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.  

(report compiled by Carol Henckel)

Rock Creek Marina-Bill 1-406-485-2560

Linda  reports, “The wind was really bad this week.  It was blowing so bad you could not get on the water.  It also was really cold so it was just not fishing weather at all.  On our way to town we did see one boat out there and the boat was trying to handle some really good waves.”

We have closed the Marina.  There will be no services.  We did get the docks   pulled out. There will be no food.  We will have some fuel if you can find someone to help you with it.  There will be people here when ice fishing starts.  “

Tongue River Reservoir Raymond /Spencer/ Greg

Spencer said,” Everything is now in winter mode.  The cleaning station is closed.  Both boat docks ae still in right now to use.  Of course, that is weather dependent.  As soon as they are slippery at all from weather conditions they will be pulled.  The water is turned off. There is no water at the  dump site and  in the campgrounds.  I did see a fisherman at campers point.  He caught a nice walleye with a jig.  He also caught  a few bass and a crappie.  Some of the campgrounds have been shut down of  electricity.  Campers point north  has electricity.  That is the camp site closest to the marina.  The   boat inspection site  is closed.

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

People have caught a few  crappies.  They did also catch a bass despite the wind that came up.  The Marina is closed.  Wade says, “ bring your own worms as there will not be any here right now.  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

Lane says,” Not many northern pike caught this week.  For Northern pike  they have been  using cranks and pitching to 15 feet depths often towards shore.   The walleye and bass have been non-existent this week.  Give the walleye another two to three weeks and we will see some action,

I think.  At the lake they are finding fish at 20 to 40 feet depths  pulling 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, “  The winds this week were really bad.  I have not been able to get on the water for a week and a half.  Today the wind is blowing 30 mph.  We had one day this past week when it was blowing 64 mph.  A few guys tried to sneak out but it doesn’t last long .  They did catch a couple of lake trout.

As far the salmon the snagging has been really slow and they only have gotten a couple.  The lake trout are shallow,15 to 20 feet.  The walleye fishing is just not good.  A few guys have headed to Bear Creek and Rock Creek for them. The wind stopped that. “

Our hours are  6am-8pm Monday through Saturday, 6 am to 7 pm on Sunday. ”

Cooney Reservoir – Mark is the   game warden at Cooney.

Sources tell me people are catching walleye late in the day.  Trout are being caught if you could get past the wind that was so prevalent this week at fisherman’s point  and Red Lodge  campground.

Lake Elmo FWP Bob Gibson

“With the wind activity fishing has  slowed down  some at Lake Elmo.  Elmo is pretty full.  Lots of people heading to hunt right now,” Bob said.

Deadmans  Tony Stefani

Word has it salmon are starting to run and be caught.  The water continues   at normal depths.  The wind has not helped people get out there this week.

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

Terry says, ”It was windy this week.  No body I talked to even tried to go out fishing.  Most guys are talking hunting and even that has stopped because of this crazy wind.”

Checkerboard Inn   Checkerboard, MT   Rick and Judy Geordge  406-572-3373

Judy   says, “I had a couple of fishermen who went to  fish at Bair. They caught  a little bit but the wind pushed them off. Before the wind, early in the week they did well on trout.   When they went to Sutherland they got a few fish but it took a long time to catch them. ”

Don’s Lewistown-Dale 1-800-879-8194

Charlie   said, “  I am hearing Peck is real slow.  They have not been having good luck.

At Spring Creek  try silver, copper and gold spinners.   Spring Creek is  fishing pretty  well.   Use  a San Juan worm or a bead head or a bloody Mary.  Try a copper John or a pheasant tail as well.

No one has said they fished anywhere else.”

Crooked Creek Marina Winnett, Montana   James  (Slim) and Abbie Craig  406-429-2999

Carri   says, “ We have had a lot of hunters.  The fishing  was  just  slow.  The wind was blowing like crazy. Even the hunters were having troubles.“

The Marina’s hours are Monday to Sunday  7 am to 7pm

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,” We did  have huge winds  this week.  No one has been able to get  on the water.

Yesterday ( Tuesday ) and now today the wind is gone and they have been able to fish.  They are catching some walleye.  The trout bite seems to have slowed. “

The   inspection station at the landing has closed as of October 15.

The Marina is open. Hours are 7 am to 7 pm. We still are making and selling sandwiches at the Marina.

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

Jim  says,” I am only hearing that a few walleye  were caught this week at Nelson. They are jigging with a minnow at 25 to 35  feet.

I did not hear anything on  Forchette.  It was pretty quiet fishing wise. Water level is good still. ”

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

Billings-Scheels John Cooper, Dan, Matt

Jayce  says ,”Yellowtail:  Someone I know  headed to Yellowtail and got two sauger. They used a jig and a minnow. The wind was terrible so they left early.

Yellowstone: Some guys are catching bass and sauger on  the  Yellowstone.

Fort Peck:   On Peck at the dam the salmon fishing  is slow they say.  The guys went all week and came how with only a couple. “

Rich’s Tackle Richard  406-285-4540

Rich says, “  There has been lots of wind at Canyon Ferry.  I have heard they have caught some small walleyes.

On the Missouri river they are catching white fish and trout.  I am also hearing they are catching walleye and trout below Totson dam.   ”

Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977  ,Bill

Chris reports,“  We had some wind this week  again.  The Stillwater and the Yellowstone   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 if there was no wind you could catch something .  Try a dry fly after it warms up after noon.    Try streamers and dropper nymphs.  They are catching trout and some whitefish.”

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

Beau says,” Streamers are doing very  well.  Nymph  fishing is tough.  The  wind has been a challenge.  The wind is moving the  grass.  You  can catch fish but boy you  have to work at it.  There are no hatches right now .”

Big Horn Trout Shop Fort Smith 666-2375

Steve  said ,” The  water  is  at 5000 CSF.  So it has gone up.  The water is off color.  It is pretty grassy and with the high water it is dying and breaking off.

Nymph fishing has been difficult  as the water is so cloudy and grassy.  On cloudy days a streamer works better.  You could try a red Ray Charles, zebra midge, orange scuds, soft tackle  and black Pheasant tails  or San Juan worm. ”

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

Blue winged olive mayflies have been hatching after noon most days. Small mayfly nymphs and dark streamers work until the hatch. Do NOT walk on the redds in the upper river.

Yellowstone National Park

The Firehole continues to produce great hatches with good numbers of fish rising. There are several species of caddis on the river most of the day with blue winged olives hatching in the middle of the day.  The fish on the Madison in the park will eat streamers, smaller nymphs and soft hackles. Please be respectful and share the river with the other anglers. Carry Bear Spray and check often for changing road conditions.”