Summer is here and with it comes sudden changes in weather and high water. Outdoor enthusiasts including fishermen need to pay attention to these changes. Flooding can happen quickly so fishermen or fisherwomen need to keep in touch with the weather service. Some water depths are at high June levels so everyone should stay alert. 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 including snow can come on in fierce strength very fast. 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.
(Compiled by Carol Henckel)
Rock Creek Marina-Bill 1-406-485-2560
Linda reports, “ They are catching walleye and northern pike and a few bass. The weather was cooler this week. The bite has been good one day and hit the next this week. Cranks have worked well in 15 to 20 feet depths of water. Leeches are working. Small mouth bass are still at rocky points and underwater cliffs. Water temperature on the surface is 71 degrees..
Bill headed to the dam today. He caught a 28 pound lake trout. The walleye bite is still slow there and they salmon fishing is just starting to pick up. “
We are open 7 to 9 during the week and 7 to 11 on the weekend. We do have cabins for rent. Services are available .
Tongue River Reservoir /Spencer
Spencer reports,” It has been chilly and not many people here this week. I have seen some bass caught. The water is going down. It is 75 % down. Just a few northern pike, crappie and walleye were caught people said. . The cleaning station is fixed and open. “
Tongue River Marina 1-406-757-2225 Wade, Stephanie /Warden Jordan Staley
Stephanie says,” the water temperature is cooler. The water is going down some. It seems to be getting a little better. One crappie caught was 1 ½ pounds less than the record and 1 inch off and less than the record. Some are catching walleye, but most are smaller. They are just not getting as many. Fishing is just okay. The cleaning station is finally open.
My hours are Monday through Thursday 8 to 6 pm. Friday and Saturday the hours will be 8 to 8 pm in May. Sunday will be 8 to 5 pm.”
Hell Creek Marina- Clint Thomas-Tyler 1-406- 557-2345 Marina Matheson-Park personnel
Tyler says, “ the walleye have gone deeper making it a slower bite. They are at 25 to 35 feet deep and are staying in the points and slopes. People are heading toward Crooked Creek. We had wind early in the week but it is cam today. The pike are not as deep you find him at 14 to 16 deep in the points at the main bay. The guys areusing bottom bouncers and the color yellow is working. Water temperature on the surface is 75 degrees ”
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, “guys are getting salmon now. The salmon bite is slow right now. They are using down riggers with brass and cut bait. They are at 70 to 115 feet depths. You can get lake trout anywhere and everywhere right now. They aare abundant. Using a canyon ball at depths of 100 to 135 feet. . When we have taken people out they are all limiting out quickly in short order with their 3 a piece. The water surface temperature is still 73 degrees. The northern pike are at depths of 40 feet. The walleye bite is alright but scattered. You find them at 15 to 35 feet depths with a crawler right now. ”
We are doing guided trips. Check us out at Howes fishing. We have 4 very qualified licensed guides to serve you. We have a full line of bait, crawlers and minnows.
Our hours are now 7am to 7pm Sunday and Monday to Thursday. Friday and Saturday we are open 7 am to 7 pm. ”
Cooney Reservoir -Glennis, Mark is the game warden at Cooney.
“ The water is definitely warm. The walleye and northern pike are hitting less. Fish in the early morning and late almost at sunset. Try a mister twister, “ Glennis says .
Lake Elmo FWP Bob Gibson
Bob says,” There are people catching fish. The osprey are active so there are fish out there. In the last couple of weeks they did stock some more rainbows.
The Big Horn is the big news right now. They are saying it will be going down 5,000 cfs daily. They are taking the water down and are saying that by the end of the weekend it will be down to 3000 cfs. They are starting to match inflow with outflow. Taking the water from the bottom to the top of the lake. That will change the temperature and make it come down a lot. The water has just bbeen to hot so that will make the fish more active. Strangely with the water being high the fishing has still been good.
I fished on Rock Creek last weekend and the water was uncomfortably high. Wadding was difficult and not many places to do it right now. It is running clear and cold real cold. I did not catch anything. ”
Deadmans Tony Stefani
Tony says,” Fishing was real slow it was pretty cold this week. . It was cold and windy so we had few people. Many came on Friday morning and left Friday night. A lot of tents ruined and in the garbage. The fish are way down real deep right now. The water is being let out. Not many salmon being caught. You can use propane but no fires in the rings right now. ”
Deadmans/Martinsdale Cozy Corner Bar Lavina 406-636-22
Terry says, “Lots of wind. Not hearing of anyone going out so it has been real slow. The heat has made the fishing lousy. ”
Checkerboard Inn Checkerboard, MT Rick and Judy Geordge 406-572-3373
Rick says, “It has been slow. things down. Fish in the early morning and late in the day. It is real slow in the middle of the day. People who went to Bair said there was nothing spectacular caught. They only caught a few trout. .“
Don’s Lewistown-Dale 1-800-879-8194
Scott said, “ I fished Devil’s Creek and at Forchette and the walleye is slow. We caught 1 12 pounder. Not much more than that.
Achley Fishing is good and successful trolling at 2 aand a half miles per hour using a rapella. . The fishermen are starting to catch tiger muskeye from the bank and from a boat. They are catching rainbows with night crawlers.
At Spring Creek fishing is good from the bank. It has been steady with people catching a steady 15 to 20 fish. Strangely it is happening at 11 am to 3 pm the hottest time of the day. Using a immersion method also works. It is crystal clear. Bead head nymph fishing is good.
The ponds have mossed up.
On Crooked Creek use a wind sock or wind drift. Worm harness are working at at 20 feet depths. People have been catching some nice walleye and northern pike. Walleye have been a decent bite. They have been scattered but try at 24 to 26 feet depths with a crawler. “
Crooked Creek Crooked Creek Marina Craig and Abby James 406-429-2999
Abby says, “ Fishing has been pretty good this week. We had our kids fishing day this weekend and they caught everything, walleye, pike, perch, drums, and crappies. The kids were going crazy and had fun. Cranks and bottom bouncers are working. The worm bite is really good right now. They are catching good size eaters and we saw the sie increase some this week. . The catfish bite is on. Especially at night and at early morning using a worm or cut bait. Everything is about 10 miles out and at 15 feet depths right now. ”
The Marina’s hours are Monday to Thursday 7 am to 7pm and Friday to Sunday 6am to 9pm
There is full service at the Marina with non-ethanol fuel, bait, minnows, worms, leaches and fishing lures. We also have some rods and reels. There are cabins to rent. We hope to be open year round.
Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon
“ Trout fishing was again really good this week. Go deep and cool. It is good all over. Perch are being caught at 20 feet depths and and excellent . The have been catching some really nice perch and it has been excellent fishing. Lots of them from the boat. The walleye fish they are catching are 14 to 18 inch size. They are finding them in the river. They are using bottom bouncers and crank. Everyone is consistently going south toward pond 1, don’t forget the Camp-mak-a-dream walleye benefit that is this weekend. You can sign up from Wednesday evening on, It is a family friendly event. Come and enjoy the fun, “ Sharon tells us.
There continues to be an inspection station at the landing. Every boat will be inspected when they come out of the water. It is halfway between the landing and the highway. The live well needs to be empty of water. The plug needs to be removed and the live well needs to be wiped down. We do have plenty of bait here. They are now setting up a water cleaning station up from the ramp. The Marina is open. Hours are 7 am to 7 pm.
West Side Sports Jim Mayer 1-406-654-1611
Jim says,” Nelson is now low. On Sunday when I went the one tire was off the ramp. It is not bad yet just be watchful. Irrigation is due to be shut off on the 10th . It can be tricky getting off and on. Fishing was really good for walleye but smaller ones. We were using bottom bouncers with a worm at 15 to 20 feet. The fish are going deep.
At Forchette people are catching afew walleye and pike. small mouth. Head toward Seven Blackfoot up to Timber Creek. It was fair fishing using bottom bouncers. It was windy so we did drift fishing. “
Shop hours are 8 to 6 Monday to Saturday and closed on Sunday
Billings-Scheels John Cooper, Dan
Tanner says ,”
Yellowstone: The Yellowstone River close to Billings is clear. Going East they are catching some small mouth bass and sauger. Use a minnow imitation. Some caught a 6 pounds and 5 pound sauger. That was near Huntley.
Fort Peck At the dam people are saying they arenonly catching a few salmon. They say it has pickedup a little.Try cranking 144 feet deep and catching a ton of walleyes.
Tongue-On Tongue: I am hearing fishing is okay. They are catching some smallmouth bass in the trees . The fishing is better in the morning and evening.
Yellowtail: Those who went to Yellowtail and got a few small mouth. They were using tubes and wacky worms to catch them. Sometimes the orange colors are working well.
Tongue : Reports on Tongue is it is alright fishing. The water is hotter. They are catching large mouth and small mouth. The guys were using plastic worms.
Rich’s Tackle Richard 406-285-4540
Rich says, “ The walleye are biting on Canyon Ferry. I am hearing Canyon Ferry is pretty good fishing. They are catching rainbows, walleyes and some perch using bottom bouncers aand a few cranks..
Rivers: All three rivers here are on Hoot own rules. Fishing can only be done from early morning to 2 pm because of the low water and heat. The Gallatin is fishing okay I hear.”
Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977
Bill says,“both rivers are fishing well. The guides are able to float from Jeffrey’s landing to white bird and some are going to Firemans orItch-Kep-Pe Park . Use large dries. For nymphing try a dropper. Jack Cabe, PMX, Chernobyl’s,, Grinch and hoppers. Some guys are running black and olive together a foot a part on the line. On the Yellowstone try Copper John, a Pheasant Tails, Princes or a Batman. The Yellowstone is 7500 cfs and the Stillwater is at 1150 cfs in the lower section. The Yellowstone has a slight tinge to it. The Stillwater is clearer.“
Montana Adventures and Angling in Fort Smith Beau McFadyean 406-855-3612
Beau says,” On the Big Horn the fishing was better this week. The water is about 4200 cfs. You can see a shelf. The tricot hatch is still there. The fish are still eating. The water is grassy and is very murky. I am using sow bugs size 18 in gray, pink and tan. Use dries in tricot patterns as well. You can catch a few fish on streamers. ”
Steven Caldwell guide,
Steven says,” Dries: nymphs and streamers:
Put the nymphs away unless you go to the dam. Take a chance and throw dries…fish are up and eating…eating like crazy…
Better yourself…throw at a rising fish this is the time. PUT THE BOBBERS away!
And get to the Missouri to fish.
The fly of the week is any fly that is dead drifted. Drop it in. Rreach cast, feed the line with no drag and set the hook and repeat.
And again get out early during the heat. Make sure you stay hydrated. If you feel strange, get off the river. Heat exhaustion or heat stoke are bad and once you experience it can return easier. Pay attention to your body. If you think it is hot so do the fish , treat them with care. If they come unhooked before the net that’s a bonus! Keep em wet.
Big Horn Trout Shop Fort Smith 666-2375
Hale says ,” The good news is the water has gone down to 4350 cfs. The water is 65 degrees right now. There is more wade fishing. There is aquatic grass in the water and it is a factor. There are tricot hatching in the morning at 7 to 11 am. The fishing is good. Nymph fishing is working. Try a Ray Charles, sunken tricot pattern or the sow bug or a black PT.
Streamer fishing is still good. Use shinners as they are working. Try a white fly or a thin mint or a dirty hippy. Concentrate on the ripple water and the current areas.”
Our normal hours are we are closed Sunday and Monday. We are open 9 am to 2 pm now Tuesday to Saturday.
Riverside Anglers in West Yellowstone : Alice Owsley, fishing guide and outfitter 406-640-1698
Madison
Alice says,” Madison below Quake Lake,
PMDs hatching early have had some selective trout rising. The nymph bite has been good with PMD patterns and smaller dark caddis patterns. Warm summer days have seen trout eating hoppers in the afternoons. Keep those fish wet!
Yellowstone National Park
Fish the cold water and carry terrestrials! And your bear spray. Hoppers, ants and beetles have worked park wide in the last week. There are also still caddis and pale morning duns hatching on several smaller streams.”