Central to Eastern MT Fishing Report 10.3.18
By angelamontana

Posted: October 4, 2018

Autumn is here and that means sudden changes in weather and 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 is still on us so it means we all need to be alert to be alerts 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 with fierce strength.  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- Monty LeTexier , Wyatt  1-406-485-2560

Monty   says, “We pulled the docks yesterday because we had decent weather. We had horizontal snow this week. It was blowing out of the north.   We had rain and cold weather this week. We had no fishermen this week.

We have closed the Marina as of October 1st. We still have limited services.  Linda and Neal will still be at Rock Creek.  We still have cabins for rent.  Call the Marina number and Linda or Neal will help you.  If you call and come up we can provide food.  Speak to Linda about that.  The fuel docks are pulled but we do have fuel by the Marina should you need it.

The season is winding down and I want to say that I feel so blessed that the patrons that left have come back. Everyone has been so good.  The customers that were regulars at the campground really helped.  I want to especially thank Tanya Leppelid and Michelle Gibbs.  They helped Linda so I could go to my son, Trase play on the Grizzly football team.  I really appreciated that.  I also want to thank Neal and Linda Willnitz for making this year possible.  They helped so much, “Monty says.

Tongue River Reservoir Raymond /Spencer/ Greg

Raymond   says,” It has been rainy all week so not many people have been fishing.  I spoke to one fisherman who caught three crappies.  He said fishing has been hit and miss. The water elevation   is holding    and the water is 59 degrees today.   There are no reservations needed for camp sites it is now first come first take. The electricity and water are shut off.  The cleaning station has been closed.  There are sites still open at Campers Point #1 to 11 and have electric hookups on year round.   “    .

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

Wade   says, “I went up on Saturday this past weekend and a few people were fishing.  We have now closed the Marina until there is a need   during ice fishing season.  Our   hours have changed.  We are now closed

 Hell Creek Marina- Clint Thomas-Layne 1-406- 557-2345

Clint says,” There have been   lots of bass and northern pike caught this week.  The depths seem to be 6 to 20 feet depths.  The bass   are being found by fishing towards the bank in 18 feet depths of water. They have been pitching jigs to the bank.  Some of the pike have been caught on spoons when the fish are deep and used spinners when they find the pike shallow. Walleyes are really a hit and miss bite. They have been using bottom bouncers and cranks at depths of 14 to 20 feet depths.  That bite is sporadic. A group of guys went out one day and had a great day and got their limits.  They were pumped.  They went out the rest day and they got skunked.  Not even a bite.  “

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, “   It has been real quiet fishing. The first was the first day for snagging salmon.   I heard of three caught.  As far as lake trout people have gone out and got none to a few.  Walleye fishermen are having an active day of bites or a very long day getting nothing.   The weather has got to stabilize.”

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

Marina   reports, “Fishing has been okay. I have heard of people catching trout and perch.  The water is going down. The campground is now first come first serve now as the reservation system is done taking them for the season. The boat ramps are out.  The Marshall Cove campground is now open. The drinking water has been shut down for the winter.  Our electric is on year around.  The North shore campground is now closed. “

Lake Elmo FWP Bob Gibson

Ken Frazer says,” There are a fair number of fishermen out today.  I see a few guys fishing right now.  I see they are using little tiny spinners. They are catching some.  There is a lot of fish jumping.  We stocked trout a couple of weeks ago so I suspect some of the fish are those or past spring   plants.  The lake level is still full. It is a great time to go fall fishing.”

 Yellowstone County still has fire restrictions which will affect all fishing access sites. If you have a question call FWP for information, Please be careful.

 The Indian Fort Access at Reed point is closed the rest of the summer.  The department is working on a plan to put stability in the area and then hopefully they can get stated on that next summer some time. 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,” Bob explains

 Deadmans Tony Stefani

 Pat says.” There were a few people fishing out of boats. The wind the other day and today was really blowing.  Today it is blowing 40 mph. After Sunday no one headed here because the weather and wind were bad.  The water has not gone down.  They turned the water off 2 weeks ago but it has not dropped.  I don’t know why except there are farmers still out there with hay in the fields.

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

 Terry says “Some people told me they went fishing at Martinsdale.  The wind blew them off.  The weather after that made it hard to get out again. ”

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

 Judy says, “It was miserable for fishing this week.  This week we heard from a group of people who fished at Martinsdale but the wind was terrible.  A small group tried Bair but only caught some small ones.  The weather was bitter cold even the hunters did not go out on Sunday and Monday.  It was just miserable.  ”

Sports Center 120 2nd Ave South  Lewistown, MT   535-9308  Colby / John Tognetti

 We have lots more products now for fishing and hunting needs.  Our hours are 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and 10 am to 4pm on Sunday.”

 John reports, “The weather really stopped the fishing this week.  I have not heard much this week. The weather gave us lots of snow.  It was not a very good week for fishing.  We sold hardly any bait.

 On the Missouri fishing people are catching some cats and sauger.

 I heard at Crooked Creek people are catching walleye despite the weather.

At Hansen Dam you can catch trout in the morning and in the evening.”

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

Carri    explains,” Fishing has been   unlimited for walleye last week until Sunday.  People were catching. On Saturday guys were catching northern pike jigging. They were pulling back  cranks as well from shore and finding pike.   Others were bottom bouncing for walleye at 20 feet.  There were 2 catfish caught also.  It rained a little on Saturday but the weather really changed on Sunday.  It rained and it snowed.  It was really cold.  So since then the weather has been bad.  No one has caught anything since then.  It really messed things up. ”

 Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon

  Sharon   reports,” It is very windy today.  People are fishing but not many.  Lots of perch were caught this week. It has been fair walleye fishing.  Not a lot of fish were caught.  People are fishing all over the lake. The wind is blowing the algae around so it is green towards the bay right now.   The alga is less. “

The Marina is open. Hours are 7 am to 7 pm.

The Flamingo has closed for the season.

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

Don   Reports,”People are catching fish at Nelson.  It has been rainy this week.  Go to depths of 20 feet.  They are using jig and minnows or minnow raps.  One Guy said he was catching some nice fish.  .

No word about Forchette this week.  With the rain that had to change the fishing there I would think.  ”.

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   reports, “People are catching on the Yellowstone up around Forsyte and Hysham.  They are using jigs and catching walleye and bass.

On Yellowtail things are starting to heat up.  Guys are catching a few sauger and bass on the South end.

Big Horn  The Big Horn people are telling me is pretty slow right now.

Upper Yellowstone I talked to some guys who were on the Upper Yellowstone and they were catching browns with streamers.

Cooney People are saying they are catching a few fish right now

I also heard from someone at the mouth of the canyon.  He said fly fishing right before the cold weather was awesome.  Livingston was fishing well also.

We just put out the ice fishing products on the shelves.  It is time to get ready for ice fishing. ”

Rich’s Tackle Richard  406-285-4540

Rich says,” The weather has not been nice.  In fact it has been pretty lousy. I had no customers since Saturday.  The last fishermen were fly fishermen and they said they were catching a few. I did not even hear anything from Canyon Ferry.”

The word at Toston Dam is they have pushed the distance to 300 feet away below the dam to fish.  That is as close as you can get.  They do have a game warden enforcing the rule. “

Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977 ,Bill, Ken, Jasmine

Chris says, “The Yellowstone was fishing okay until the weather hit.  The cold did put a kink in the fishing a bit. Use a Purple Haze or size12 hoppers.   When the weather stays cool   use a nymph with legs.  Try a Prince or a Hairs ear.  Not much caddis out there.

   Flies and hoppers in peach and tan are   working   now.  The water clarity is 4 to 6 feet deep.  The Indian Fort is still closed.

 The Stillwater is very   low.  You can only wade and walk.  There are some very small bugs but it is not caddis or mayfly.  The fish are eating them.  Use anything smaller then 16.  Hoppers are not. Use the  emergers   especially when it is a colder day. The browns are not heading up the Stillwater yet.  ”

We are   open Monday to Sunday from 9 to 5 pm.”

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

Beau says,” The Big Horn has more clarity from 3 miles down.   They say the grass is better.  Try a pseudo hatch and go after the cream mayflies out there.  If you see a hatch tries a dry.  If that happens, which it will, one of these days fishing will be real good.  Nymphing is poor.  “

Big Horn Trout Shop Fort Smith 666-2375

 Collette says,” Fishing is pretty dam slim right now.  The grass and moss is breaking up now.  Try a thin mint or something white. Streamers have worked   some days. One of the fishermen found a belly full of shiners.  That is what they are eating which is why the white streamers are working because it reflects in the water.    There are some tricots at times.   The cfs is 3,200. ”

Our summer hours   are   8 am to 5 every day.

Riverside Anglers in West Yellowstone : Alice Owsley, fishing guide and outfitter  406-640-1698.

Fishes Madison River and Yellowstone National Park waters

Madison

Blue winged olive mayflies and midges are effective nymphs this time of year. Warmer, cloudy days are seeing great hatches in the middle of the day. Streamers can also be effective this season on the Madison.

Yellowstone Park

Caddis and blue winged olive mayflies are still active on the Firehole and several adjacent rivers, especially on the cloudy days.
Fish on the Madison in the park are taking smaller soft hackles and streamers. Don’t forget your bear spray and vibrio boots. Be kind to your fellow anglers.

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