NW Montana Fishing Reports by Snappy’s Sport Senter 10.8.18
By angelamontana

Posted: October 11, 2018
Flathead Lake and Sloughs:
Lake Trout, trolling with cut plugs, flat fish and spoons.  Jigging with tube jigs and cut bait.  Whitefish are in the river, try small tube jigs, and Gitzits.  Perch, fishing has picked up in the sloughs.
Lake Koocanusa:
Good Salmon fishing around Rexford try trolling with wedding rings 30 to 40′ for jigging use Hailey’s 30 to 40′.  For the big Rainbows in the early morning troll with Berkley Flicker shad, and Lyman lures.  Kokanee snagging: Tobacco River – Grave Creek has slowed down.  Kootenai Falls downstream from the Swinging Bridge not showing much action yet.Swan Lake:
Salmon trolling 15 to 30′ use dodgers and small spoons.  Rainbows trolling the shoreline in the early morning and evenings, use spinners. Pike fishing on the weed beds and the river mouth on the south end of the lake.

Lake Mary Ronan:
Perch, jigging seems to be doing the best.  Trolling for trout around the shore line in the early morning. Salmon fishing has picked up, some nice fish are being taken near the shore line.

Smith Lake:
Lots of small Pike. Try spinner baits, and Johnson Silver minnow weed-less. For Perch use small jigs and bait. Check regs for size and quantity.

Echo Lake:
Bass, are down 6’ to 18′, try jigs with craws.   Perch fishing around the weed beds. Pike around the weed beds in the PM with tube jigs and spinner baits.  Kokanee look around the shore line.

Thompson Lakes:
Perch fishing has been good, small jigs and Pete’s tackle. Salmon around the shore line.  Trout fishing around the shore line trolling in the morning and in the middle of the lake in the PM.

Bitterroot Lake:
Salmon, trolling 15’ to 35′ in the early morning. Look for fish around the shore line.  Wedding rings and cow bells.  Look for fish around the shore line. Lots of Bass fishing around the rocky shore line and drop-offs.  Large trout, trolling with large spoons and Lyman lures.

Ashley Lake:
For Salmon try trolling or jigging in the early morning 15 to 35′. Look around the shore line. Perch fishing in the weed beds. Smallmouth Bass have been active on rocky drop points. Trout, trolling with large spoons and Lyman lures.

Flathead River:
USGS Columbia Falls:  Discharge: 3700 fps.      Water Temp: 46 to 50.
North Fork: The upper run is getting a little bony but fishing is good, nymphs and terrestrials.  Stimulators, hoppers, ants, caddis, and streamers.

For more information, visit the Snappy’s Sport Senter website here.
(feature photo via MackDays.com)
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