Summer is slowly winding down 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. The fire season also means we all need to be alert to be actions and conditions. 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 can come 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 Henkel)
Rock Creek Marina- Monty LeTexier , Wyatt 1-406-485-2560
Monty says, “ I went fishing yesterday and had good results. Lake trout fishing is really good this week. The lake trout are biting. We were using Brad super bait. Go to 70 to 110 feet to find them. We were going down 92 to 95 feet with downriggers. We caught some little salmon going deep. The water temperature is 72 to 74 degrees. We only caught a few little northern pike with a crawfish at 20 feet deep. Not many walleye being caught.”
“Our hours are Sunday to Thursday 7 am to 9 pm. Friday to Sunday 7 am to 11pm. We are willing to open early or later than these hours depending on the need. We are excited to get people fishing and hear their fishing stories , “Monty says.
Tongue River Reservoir Raymond /Spencer/ Greg
Raymond says,” We have had rain this week. I think fishing was a little better this week. People are catching predominately bass. I have seen more people catching crappies during the week. They are finding them at 20 feet. The water temperature is cooler at 72 degrees. The cfs is 3423 and people are saying the water level is higher than average but it is going down. Some campsites are starting to lose water access.”
Tongue River Marina 1-406-757-2225 Wade, Stephanie, Greg /Warden Jordan Staley
Wade reports, “Saturday was a slow day. People are still catching crappies at 30 feet and even deeper. They are vertical jigging with a flicker shads. I have heard of an occasional northern pike being caught. No walleye caught.
The Marina is now open every day. Our hours are 8 to 5 Monday to Thursday and Friday and Saturday 7 to 9. On Sunday we will be open from 7 to 5 pm.
Hell Creek Marina- Clint Thomas-Layne 1-406- 557-2345
Layne says, “Not too many people went out this week. The weather was tough at times and so was the bite. It is the typical August bite. You can catch walleye you just have to really work for them. They are finding them at 20 to 40 feet deep using bottom bouncers and crawlers. Guys are finding a decent bass bite east of Crooked Creek. Lake trout and salmon are being found towards the dam at depths of 100 to 110 feet. “
The Marina is open 7 days a week, 7 am to 6 pm.
Lake Ridge Motel Eddie and Carrie Mindt 1-406-526-3597
Eddie says, “Fish are biting. They are catching salmon, lake trout, walleye and perch The walleye are being caught on cranks. The salmon are small ones, 2 to 8 pounds with an occasional 20 pounder . They are at 50 to 95 feet depths over a canyon ball at 110 to 170 feet of water. The lake trout are being caught pulling spoons at 90 to 125 feet of water. Use a jig or troll with a downrigger.”
We do have minnows, suckers, fatheads, Smelt, night crawlers, hooks, floaters, full suckers, wax and meal worms and white and pink maggots here for the guys to use. Our hours are 7am-6 pm Monday through Sunday. ”
Cooney Reservoir – Marina Matheson. Shauni, Cynthia
Cynthia reports, “ On the weekend I was hearing that fishing was pretty slow. Some were on the boat all day and caught one fish in the morning. The water is lowering. Since the really hot weather it has probably gone down 2 to 3 feet . There is some algae blooming. The campgrounds are open and we have added new gravel leveling out the areas that were flooded earlier. So things are in good shape. “
Lake Elmo FWP Bob Gibson
The rain has definitely slowed fishing. School starting has changed who is on the water. Fishermen are catching a few fish. Guys are catching trout, perch and some bass.
On Friday, August 10th the Yellowstone County will begin fire restrictions which will affect all fishing access sites. Although it has rained this week remember that conditions are still dry. Please be careful and be alert,
The Indian Fort Access at Reed point will be closed the rest of the summer. It is restricted to walk in only. There has been some damage to the road which has narrowed the road and is dangerous. That has to be repaired
The East Bridge Lockwood fishing access is closed as there is construction going on,” Bob explains
Grant marsh fishing access washed out on the Big Horn so it is walk in only. The Wildlife access area is completely open.
Deadmans Tony Stefani
Pat reports.” They are taking the water down. We have had less campers. We did have the rain everyone else had. We have not heard if they are catching. ”
Deadmans/Martinsdale Cozy Corner Bar Lavina 406-636-22
Terry says “I am still hearing only a few fish are being caught here or there right now. Nobody is getting excited about fishing right now. I have had people come in for worms. Broadview pond had a few days of a lot of activity but I don’t know how they did.”
Checkerboard Inn Checkerboard, MT Rick and Judy Geordge 406-572-3373
Rick says, “ It was poor fishing this week because of high winds. Guys I spoke to were blown off on Sutherlan and Bair. People fished Martisdale but had wind there as well. Their catching was slow. ”
Sports Center Lewistown, MT 535-9308 Colby / John Tognetti
John says, “ We are happy to announce we have moved our store to 120 2nd Ave. South. The building is the old Don’s Sporting goods building. Please pardon our chaos as we work to serve you.
Spring Creek is fishing well using flies and spinners. They are seeing a small caddis hatch. The grasshoppers are also working. Use the Panther Martin, the blue fox and the caddis fly. It was cold this week so fishing was slower.
At Achley fishing was slower in the heat but gotten better through the week. They are catching trout and muskeye. The bite is an early morning bite. They are using deep diver crank baits.
Cats are being caught on the Missouri right now. The bite is okay. Use night crawlers or cut bait as they are working.
On Crooked Creek, at Forchette, people say it is good fishing for walleye.”
Crooked Creek Marina Winnett, Montana James (Slim) and Abbie Craig, Carri Craig 406-429-2999
Carri explains,” It was beautiful fishing on Saturday. It was great fishing that day. On Sunday it was cooler so it was slower fishing. This week again saw 29 ½ inchers, 30 inch and also 24 inch fish. Head to 20 to 35 feet depths and use a bottom bouncer. Try a diver plug. The guys are half way out from shore and finding fish. No one had to go out to far to catch fish. We saw a lot of crappie caught. They are using bottom bouncers for them and going shallower. On Saturday you could catch any fish you wanted, a crappie, a perch and of course the golden eye. Someone caught a 7 pound and a 5 pound catfish from shore. He caught pike too. Some people are heading down to 7 black foot but others have not had to go that far. We hear they are all over and closer. ”
Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon
Sharon reports,” The walleye fishing has been good. It is about an eight on a scale of 10. The smoke is not too bad right now. The algae is okay but worse going north. People are catching some perch as well. The water temperature is 72 right now. “
The Marina is open. Hours are 7 am to 7 pm.
The Flamingo is now open.
West Side Sports Jim Mayer 1-406-654-1611
Jim says, “ Nelson has picked up I hear this week. They are catching walleye and perch using worm harness’. On the Pelican Island they are catching fish at depths of 14 to 18 feet.
Forchette has not been fishing well this week. Of course that was a report from one fisherman. He does fish there often.”
Stop by the store. We do have minnows here if you need them.
Shop hours are 8 to 6 Monday to Saturday and closed on Sunday.
Billings-Scheels Jayce, Tanner, Matt
Jayce said, “I fished the Yellowstone by Pompeii and catfish fishing was decent. The water was looking cloudy. I did not catch any bass and only one sauger.
I did hear from people heading to Hysham and they were doing well on catfish on the Yellowstone.
One guy I talked to did well for perch off the bank. He caught lots of perch. They were little ones.
I am hearing the Tongue is still really slow. They definitely are not catching quanity.
The Stillwater and the Boulder are fishing a little slower right now. They are using something purple, or hoppers or a parachute Adams.
Yellowtail is good fishing. They are catching some nice walleye. It seems good in the morning. They are catching a ton of small mouth bass.
On the Yellowstone they are catching a lot of walleye.
People say the fishing is good at Rock Creek at Red Lodge. “
Rich’s Tackle Richard 406-285-4540
Canyon Ferry is decent fishing. You do have to deal with some algae in paces. They are also catching some good size perch in sizes of 12 to 13 inches.
The west Gallatin is really low. The east Gallatin, Jefferson and Madison are good fishing. The fly fishermen are out there. Both flies and spinners are working. The word is the spin fishing is good on the headwaters by I 90 on the Madison. ”
Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977 ,Bill, Ken
Ken says, “ Not much has changed. People still need to watch out for stream obstructions on the Yellowstone. People have to be careful as they float. You don’t always see a lot of it out of the water.
The water has gotten “bony” . It means it is tough to navigate because of the rocks. The Stillwater and the Yellowstone are really good fishing right now. It has been great on each of them. Big dries are working well on both rivers. On the Stillwater use a dropper with a bead head. Use a big chubby, a purple Haze or Jack Cabe as they are definitely working. There are lots of hoppers.
The Yellowstone is still dropping. Pay attention to the river. Realize the river is different. Many channels have been blown. Try using a Purple Haze . Dry flies work now. Use the Chubbyl. The Grinch is working. You can nymph fish with a Prince, a hairs ear, pheasant tail or the Batman. ”
We are open Monday to Sunday from 9 to 5 pm.”
Montana Adventures and Angling in Fort Smith Beau McFadyean 406-855-3612
Bea says,” Fishing the Big Horn is slow. There are some tricots in the morning. They are going for scuds. In the evening some black caddis are out. The water is still mossy. Try using cray fish, sow bugs or a size 12 pheasant tail “ Beau explains.
Big Horn Trout Shop Fort Smith 666-2375
Stephanie reports,” The cfs is at 3000 cfs right now. There are tricots out there in the early hours. Start to fish early. The water temperature is 63 degrees. Dries are working better, nymphing is about normal. Try a gray or tan ray, a zebra, black pheasant tail, olive pheasant tail , caddis or an emergent. The water is mossy. The black caddis are out at night. ”
Our summer hours are 8 am to 5 every day.
Riverside Anglers in West Yellowstone : Alice Owsley, fishing guide and outfitter 406-640-1698
Alice reports, “
Madison
With the recent cool weather and moisture we have seen a return of the mayflies on the Madison. Blue winged olives have been back in the last few days. Nymphing has been good when the warm winds aren’t blowing hoppers on to the water.
Yellowstone National Park
The change in the weather has slowed down the bug activity on the higher elevation streams. Pale Morning Duns are ever present. Fish are still eating hoppers and beetles. Look for more aquatic insect hatches with the increased clouds over the next week. Don’t forget your bear spray and rubber soled wading boots.”
