Anglers are in their boats fishing Flathead Lake. Some, but not all of the boat ramps on the lake, are usable. Make sure you call ahead before you go. I have been told that the following boats ramps are usable on the lake: Blue Bay, Wayfarers, Yellow Bay and the Westshore boat ramps. Bob Orsua from Mo Fisch Charters (406-755-4414) says this is the time of the year they like to target bigger lake trout. “Flathead Lake is fishing well right now. Last Friday we put 8 fish in the boat with the largest being 15 pounds,’ Orsua reported in an e-mail. Saturday was even better with as they put 16 fish in the in the boat with the largest weighing 17 pounds. They also released to more fish that were in the 30 inch to 36 inch slot length. “We are fishing deep 160 to 200 feet deep on the bottom with large flatfish”, added Orsua, “The mag lip from Wordon’s and the T-60 flatfish lures paid off big for us.” Orsua recommends trolling slow at 1-1.3 miles per hour. They were fishing from Angels Point to Wild Horse Island on the west side of the lake. There was also reports that anglers were doing well up in the north part of the lake by the river delta.
The ice fishing is still going on over by Helena. As you might expect this time of the the ice conditions will vary greatly. So use caution. Rainbow trout fishing is still good between the Silos and Pond 4 on Canyon Ferry Reservoir. A few perch seem to be on the bite out from Duck Creek using Hali Jigs, Swedish pimples and glo hooks, in 40 feetof water.
Spring Mack Days is in full swing on Flathead Lake. The second weekend begins Friday. If you want to enter and fish the derby log onto mackdays.com or call Cindy Benson at 406-883-2888 ex 7294.
Shore fishermen are doing well on the rainbow trout on Hauser below Canyon Ferry Dam and at York Bridge while using egg sacks or wooly buggers.
Holter Reservoir shore anglers are seeing some action along the Gates of Mountains road while using worms and marshmallows.
Ice anglers are having a lot of success on the Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir fishing for kokanee salmon. Many anglers are catching their limit of salmon using a flasher and ice jig baited with corn or maggots in 20-25 feet of water. There is 14-15 inches of ice on the reservoir, as of last Monday, according to Troy Humphrey from Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks.
The spring banquets in the area are keeping local sportsman and women busy. Coming up in a couple of weeks the folks up in Lake County will be holding their annual Pheasants Forever Banquet. It will be held at the Ronan Community Center on Saturday April 9th. Tickets are available at Johns Fuel Farm, Ronan Power Products, Ronan Sports and Western and Gull Printing in Polson.
