Saugers Biting on Yellowstone Lake and More in the Eastern Montana Fishing Report
By Matt Schauer

Posted: October 24, 2012

Good Luck Fishing from the Montana Outdoor Radio Crew.

***Bill -Rock Creek Marina 1-406-485-2560

”Fishing is pretty good still. The northern fishing continues and they are biting on anything. A lot of guys are using cranks and minnows. Some guys are catching limits on walleyes. Some guys have caught 4 pounders,” Bill says. “Fishermen are catching lake trout at Haxby Point and at the face of the dam, nice ones,” Bill explains.

***Grant-Crooked Creek Marina 1-406-429-2999

Crooked Creek Fort Peck Reservoir

Fishing has slowed a bit. People are still catching walleye and northerns. The walleye are a couple miles out from shore. People are finding cranks working better. Boats have to be really careful between the ramp and a mile past Anderson Point.

***Clint Thomas- Hell Creek Marina 1-406- 557-2345

“Fishing is still good,” Clint says. “Walleye are up in the bays because of the cooler water. Fishermen are going 10 to 12 feet deep using jigs. Perch are being caught in the bay. Northerns are biting on the color brown with crankbaits.”

***Gene Moore Lake Ridge Motel 1-406-526-3597

Fort Peck Reservoir Dam/Bear Creek/Pines/

“Lake trout are biting good at Haxby Point and at the dam,” Gene says. “On the river walleye are fishing good in the shallows both off shore and out in the river. Definitely nice big fish. The walleye catch on the lake is slow but northern pike are good.”

***West Side Sports – Dan 1-406-654-1611

Nelson, Forchette

Dan at West Side Sports tells us, “they are fishing on Nelson with jigs and minnows. The cold fronts coming in will definitely change the fishing so watch that. They are using jigs with minnows or crawlers for walleyes. Northerns are being caught on cranks.”

“Forchette is the same. The guys are using bottom bouncers on walleyes. Some jigging happening as well,” Dan explains.

***Deadmans and Martinsdale

Martinsdale: Shore fishing is producing some rainbows, but no browns. Cool weather is probably changing things. Water is very low. Low water makes fishing difficult. Just not many fishermen out right now.

Deadmans is low and the dock is pulled. Few fishermen so it is slow knowing. Trout fishing is about the same.

*** Tongue River Marina & Scheels

Tongue River Reservoir

The marina is closed for the season. Fishing is slower. The cold spell has slowed down. The guys that are out catching are getting decent size smallmouth bass. They have pulled the docks. Check conditions before you go. Water is extremely low but it is rising a little bit.

*** Silos Marina Sharon 1-406-266-3100

Canyon Ferry

Sharon says, “trout fishing is still good. Walleye fishing is good at the mouth of the river. You need a flat bottom boat like a jet boat because of the water depths. Walleye are hit and miss, try fishing deep 30 to 50 feet down. Most people are using worm harnesses with bottom bouncers.”

*** Minnow bucket Allen Camarillo 1-406-348-2440

“The river is good. They are catching smallmouths. The bite has been going east for walleye and sauger,” said Allen. “They are catching walleye at the dam and shoreline.”

***Lake Elmo Billings

Fishing has slowed with the cool weather. There are very few fishermen out. A few fisherman off the shore are catching.

*** Cooney

Allen from the Minnow bucket says, “the bite is good off of the dam at Cooney. They are using black lead head jigs and twister tails half black and white. Some people are getting their limit of 3 to 5 pounders”

***Don’s Charlie 1-800-879-8194

Lewistown East Fork Reservoir

Charlie says, “things are about the same. It is slow fishing on Spring Creek. They are using bead heads in any pattern, nymphs and in darker colors.” Walleye and northern pike have slowed down.

***Scheels Lucky Bethol

Yellowstone Lake has had the sauger moving towards Wyoming, but are doing well. The bite is on right on the border of Montana and Wyoming. It is an excellent bite, but few bass.

Martinsdale has good trout fishing. They are pulling cranks using trout lures like panther martins and Thomas cyclones.

On the Yellowstone River the bass fishing is excellent. And the walleye fishing is better, people are seeing 8 to 10 inchers. Water is rising.

The Tongue is low, but rising. The bass fishing is excellent. Watch the weather as a cold front will push them deep, so if you are going to fish do it now. Right now they are catching them in shallows.

THE EASTERN MONTANA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK OF 10/22/12 WAS COMPILED BY Carol Henckel

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