weather was pleasant. The camp sites are now first come first serve. Fishing was rather decent. They did fair on bass. Somebody actually caught a large mouth bass. They caught a number of northern pike. Most were 10 to 20 pounds. Only a few crappie were caught here or there that I heard of. You couldn’t ak for better weather. There is no wind now. The water is way down but the fishing isn’t too bad. Wade still has his store trailer open. ”

Tongue River Marina 1-406-757-2225 Wade Stephanie /Warden Jordan Straley

“ The fishing has been good. Someone caught a 31 inch cat this weekend. Someone also caught a nice size pike. Someone caught a few walleye at rattlesnake point. They caught 4 to 5 walleye. Someone off the bay caught some bass, pike and crappies off the bay. Saturday we saw a lot of fishermen. The trailer is open for supplies. We haven’t seen many fishermen on Monday and Tuesday so we will be closed those days,” Wade says.

Clint Thomas- Hell Creek Marina 1-406- 557-2345 Marina Matheson-Park Hell Creek-Fort Peck Reservoir east to
Staff tells us ,” Fishing was fairly decent this week. The guys have caught some northern pike and small mouth. Depending on the day the fish have been at 10 to 25 feet depths. The water depth is definitely dropping. Guys looking for northerns are using cranks and they are jigging for the small mouth. The weather was good this week so the road is not too bad coming in. Walleyes are just not biting. “
We are open 7 days a week, 7 am to 6 pm now.”
The new park manager for Hell Creek State Park is Marina Matheson. “

Lake Ridge Motel Eddie and Carrie Mindt 1-406-526-3597
Eddie said, ”They are still catching salmon in the bay. They are catching some big ones. Those are between 15 to 20 pounds. The average salmon size is about 16 to 18 pounds. They are catching nice healthy fish. The salmon are in spotting mode. Some guys are heading out to the middle and finding some walleye. Northern pike are being caught at the face of the dam. The guys are using squids and flashers in greens and blues. They are also trying minnows and jigs. The fall bite is on. “

Lake Elmo Billings FWP-Bob Gibson
Fishing has slowed down. The warm weekend increased the fishing this past weekend. The water level is good. The ospreys are sure actively fishing. Most guys are now fishing in the morning or late in the day.

Cooney Reservoir -Glennis
Glennis explains, ” People are catching some crappie with a jig and a worm. Guys are catching trout from shore using the usual night crawers and power bait. We have pulled all the docks. Things look great. The water levels are down. You can only get small boats in. The parking lot on the North shore is done. The sealing looks really good. “
The new Park Ranger is, Skylar Mitchell a transfer from Dillon.

Deadmans Tony Stefani
Tony says, ” Not many fishermen out this week. Fishing has been real slow. Some guys are catching salmon in averages sizes. The water is as low as if it was winter. A few rainbow trout have been caught. Big boats still can NOT get in. A smaller boat still can. The lake is very low. The dock has been pulled. They have stopped drawing water. “ Campers remember it is now a pay site.

Deadmans/Martinsdale Cozy Corner Bar Lavina 406-636-22
Terry says, “ Deadmans and Martinsdale are low waters right now. At Deadmans only small boats can get in. I hear it is muddy along the shore. Getting a boat in can be rough.
At Martinsdale guys are having some luck with green marshmallows and a worm. The water is low. Right now Martinsdale is two different ponds. It is mostly off shore fishing. As with Deadmans Martinsdale is only little boats use. Guys are doing fairly well off shore.”

Don’s Lewistown-Dale 1-800-879-8194
Dale explains, “ The fishing has been pretty good this week. The weather has helped.
Spring Creek has been good. The fall bite is on. Fly fishermen have been having luck. Try dry flies mostly midges and the basic nymphs are also working.
On the Missouri the moss is leaving. The catfish and sauger are biting. Things are picking up.
On the west end of Fort Peck guys are finding fishing good. Try depths of 5 to 15 feet depths for walleyes. They have been coming in shallow. It is definitely improving.
The local ponds are doing well for fly fishing. Boat fishing has also been good with flies.
They are saying we will be getting some rain. That will mean fishing will be great next week. The key is the rain. “

Crooked Creek-Grant
Still hearing walleye are being caught at Crooked Creek . Mostly decent size ones are being caught. Please Call for information. The number is 1-406-429-2999.

Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon
“ The weather was nice this week. Walleye fishing was pretty good this week. Mostly 12 to 18 inchers caught. The fishing was decent. Find the walleye in depths of 20 to 30 feet down. The lake is definitely down. The perch are at 30 feet depths. With the weather changes forecast for this week call for additional information , “ Sharon says.
The Marina is open. Hours are 7 am to 7 pm.

West Side Sports Jim Mayer 1-406-654-1611
“The water at Nelson is still low. Launching is very difficult. Guys are catching a few walleye. There are more northern pike being caught.

At Forchette a few walleye are being caught with a jig and a minnow. Some people have caught a few northern pike in the 10 to 15 pounds range, ” Jim said.
Shop hours are 8 to 6 Monday to Saturday and closed on Sunday.

Billings-Scheels Dan , McCahen
Dan says,” the Yellowstone river east is still great for cats, sauger and the small mouth bass. Sauger bite has improved. Use gulp or minnows with a shiner. The walleye are biting in the Hysham and Miles City area.

The Tongue has had some action crappie and small mouth bass action. People say the walleye bite is slow.

I am hearing Cooney the walleye fishing has slowed. Some nice trout have been caught. The weather is very low. One fellow I talked to had a terrible time putting his boat in. Most guys are using the north ramp.

Fort Peck fishing is good for salmon at the dam. Try rocky points going 15 to 20 feet down. Some nice ones are being caught.

On the Missouri fall fishing should be starting to come on at the Fred Robinson bridge soon.
Fly fishing seems to be in full swing . Of course the Big Horn is good. People are coming in to get flies for the trico bite. The dries are really popular. “

Rich’s Tackle Richard 406-285-4540
Rich says, “ the weather has been nice. It is 64 degrees and cloudy. It is good day to fish. Just no wind.
The rivers have been good off and on for trout. Trout fishing is up a little. Fly fisher are finding trout.
Canyon Ferry was okay this week. Walleye are being caught. Eater size mostly but seem to be nice and fat. They are catching some nice bigger ones. Trout are biting pulling cranks. .

The rivers are still low. The fly fishers are catching trout. Try night crawlers, and grasshoppers.

Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977
Chris tells us, “the fishing on the Yellowstone has not been bad. The Stillwater is fishing pretty well. The Stillwater is low so floating is tough but fishing otherwise is good. Try dry flies. Use a fat Frank hopper in the middle of the day. The Purple haze and elk hair caddis are working for baetes hatches we are seeing. We are still doing float trips, just call the shop. Our hours now are 9 to 5 Monday to Saturday and 9 to 1 pm on Sunday. ”

Montana Adventures and Angling in Fort Smith Beau McFadyean 406-855-3612

“The river fishing is still good. The tricot hatch has changed. The trico are smaller so use a size 24. The hatch is happening at 9 am and is going to 11 am or so. Nymphing is pretty good. The San Juan worm is also working. There is some hopper action. For hoppers you have got to stay at it. Try shallow ripples and corner pockets. Sow bugs and worms are also working. The fall baetes hatch starts around noon. Streamers are working pretty well. The water us a little murkier. Not as many people on the water today, ” Beau says.

Steven Caldwell guide
“When fishing head to the dam. You can do well towards Wolf Creek. At the bridge the water keeps you moving around a lot. Really stay alert. The Canyon is good fishing The trico hatch seems to be done. Try using size 26 pseudo baetes . Nymphing is not working well. If you try nymphs try a Hogan 5 size 16 or S & M, “ Steven explains.

Big Horn Trout Shop Fort Smith 666-2375
Stephanie says, “ The tricots are not as good they are subsiding. They are not totally gone just later, like 9:30 or so. . The cfs is the same at 2200. The water is clear. Use more dries early in the morning and later in the day. Nymphing is slower now. Use the thin mints on the streams. Black caddis are working. For streamers try a dirty hippy or something really colorful. To catch fish try later as the hatch of PMV’s are there. We still are doing a lot of trips. Call ahead for guide availability.”
Our shop hours are 7 am to 7 pm now Monday to Sunday.

Riverside Anglers in West Yellowstone : Alice Owsley, fishing guide and outfitter 406-640-1698
Madison

Alice says,” On the Madison fish are being caught on the small caddis and stonefly nymphs. On the warm, breezy, sunny days there are still a few hoppers around. Louis dollars or Blue winged olive mayflies have started to hatch on the cloudy days so we should start to see more fish rising for those small mayflies.
Yellowstone National Park
Cold nights have cooled off most of the water in Yellowstone. Higher elevation streams are still seeing some hatches, but fishing is better in the middle of the day once everything has warmed up a bit. The Madison, Firehole and Gibbon rivers are starting to fish better again with the arrival of fall. Caddis and Blue winged olives have been the most productive, on all of the above waters. If you don’t see fish rising try swinging a soft hackle or nymphing smaller flies. Don’t forget your bear spray!

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