Please be advised that warm weather has changed ice conditions making them precarious and high wind conditions mean caution should be used in partially open waters so please beware. Call the contact person in the area you are planning on fishing for current daily information. Also use extreme caution on the water at all times. Good Luck Fishing from the Montana Outdoor Radio Crew.
***Bill -Rock Creek Marina 1-406-485-2560
Bill says “ ice fishing is over, here.” There is still ice but we are waiting for the rest of the ice to melt off. This week fishing cannot happen but he believes if the wind and temperatures continue to be high the ice may be off by next weekend. He says “it is time to make your reservations now for the spring fishing season.”
***Bob-Bob’s Bait Shop 1–406- 429-2086
Crooked Creek Fort Peck Reservoir
“We have some ice but you can’t get on it” Bob says, “ The wind is really blowing ,” he tells us, and I believe it will be wide open by next weekend.” His shop will now be closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
***Clint Thomas- Hell Creek Marina 1-406- 557-2345
Hell Creek-Fort Peck Reservoir
Ice fishing is done, Clint tells us. He predicts that if temperatures stay the same people will be able to put boats in Hell Creek 10 days to 2 weeks from now. There is not even any place to even shore fish at this time..
***Gene Moore Lake ridge Motel 1-406-526-3597
Fort Peck Reservoir Dam/Bear Creek/Pines/
Gene Moore, of Lake Ridge says, “ The river is open all the way to
Wolf Point. ” “The toughest part,” Gene explains,” is getting out of the boat docks.”
The walleye and sager fishing is really good. They are using jigs and minnows or lindy rigs and minnows. “ They are starting to come on, “ he states, they are catching 3 to 6 pounders.”
***West Side Sports –Dan 1-406-654-1611
Nelson, Forchette
Dan at West Side Sports tells us.” Nelson is still fishing well . “ The ice is 11 to 12 inches most places but there are a few spotty areas. They are catching nice perch and northern. Ice safety is still is a concern . the ice in some places is 12 to 16 inches.
Forchette Bay is not safe or good. There is no fishing right now.
***Deadmans and Martinsdale
Justin says,” Martinsdale is half open. There is still ice by the two dams. ” Fishing is pretty good. They are catching rainbow trout around 3 ½ pounds.. They are catching them mostly on worms. The boat ramp is not quite open here,
Deadmans is mostly open except the North east corner. There is a place to launch. Be careful with the wind. The wind threw a boat into the ice yesterday. You have to be careful.”
*** Silos Marina Sharon 266-3100
Canyon Ferry
“ Shore fishing is good for trout”, Sharon says. “Ice fishing is done, “ Sharon tells us .” The wind has really been blowing.”
Sharon wants people to use all that excess energy on winterizing their boat. Check your spark plugs,” she instructs” and add that seafoam but number 1 check your batteries so you won’t have to buy your battery on your first trip out.”
***Minnow bucket Allen Camarillo 348-2440
Allen Camarillo tells us that fishermen are catching ling, catfish and sauger on the Yellowstone. He says, ” the river is open all the way to Forsythe.” “Hearing is not seeing , show me some proof, send me your pictures, “ he proclaims.
***Lake Elmo Billings
Lake Elmo has open water. People are fishing from shore and the dock and catching a few fish. Lake Elmo was stocked with 3,000 trout fingerlings this week.
***Don’s Dave 1-800-879-8194
Lewistown East Fork Reservoir
Dave says, “The Missouri River is open.” People are catching catfish and sager on live minnows. “Ice fishing is just too dangerous, don’t go, “ he shares.
***Bob Peterson-
Tongue River Reservoir
Bob says, “It all started with a rain we had where we got 2-3 inches so the lake rose. The ice separated from the shore. Then we had some cold temperatures and it froze back up, but the ice was rotten. Now we have a big margin of water between the ice and the shore so ice conditions are questionable.” Fishing is lousy.