From East to West and North to South, pick a direction and you are sure to find a Montana lake that will offer up not only great fishing, but catching too!
Holter Reservoir is still producing trout trolling with needlefish and Rapalas. The walleye bite is slow but occasionally you hear of some being caught trolling crank baits next to shore in the evening. The water temperature is still a shade over 50 degrees.
Canyon Ferry Reservoir reports tell me walleye were being caught Friday and Saturday. The bite slowed as the Missouri River flow picked on Saturday and Sunday.
Walleye anglers are picking some up by the Hole and the Wall and trout fishing is excellent according to Stephanie from Silos RV (266-3100).
Trollers are having some success on Browns Lake according to Hookem Harry Ward who fished the lake on Monday. Salmon and Seeley Lake are both giving up a few northern pike but they are not coming fast and easy according to Tom Jenner. The north end of Salmon Lake seems to be the best and on Seeley they seemed to be scattered.
The perch bite on Lake Inez is still good and trout are also being caught. Perch are also being caught on the east bay of Flathead Lake. “I have heard reports that some nice perch in the 13 to 14 inch range are being caught,” reports Matt McComb from Mo Fisch Charters (755-4414). McCombs also tells me that the lake trout fishing has started to pick up and the water level of the lake is rising.
“The kokanee bite is still slow on Bitterroot Lake and has been doing well for smaller kokanee on Lake Mary Ronan. Anglers jigging have been having the best success. Use a flat rocker type glow hook with an attractor above and fish the bottom,” according to Dick Zimmer (675-0068).
Kathy from the Sunshine Station (859-3450) in Philipsburg reported that Georgetown Lake still has ice on half the lake. “It is hard to tell when the ice will be completely off could be a week to two weeks”, she said.
Connie Loomis e-mailed a report from Fort Peck Reservoir. “We have caught and released a 9-1/2 pound walleye, quite few in the 8 to 8-1/2 pound range, and lots of 5 to 7-1/2 pound walleye. The clients we have had are taking home their limit of eaters too, “ said Loomis (557-2787). They still have opening s for June on their house boat, if you are interested e-mail them at trophyfish@midrivers.com .
Also on Fort Peck, outfitter Bernie Hildebrandt (www.fortpeckguide.com) picked up four Chinook salmon recently while he was trolling for lake trout and walleyes. Three of the salmon were in the two pound range and one weighed in at 12 pounds.
Bob Culp heard that Nelson Reservoir, east of Malta, has been hot for walleye fishing and I heard that the walleye fishing on Lake Frances has been good. Finally, the crappie bite is on at Tongue River Reservoir.
