Fall is here and with it comes sudden changes in weather and changes in water conditions. Outdoor enthusiasts including fishermen need to pay attention to these changes. Storms can happen quickly so fishermen or fisherwomen need to keep in touch with the weather service. 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, fire 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
Bill reports, “ Northern pike has picked up some.. Fishing was real slow. I have a couple people out here were pulling cranks. Otherwise no one was looking for other fish. I received no other reports. It was windy Saturday and Sunday making it tough fishing. I have not heard of anyone seeing an salmon yet. We have closed the Marina. There will be no services. We did get the docks pulled so they are now out. There will be no food. We will have some fuel if you can find someone to help you with it. “
Tongue River Reservoir Raymond /Spencer/ Greg
People have said a few boats over the weekend. Some people got a few crappie. Some guys got a fair number of bass. The boat inspection will be here until the October 15th.
Tongue River Marina 1-406-757-2225 Wade, Stephanie, Greg /Warden Jordan Staley
Wade says,” not too many people fishing this weekend. A few crappie were caught. They said catching northern pike or walleye was really slow. The Marina is closed . Bring your own worms as there will not be any here. There will be no fuel available. “ Another source says ” a few bass were caught”.
Hell Creek Marina- Clint Thomas-Tyler 1-406- 557-2345 Marina Matheson-Park personnel
This last week the weather has been windy. The walleye bite has been slow this past week. Northern pike and bass also seemed to be slow as well. For the northerns guys are pitching spoons or cranks”
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, “ Not much salmon action this week. Even the snagging is slow. Only a few caught this week. They shocked this week and did find some. They are supposed to shock again today. I went out and got 4 on Saturday and 2 yesterday. I took out someone Monday and got a northern and a few lake trout. The lake trout were shallow. We were blown off by noon because of wind. “
Our hours are now 6am to 8pm 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 has gone up about a foot. The north shore dock is still in. People who fished from a boat at sunset were doing pretty darn good on walleye. People are catching rainbow trout and a few browns at the Red Lodge Fisherman Point . So the browns are starting to be more active as fall is here. Two of the three docks have been pulled, “ Mark says.
Lake Elmo FWP Bob Gibson
The wind has made it pretty quiet at Lake Elmo. Some are catching if they don’t mind the cold and wind. The osprey are definitely enjoying the wind.
Deadmans Tony Stefani
“A few fishermen have come. Don’t know if they are catching. We got blown off because of the wind” , A source says.
Deadmans/Martinsdale Cozy Corner Bar Lavina 406-636-22
Terry says, “Only a few guys fishing on Martinsdale this week. They are only catching a few fish. The guys that were fishing were using colored marshmallows in green and yellow. Fishing seems to be up and down, some days better than others.”
Checkerboard Inn Checkerboard, MT Rick and Judy Geordge 406-572-3373
Judy says, “Not a lot of fishermen who went out. Some found out it was real windy and came home. Not a good week for fishing. ”
Don’s Lewistown-Dale 1-800-879-8194
Charlie said, “ Spring Creek is about the only place to fish right now. It is still fishing well using flies. Use silver, gold or copper spinners. Try a standard beadhead. You can use dries like midges. Nymphs are also working.
The other waters have moss and lots of cloudy muddy water so they are not fishable right now. “
Crooked Creek Crooked Creek Marina Craig and Abby James 406-429-2999
Carrie says, “ People are still catching. They are catching walleye, sauger and northern pike. We are hearing that the fishing is slower. The fish seem to have gone deeper. Not as many caught. “
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
“ Sharon says,” Lots of days of wind this week. Some guys are coming down and turning around and leaving because of the wind. For those who came on a day or time when the wind was not blowing fishing was good . They did catch walleye in thee 12 to 16 inch size. It is not raining or windy today. It is sort of sunny today. “
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,” Not as many fishermen that I talked to went out. People are still finding fish at Nelson. Fall fishing should be good coming up. They are catching walleye and perch. People are trying a jig. ”
Shop hours are 8 to 6 Monday to Saturday and closed on Sunday
Billings-Scheels John Cooper, Dan, Matt
Jayce says ,” On Tongue I was there last week and the small mouth bite was up big time. We were doing well with a football head jig in the early morning. Otherwise use a green or natural color tube. We caught a few crappies using a twister tails. We only caught one walleye.
Yellowstone: I have heard the Yellowstone has been good for small mouth bass going east of Billings. They are using a tube bait or a paddle tail swim bait. I have been told a few sauger were caught. Not much action from walleye.
Yellowtail: On Yellowtail the sauger are finally showing up. The guys are catching a few sauger. Use a jig and a minnow.
Cooney: I hear the walleye bite is better again in the evening. Jigs are working.
Fort Peck: Salmon fishing on Fort Peck at the dam people say is slow.
Rich’s Tackle Richard 406-285-4540
Rich says, “ Winter is almost here if I am already having to break the ice off of the horse troughs. I did that this morning. It is definitely cold here. On Canyon Ferry guys were catching the bigger size walleyes but the bite is off and on.
Fort Peck: The people that went up to catch salmon only got weather. The one group did not catch much and dealt with some snow and rain.
On the river the fly fishermen are getting some fish. I have heard guys are catching on the Madison and on the Gallatin. They are catching some nice browns. The weather has not been good this week. ”
Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977 ,Bill
Chris reports,“ We had wind this week again. Not a lot of change from last week. The Stillwater has cleared up well. The purple haze is working. For dries try pheasant tails. Some guys are using a girdle bug with a nymph behind and it is working. For streamers try black and olive or the electric goldfish.
On the Yellowstone it has fished pretty well this week. Try a dry fly after it warms up after noon. Try streamers and dropper nymphs. Don’t hurry to get out in the morning fishing is better after it warms up. ”
Montana Adventures and Angling in Fort Smith Beau McFadyean 406-855-3612
Beau says,” The water has turned over. It is pretty dirty right now. You can catch fish but boy you have to work at it. It is just way too grassy and muddy. So visibility is really poor. Not seeing a tricot hatch . There is lots of grass and it is breaking away. Wait for winter then the fishing should get good again.”
Big Horn Trout Shop Fort Smith 666-2375
Collette said ,” The water is still at 4500 CSF.
That has pushed grass out. The color of the water and the grass has made it really hard to fish. No tricots out right now. No dries are working.
Nymph fishing has been tough as the water is so cloudy . Don’t use much weight. Try using anything that throws a dark silhouette. You could try a gray Ray Charles size 18, soft tackle, orange sow bug, zebra midge, and black PT or San Juan worm.
Streamer fishing is tougher with the grass. You can try a vanilla wafer, a dirty hippy or a pseudo spinner.”
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, Yellowstone National Park
Madison River
Afternoon blue winged olive hatches have kept fish eating dries and nymphs, especially if it is cloudy. Streamer bite is continuing to bring in beautiful fish.
Yellowstone National Park
Dark streamers have been working on the Madison. When you are fishing for the lake runs, please be respectful of the other anglers with which you are sharing the water. The Firehole and Gibbon rivers have also been fishing well, especially with afternoon hatches of blue winged olives and smaller caddis.
Carry your bear spray and check road conditions.
