EASTERN MONTANA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK OF 1/8/13

COMPILED BY Carol Henckel

Please be advised that ice conditions can change daily so please call the contact person in the area you are planning on fishing for current daily information.  Also, use extreme caution on the ice at all times.

Good luck fishing from the Montana Outdoor Radio Crew!

BiII -Rock Creek Marina 1-406-485-2560

“We have ice. The Back Bay has 11 inches but the front bay only has   4 to 6 inches.   A few walleye are being caught and some perch in the back   bay.  Not a lot of fishermen up here yet but you can walk on some and use a 4 wheeler on the back   bay,” reports Bill of Rock creek Marina.

Bob Peterson-Tongue River Reservoir

Ice fishing on the South end has been happening. Rattlesnake to mine office has been catching crappies.  Walk only on ice. There is still some open water on other north end.

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

Hell Creek-Fort Peck Reservoir

The northern pike are biting good.  The bay has 7 inches and the main only has 4 ½ inches.  Walleye have been slow but not seeing any on the main lake yet.  The main lake is just not good ice.  “I figure maybe in 4 to 5 days then it will be good fishing.

Gene Moore Lake ridge Motel 1-406-526-3597

Fort Peck Reservoir Dam/Bear Creek/Pines/

Gene Moore, of Lake Ridge says ” It is cold up here.” The lake is just too cold to fish. There is a small amount of ice at the dredge cut. Only a few places to get on the ice. Bay is not froze over yet.

Lake Elmo Billings

This warden has had to chase kids off as it was cracking as they were walking on it. Just not safe at all. There is open water, maybe an acre or so. If you like watching geese this is the time to come to watch .

Cooney Reservoir Jenn

The ice is 5-6 inches toward Fisherman’s Point. That is between Red Lodge campground and Fisherman point. The whole “Willow Creek Arm is 8 inches.”  The dam area is thinner ice, so be careful .  Trout and ling are being caught. The docks have been pulled.

DeadmanslMartinsdale Justin

Martinsdale has  good ice. They are catching 1 to 2 pound trout and many are limiting out.  They are catching mostly rainbow trout and a few browns.

Deadmans has ice but there are strange ice conditions so you must be very careful and be observant of the look of the ice.  Some real weird thawing and freezing going on.  The edges are often soft.  It is walk ONLY.

Don’s Lewistown- Dale

Dale says,” Ackley Lake has good ice.  They are catching rainbow trout on minnows.  The local trout ponds are working well.  Places like Hansen and Carter’s are good.  At Fort Peck the ice is good  They are catching walleyes at 35 to 45 ft.  If you go shallow you can catch Northern Pike.”

Crooked Creek-Grant

According to fishermen they are catching.  The water is shallow but good to walk on.  No supplies available.

Lewistown Sports-Dave

All of the local ponds have ice and are fishing well.  That is Hanson Creek, East Fork, Reservoir and Casio Creek Reservoir…Rainbows are being caught.

Minnow Bucket-Allen Camarillo 861-0156

I am hearing there is ice fishing at Tongue on the Southend.  They are saying the whole place is almost covered with ice.  At Cooney  they are catching a few ling.  At Castle Rock they are getting smaller northerns on minnows.   The river has open water and some are trying for ling.  Petroulea someone caught a couple of fair size perch but they are few and far between.

Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon

We had a good weekend.  The trout fishing is good.  They are catching more walleye through the ice than we have seen in a couple of years.  I would say one trout to every trout are being caught.  They are going far North and at a depth of 40 to 50 feet.  They are going NE toward White Earth.  The average depth of ice is 9 inches. Call for an ice report at any time.

Tongue-Bob Pederson

It’s cold here!  We have seen lots of people.  They are generally going to a depth of 20 to 30 feet. They are using 4 wheelers as well as walking. Bob said he is watching the inversion areas and says you should watch on the edges as they are somewhat soft

West Side Sports Dan 1-406-654-1611

Nelson has ice.  The fishing is good.  They are catching perch, northern pike, but walleye is slow going..  They are using minnows.

Forchette is not real thick with ice.

Billings-Scheels

Lucky says, “The ice is good everywhere I hear.  I hear Malta and Crooked Creekl are good.  Hell Creek you still have to be careful.  Nelson is outdoing everywhere.  It is just plain good.  Tongue is doing well with crappies using a minnow and a jig.

There is ice fishing at Crooked Creek, but of course the water is only 4 to 5 feet deep.  He has heard they are catching Northern Pike.

Nelson Reservoir by Malta has ice of 10 to 12 inches right now.  They are catching perch, northern pike and walleye.