Helena Area Reservoirs Fishing Report for the Week of 2.6.17
By angelamontana

Posted: February 6, 2017

Anglers are reminded that ice conditions can be extremely variable. Ice thickness can range from thick enough to support a vehicle to open water. Extreme caution should be used when accessing the ice.

Canyon Ferry: Rainbow trout fishing continues to be good as fish are being caught from Pond 4 to Confederate Bay primarily using black or green jigs or ice flies, tipped with worms or maggots, in 10 feet of water or less. Yellow perch and a few walleye continue to be caught between Hole-in-the-Wall, Duck Creek Bay, and Confederate Bay using Hali jigs or Swedish Pimples, tipped with maggots, in 40 to 55 feet of water. Ice conditions have been reported at 22 to 26 inches from Pond 4 to the Confederate Bay, 18 to 20 inches around White Earth, and 12 to 15 inches on the North end of the reservoir. Adam Strainer, FWP, Helena

Hauser: Rainbow fishing is good in the Causeway and at York Bridge while using jigs and maggots or worms 8 to 10 feet below the ice. Rainbows are also being caught in open water below Canyon Ferry Dam on worms. Ling are being caught at night around Black Sandy while using bait on the bottom. The ice in the Causeway is 10 to 14 inches. At Black Sandy there is 16 to 20 inches of ice. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Holter: Perch fishing is good at Departure Point, Indian Trail, the prairie dog town and the bays across the lake from the Boat Loft. Most perch are being caught in 15 to 25 feet of water on jigs and maggots or worms. These areas plus the Gates of the Mountains are producing a few rainbows as well on jigs and maggots 5 to 10 feet below the ice. There is about 12 to 18 inches of ice around Log Gulch, Departure Point and Holter Ramp. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir: Kokanee action is good with best action occurring while using Swedish Pimples or jigs tipped with maggots or corn 15 to 20 feet below the ice. Perch are being caught just off the bottom in 10 to 20 feet of water. Most perch are small. There is 20 to 25 inches of ice. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

New Podcast!

Riley's Meats - Butte Wild Game Processing