The wet weather is certainly affecting the fishing, but things are about to change for the better if the short-term weather forecast will hold.
After all, it just about has to be summer eventually in Western Montana. It officially starts next Tuesday, according to the calendar.
Fishing has been excellent on Rock Creek, where the famous salmon fly hatch is about coming to an end. Once the Bitterroot River, Clark Fork River and Blackfoot River digest the latest rainfall, they will undoubtedly turn on as well.
There are already reports that the fishing on the lower Clark Fork River is excellent.
Lake fishing is also doing well. Here is a run down on some of the more popular lakes to fish:
East of the mountains walleye fishing on Tiber Dam has been good. The reservoir has risen because of recent rains and is in good shape. It also appears that all the boat ramps are usable.
Last weekend, the Tiber Walleye Tournament just took place. The winning team of Arlen Kolodejchuk, of Coram, and Kip DeBoo, of Valier, caught 24.33 pounds of walleyes for their two-day total
The largest walleye of tourney weighed in at 4.5 pounds according to Chris from Tiber Marina (759-7100).
It appeared the teams were fishing all over the place – some at the dam and some up by Gull island in the Willow Creek Arm,� Chris said.
On Lake Frances, the walleye and northern pike fishing has been excellent. Anglers are bring in limits of northern and walleye,� said Scott from the Conoco station in Valier.(279-3600).
Most anglers are jigging or trolling either leeches or night crawlers.
The water level on Frances is about three-fourths full and the only ramp that is usable is down by the dam.
Some anglers are catching large fish over at Fort Peck Reservoir. Scott Sundhiem, a local outfitter, reported that last week he had a client catch an 11-10-8.7- and a 3-pound walleye. They also caught a couple smaller ones to take home to eat.
The Governor’s Cup Walleye Tournament still has a openings for teams to enter. The tourney boasts a $15,000 first place prize and will take place July 7-9th. To enter call 406-228-2222.
Canyon Ferry Lake and Holter Lake are still waiting to get the walleye bite going. They had a few days in late May when the bite did well but since that time the water temperature has cooled about 10 degrees, thanks to the cold fronts that have move in and out of the area.
“It looks like we might be getting some high pressure to come the area this week and into the weekend,� said Lesa from the Silos RV. With the recent rain they have received, the Helena area is now about 2.25 inches above normal year to date so the cold weather fronts have also done some good.
Lake Mary Ronan is producing some nice limits of kokanee salmon. Anglers are jigging is 35 feet of water. They are also having some success in trolling a black fly with a red bead tipped with a maggot. Three colors of leaded line and a twenty-foot leader seem to do the trick.
