EASTERN MONTANA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK OF 4/23/13
By angelamontana

Posted: April 24, 2013
(photo courtesy of chesapeakelighttackle.com)
 

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. Weather is changing and some days wind can be a big factor.

Keep an eye on the weather while you are out there and stay safe.  Good luck FISHING from the Montana Outdoor Radio Crew.

Bill -Rock Creek Marina 1-406-485-2560
It has been 35 degrees. The ice is off. Some people have been catching some fish from shore. Just very few fishermen out this week. We are opening May 1st and taking reservations at this time.

Bob Peterson-Tongue River Reservoir
“We have had snow this week. The ice is off but few have been out fishing. Weather has been too cold maybe this weekend,” Bob says.

Tongue River Marina 1-406-757-2225 Colton
We are open. The multi species family tournament is this weekend. It should be warmer this weekend.

Clint Thomas- Hell Creek Marina 1-406- 557-2345
Hell Creek-Fort Peck Reservoir
Walleye fishing has not been half bad. It has been better closer to Hell Creek. The Tough guy tournament brought in some 10 pounders but the weather changed right at the end and everyone got out of here real fast.

Southerland Bay is starting to pick up for pike. I am open and will be here all season despite the incorrect rumors.

Gene Moore Lake Ridge Motel 1-406-526-3597
Gene Moore, of Lake Ridge says, ”Duck Creek seems to be good for walleye, and they are nice ones. The ice is off the boat dock. It is starting to warm up. ”

Lake Elmo – Billings
Trout are being caught. People are fishing if they can handle the cold.

Cooney Reservoir – Jenny
We have had cold weather. Not much catching going on though. They are schedule to stock sometime this week.

Deadmans/Martinsdale – Justin
Fly fishing on the river has been decent.

Deadmans has open water. No one is fishing. I haven’t seen anyone on the water.

Martinsdale Just too cold for fishing and catching anything.

Don’s Lewistown- Charlie

You cannot get out. Weather nasty up here. The only productive place has been Achley Lake and fly fishing.

Everything else is pretty muddied up. Crooked Creek has a half mile of mud to the shore. You cannot use it.

Crooked Creek-Grant
Access for fishermen is not there. Water levels are going to be an issue this spring. There is no water. No supplies or owner available.

Lewistown Sports-Dave

No news weather too bad.

Minnow Bucket-Allen Camarillo 861-0156

“It hasn’t been very good fishing this week. The catfish were turning on before the cold,” Allen says. “The applications for the 7th annual catfish tournament are here.

Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon

“Not much fishing happening when it is 23 degrees here. We have had wind and not much fishing going on. Not a lot of people out. Trout should pick up again with the warm weekend weather. Just “keep your rods crossed. We are trying to get the word out that the Broadway Rod and Gun Tournament will be held at Canyon Ferry this year instead of Goose Bay on July 12 th ”,Sharon says.

West Side Sports Dan 1-406-654-1611

“Not much fishing happening. Winter keeps coming back. Some are trying a jig with a minnow for walleye on Nelson but just catching a few. We are just waiting for Spring,” Dan says.

Forchette “The road is very muddy. They got more snow. It is really low,” Dan says.

Billings-Scheels Lucky

Lucky says, “Tongue was good fishing before the weather. Northern pike have been scarcer it seems. Rosebud has been up and down for fishing. On the Yellowstone catfish and bass were on the rise. The weather has changed conditions”

Rich’s Tackle – Richard

“ It’s just plain cold this week. But the weekend is going to be warm. They were catching male walleyes on Lake Helena. They were getting 14 to 18 inch fish before the new cold snap.”

Dave Egdorf – 406.665.3489
Bighorn River
The river is surprisingly positive. “Cloudy skies make the ‘bugs’ of the Bighorn River more active. If they venture forth in ‘cool’ conditions you’ll get very good fly fishing as a reward,” Dave says.

Midge patterns both ‘dry and wet’ are the producing fly patterns.

There are also May Flies hatching, although somewhat more sporadic at this early stage of the season, but still will reward the angler with pretty good top water action.

Yellowtail Reservoir
Less than ideal weather conditions impact walleye fishing dramatically.

Presently, just a few boats have been observed venturing forth with mixed reviews. One boat a few days ago had rather promising action for about an hour and a half during the evening ‘bite’ with about a dozen ‘hits’ landing something like five ‘eyes’. FWP planted ‘sterile’ walleys (to not cross with the pure strain of saugers) a while back and these very nice fish are now around 18 inches So get the boat ready, ‘air up’ the trailer tires and string the reels with fresh line……its about time to ‘fish hard’!

 

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