Report compiled by Carol Henckel
Please be advised that 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 water especially with high winds.
Good luck FISHING from the Montana Outdoor Radio Crew.
Bill -Rock Creek Marina 1-406-485-2560
“No one has been out fishing. Open water is getting bigger. Chains are required to get up the road because of snow drifts. I have gotten stuck several times.”
Bob Peterson-Tongue River Reservoir
Bob says,” The ice has pulled away from shore quite a ways. Ice conditions are not good. Fishing has been slow.”
Clint Thomas- Hell Creek Marina 1-406- 557-2345
Hell Creek-Fort Peck Reservoir
Clint says,” Not much fishing here. The ice is really rotten. There are a few spots where you might be able to bank fish soon. I figure the ice will be off around the 1st or 2nd week of April.”
Gene Moore- Lake Ridge Motel 1-406-526-3597
Gene Moore, of Lake Ridge says, ”Ice is good and fishing I pretty good. We have had a blizzard and it was 4 to 6 degrees last night. Duck creek is good and flat lake bay has about 12 to 16 inches of ice. Northern pike and lake trout are being caught. They seem to be on the move but people are doing well spearing. The river is open down below Tailrace. ”
Lake Elmo – Billings
There is no ice on Elmo. “There is fishing going on and they are catching a few trout. We have not done the spring stocking as of yet,” Bob says.
Cooney Reservoir -Jenny
Jenny says, “The ice is still on a large part of the lake but ice has pulled away from the shore 30 to 40 feet.”
DeadmanslMartinsdale -Justin
“Deadmans was open but with cold weather may have iced up a bit” Justin said.
Martinsdale “The ice wasn’t great. A few people were fishing but ice is pretty variable. The conditions are pretty precarious,” said Justin.
Don’s Lewistown- Dale
Fishing is slim to none right now. Ice is terrible most places. They are finding Spring Creek pretty good and doing well on nymphs and blue wings.
Ice is off Stafford Ferry. Missouri river is open and they are using live minnows and smelt. They are catching sauger and catfish.
Crooked Creek-Grant
Access for fishermen is not possible from here. No supplies or owner available.
Lewistown Sports-Dave
Dave says, “The lakes are barely frozen around here. The Missouri is open atStanford, Perry and PN Bridge and they are using minnows to fish off shore.”
Minnow Bucket-Allen Camarillo 861-0156
Allen says,” Lots of people are heading up the river from Huntley East. They are going after ling and catfish.”
Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon
“We have open water on the East side. Any ice we have is just not safe at this point,” Sharon says. It is really important to stop at the store before going out as conditions can change quickly.
West Side Sports -Dan 1-406-654-1611
We are having a snow storm today and it is cold. Ice is about the same but this cold snap may firm some of it.
Nelson-“The fishing has slowed up on Nelson and they are only walking on it. Perch and northern pike are the main bite. There was running water in the ditch before the cold snap. Everyone needs to use caution,” Dan says.
Forchette road is muddy. Ice is way too treacherous.
Billings-Scheels -Nate
Nate says, “Not much news on fishing this week. I know that the upper section of the Big Horn is good for trout. People are finding the river okay all the way to Forsyte. Some sauger are being caught on the Yellowstone near Huntley.”
Rich’s Tackle- Richard
“Ice is going off of Canyon Ferry. There are some hard edges. Three Forks pond and Harrison is not good ice and is leaving some open water. The lower river by Totson Dam is good for rainbow. The walleyes are not up yet. Ice is gone above the dam. I heard they are catching whitefish on the Jefferson. Some are 2 to 3 pounds. Hauser and Holter are open, and walleye fishing is spotty. Trout fishing is good with some big ones being caught,” Rich says.
