Eastern Montana Fishing Report for the Week of 7.1.13
By angelamontana

Posted: July 3, 2013

(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.

 

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

“Bill said, “Fishing has been awesome here. It has not slowed down, just awesome. There have been lots of northern pike caught. They are fishing at 10 to 15 feet. The water temperature is 69 degrees. Some guys have limited out on walleyes as well. They had luck on a smiley face, a worm and crankbaits. They are using a lure or bait on the rocky points and catching bass as well. All colors seem to be working right now.”

 

Tongue River Reservoir

Tongue River Marina 1-406-757-2225 Colton/Bob Pederson

“Fishing is pretty darn good. A walleye was caught 11.4 pounds and it went back in the water. People have been catching walleye all day.

Most of them have been 2 to 3 pounds. A few northern pike are also being caught.

Crappies have been hit and miss this week. You still find them in the shallows. A few have been pigs. Again, as before they are being caught mornings and evenings when it is cool, ”Colton says. Some small mouth eaters are also being caught.

 

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

Hell Creek-Fort Peck Reservoir

“Walleye are biting pretty good. Bottom bouncers, nightcrawlers or a leech are working well. They seem to be biting better from Snow Creek to Crooked Creek 8 to 16 feet of water. The hot weather has slowed things a touch. Northern pike are still good on cranks. It seems to be better towards the east towards Crooked Creek. White or orange seems to be working better,“Lane said.

 

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

Gene Moore, of Lake Ridge says,” Fishing has been excellent this week.

Walleye are really biting especially at Crooked Creek and hell Creek. Just about everything is working. Minnows, cranks, lindys, bottom bouncers and jigs and just about everywhere. Lake trout are biting at 80 feet. Hacksbee and Bear Creek are still good for lake trout. The pines have been good for northerns and walleyes. They are catching walleyes and northerns there. The sizes are running 12 to 13 pounds.”

 

Lake Elmo Billings

Lots of people are trying their hand at fishing. Both in a small boat and off shore. Trout are being caught but the heat is slowing the action a little.

 

Cooney Reservoir Jenny/ Maleri

“Some walleye were being caught on Saturday. They were jigging for walleyes. Rainbow trout seemed to be slow. The water is still somewhat high,” Maleri said. Maleri Schultz is the new Cooney State Park Warden and started this week. She said she was already giving tickets on Saturday. Here are a few reminders from her. Cooney does have no wake zones that are marked. People need to watch their speed and reckless driving. Remember to have life jackets in your boat as well. “ We just want people to be safe,” she said.

 

Deadmans/Martinsdale Justin

“Martinsdale fishing is definitely improving The majority of fish being caught are rainbows. They are catching a few more trout than before. They are catching especially trout when trolling. The river is getting lower and lower,” Justin explains.

“Deadmans is still slow. People describe it as hit and miss. So it is fair at best, “ he said.

The Musselshell is getting lower and lower. A few people are finding pockets of fish,” Justin said.

 

Don’s Lewistown- Dale

“Fishing is awesome, just pick a spot.

Spring Creek is having a blue wing olive hatch is going on. Any bead head nymph in the evening is working. Mepps are also working.

Ponds around here are doing well using power bait and worms. Lots of trolling and shore fishing going on with mepps.

On Crooked Creek by Winnett, you can launch small boats. They are catching catfish and a few walleye.

At Kips on the Missouri by the Fred Robinson they are using night crawlers. They are catching catfish and only a few walleyes,” Dale said.

Ackley Lake is good and the water has gone up. You can launch a boat now.

Panther martins and Mepps in colors are working. They are trolling with a boat or fishing from the bank. Worm fishing with a bobber is good as well,” Dan says.

 

Crooked Creek-Grant

A small boat can be launched as there is some water at Crooked Creek now.

The marina will not be open. It is closed but cabins are still available for other uses just call 1-406-429-2999.

 

Lewistown Sports-Dave

“Spring Creek and the Missouri are fishing well. Achley is fishing real good. Lots of rainbows being aught. Fort Peck right now is a “world class water”. I hear people are using crankbaits, leeches, worms and jigging,” Dave says.

 

Minnow Bucket-Allen Camarillo 861-0156

“The river is starting to clear from Huntley on down. Small mouth and catfish are definitely biting. The guys are using night crawlers and live minnows, either whole or cut bait,” Allen said. I have had people heading to Yellowtail and Big horn Canyon for some fishing,” Allen explained.

“I heard they are catching some perch at Petrolia. The spillway is running and overflowing,“ Allen said.

 

Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon

“Fishing has been awesome this week. The water temperature has been 75 degrees and the lake is clear. They are catching everywhere. The perch catching is good and so is the trout. The walleye has been good. Some have been 19 to 21 inches. Everything is working, bottom bouncers, cranks and jigging with glass minnows. The hot color is pink right now,“Sharon said.

The Rod and Gun tournament is July 13th. Just remember it is here at the Silos not at Goose Bay. We have entry forms at the store. Any questions cll Doug Breker at 266-3102.

 

West Side Sports Dan 1-406-654-1611

At Nelson they are using bottom bouncers, night crawlers and leeches for walleye. The fishing is good. They are running about 14 to 16 inches.

Cranks are working for pike. The average pike is 4 to 6 pounds right now.

At Forchette the fishing is just about the same. They are using worms and bottom bouncers for walleye. For northerns they are using cranks and rapellas, shad raps and flicker shads. The guys are actually doing pretty good on walleye too with those.

 

Billings-Scheels Nate

“At Hell Creek the bite has gotten tougher. At least it was at the ladies tournament but they still are actively biting.

At Tongue River I hear walleye and crappie fishing has been really good.

Someone caught a 30 inch walleye. For northern pike everything is working it seems.

Cooney A friend fished all night and got 93 walleyes jigging at 5 to 12 feet.

Canyon Ferry According to the guys the bite got crazy since the tournaments got done. Catching lots of walleye.

Mystic Lake on the west rosebud some hikers put their rod in for 10 minutes nd caught two fish. That’s not bad.

On the Yellowstone there are stoneflies at Yankee Jim Canyon right now.

 

Rich’s Tackle Richard

The rivers are clearing and coming down. The salmon hatch is starting in some places.

 

Petrolia

Word has it Petrolia is hit and miss for fishing. Fishing has been decent from the shore. Those that are jigging are finding it is producing fish off and on. Nothing consistent right now.

 

Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977

The upper Stillwater is high and clear. It is pretty good right now. Use stoneflies and wooly buggers.

The lower Stillwater is at high volume right now. It has a bit of color and will continue to improve and I think by the weekend it should be good.

The Yellowstone was clear at Columbus nd then it blew out with the storm we got. Use stoneflies, nymphs and streamers. There is starting to be some dry fly action so you can try a few dry fly patterns. “ We are on the edge of the optimum in fly fishing we just hve to wait a bit for the envelope to open,” Chris said.

 

Fort Smith Trout Shop 666-2375 Steve

“Nymph fishing is really good. Use sowbugs are bastis are working.

Anything pink is working is right now,” Janet said. Zebra midges are also working.

Dries have been spotted. We are not sure what they are eating yet. The Big Horn is 2000 cfs. The water temperature is 42 to 44 degrees and is clear. There is not a lot of moss now.

(Report compiled by Carol Henckel; Cover photo: classicjourneyoutfitters.com)

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