(Report compiled by Carol Henckel)

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

Sources say   Still are  having  blowing wind .  I was told the back bay has froze over .  The Rock Creek Marina bay is still open water.  Of course that may change with the frigid weather.  The marina is closed.  We will   still have cabins for rent.  So some services will be available if one of us   is around.”

Tongue River Reservoir /Bob

Bob says,” People are ice fishing now.  Mostly on the South end.  People do have shacks out there.  It is only walk out fishing right now.  It has been 5 below here so on the south end   as of Tuesday they say it is 6 inches of ice.  At Campers point the guys are finding 3 to 4 inches of ice.  I had one guy who said at one spot his boot went through the ice  and brought up water.  With the bitter cold I am sure that will change.  People are catching crappies.  Some are doing well.  One group got their limits of walleyes .  They were fishing along the south end.  No one has caught any pike that I talked to.  It is just ungodly cold out here. “   The fish cleaning station is now closed.  We now have only camper points 1 to 8 to the   north and 9 to 11 open.  The camp sites are now first come first serve. The water is down but fishing is still possible. ”

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

Wade says,” We have   ice  now.  The south end they say has 6 to 8 inchs.  It is froze by the Marina.  The marina  will be open this Saturday.  We will have a huge load of minnows.  Our hours will be 6 am to noon Friday, Saturday and Sunday.   There will be live minnows in the machine all week.  I will have 300 dozen minnows on hand on Saturday.  ”

Clint Thomas- Hell Creek Marina 1-406- 557-2345  Marina Matheson-Park   Hell Creek-Fort Peck Reservoir east to

Others report,   “  Real cold  this week for fishing. No one wants to be out in the cold and wind.  We heard that the   northern pike were   biting .  Some say  Crooked Creek  has ice.     We are open 7 days a week, 7 am to 6 pm now. “  ­­­­­­­

The park manager for Hell Creek State Park is Marina Matheson.

Lake Ridge Motel Eddie and Carrie Mindt 1-406-526-3597

Eddie says,   ” It has been real   cold out. It has been 7 below and there has been a real wind chill factor.  Sometimes  we had 20 mph winds.  Marina Bay to Rock reef is freezing.  The ice is not ready yet.  It just froze up a few days ago. “

Cooney Reservoir -Glennis , Mark Teynor is the new   game warden at Cooney.

Mark says,” We have ice .  It is only good for walking on , no trucks.  They are bringing shacks out there.  The ice is 3 to 5 inches.  Haven’t heard  anyone  catching  any walleye.   Rainbow trout are doing well.  The ice is completely froze over “

Lake Elmo FWP Bob Gibson

Bob says, “ We have ice on  Lake Elmo .  I am told it is 4 to 5 inches thick.  There are ice houses out there.  It is not ready for trucks.  They are catching rainbow trout and some perch.  If you put your bait right on the bottom. It is definitely cold  fishing. “

Deadmans  Tony Stefani

Tony   says, “   The ice has started.  It is only 20 to 30 feet out right now.  Guys are catching but not getting a lot   of numbers out there.  The cold will change  things that’s for sure. ”

Deadmans/Martinsdale Cozy Corner Bar Lavina 406-636-22

Terry   says, “   I have heard Matinsdale   is  frozen over.  They say there is  5 to 8 inches.  I heard of some that are catching  but they are not getting a lot ”

Don’s Lewistown-Dale 1-800-879-8194

Dale explains, “  The weather is making ice.  There is 5 to 6 inches on the smaller ponds, mostly the local ones.

At   Achley   there is pretty thin ice.  The shore is pretty good   but that is it.  It will be a few days before there is ice.  .

On Spring Creek it has been bitter cold.  There is 6 inches of snow.  It is close for ice but not close enough for good ice .  We just have to wait for the bitter cold coming to work. “

Crooked Creek-Grant

I was told    Crooked Creek  has  some ice.  Walk on only.   Please Call for information. The number is 1-406-429-2999.

Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon

“   We now  have ice . There is 4 to 6 inches in the bay towards the south end.  It is walk on only. You can fish for fish from the ice there is no restrictions..  No   Mostly trout being good. The trout fishing is good.   Make sure you call for conditions, weather and how the  ice is.  You can also check out the Townsend   Canyon Ferry Lake   KOA  Facebook site for information.,  “   Sharon   says.

The Marina is open. Hours are 7 am to 7 pm.

West Side Sports Jim Mayer 1-406-654-1611

Jim says, “   We have  9 to 11 inches on Nelson.  A few people are driving  on it.  Those ae brave souls.  With the cold guys are brave to even go fishing but I hear they are catching.  I am going to go check it out and maybe pull my ice house out on it   depending upon what   I find this weekend ,” Jim said.

Shop hours are 8 to 6 Monday to Saturday and closed on Sunday.

Billings-Scheels Dan , McCahen

McCahen    says,”  I hear the conditions at Fort Peck are still pretty iffy.  With this cold the ice will get better I am sure.

At Cooney guys say there is 4 to 5 inches of ice.  Just make sure you really watch where you are walking because of the springs underneath.

On Tongue I hear people are fishing on ice on the south end.  Some crappies being caught with a jig or magget.  It is good toward the dam.

People say Crooked Creek has 8 to 10 inches of ice by the marina.  There are some places to use caution.

At Yellowtail one guy was catching crappie  by shore.”

Rich’s Tackle Richard  406-285-4540

Rich says, “  One guy said he had 4 inches of ice at Crooked Creek with this cold it could be more.  I also heard the bay was frozen over.

People have said Nelson has ice.  They are pulling shacks on.

The rivers around here are frozen here. On the Madison there is a  dam  of about about 8 foot of  ice right now.“

Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977

Chris says,   ” Things is lots of slush and ice right now on both rivers.  I would not recommend fishing and losing your footing.  There is ice building up and this cold will make more.  The weather has definitely made it tougher to get out. You can   book trips now for later, just call the shop.  Our hours now are 9 to 1 Monday to Saturday and 9 to 1 pm on Sunday. ”

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

“Fishing is   just hard with the cold.  I hear the water is clearing up.  The browns are spawning .  Stay away from their spawning beds. If you fish use sow bugs or small midge patterns.  At this time of year they like bright colors like pink and orange,  ” Beau says.

Steven Caldwell   guide   * Unable to contact. No new report this week.

Big Horn Trout Shop Fort Smith 666-2375

Hale says, “ There are some crazy people still fishing in this cold.  The brown trout are spawning so the fishing is good.  You can use nymphs and streamers to have success.  Tray Rays or orange scuds or the Tung teaser midge pupa.  .   The water is   less  grassy.  We are closed Sunday and Monday. We   are open   9 am to 2 pm now Tuesday to Saturday in November.

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

Madison

Alice tells us,” It is cold. If.  Someone went fishing in these temps you might find some midges hatching on a sunny day but otherwise nymphing  with  small flies or fishing with  streamers are your only options.”

Yellowstone National Park

Alice explains, “ Fishing in the park is now closed for the season.”