Eastern Montana Fishing Report for the Week of 8.26.13
By angelamontana

Posted: August 28, 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

“Guys are using smiley blades and a worm for walleyes right now. Go to 8 to 15 feet. Walleye are going for worms right now. Bass are being caught on the rocky points. The whistler jig seems to be working. It is good for walleye right now and I would say northern pike and bass are biting about the same” Bill says.

Tongue River Reservoir

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

“Fishing is pretty darn good right now. You sure can catch them right now. Someone caught a pile of walleye with the biggest one at 12.2 pound. Pike are still being caught trolling on crankbaits using orange red colors. The biggest I saw this week was a 36 incher and a 40 incher. Go to the north end and go deep”, Colton said. Bass are an off and on bite.

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

Hell Creek-Fort Peck Reservoir

Walleye fishing has slowed down. They are using bottom bouncers with the fire tiger color. The water has flipped. The Northern pike are doing good using crank baits at 14 to 16 feet.” Bass are biting about normal.

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

Gene Moore, of Lake Ridge says,” Right now the salmon fishing at the dam is the best fishing of the year. It has finally improved. Some are being caught on a squid with an 11 inch flasher. Lake trout have been good fishing on an evil eye flutter spoon at 100 to 115 feet. Walleye are being caught at 30 to 40 feet from the major points.”

Canyon Ferry

I received a report from a fisherman who said Broadwater Bay is way down. It is going down an inch and a half a day. Next week you may want to check the boat dock this week as it may not be useable. Goose Bay is better for boats he says as they have moved the docks out. So low water may change where you can fish.

Lake Elmo Billings

People are fishing in the early morning and late evening. Small boats are getting trout but before the heat of the day. Still lots of families having fun in the sun.

Cooney Reservoir Jenny/ Maleri

We will be in stage II fire restriction on Friday and so you cannot have a fire in a fire ring. No open fires allowed at all. Restrictions on generators are also on as well. Fishing is better on the North shore.

Walleye fishing has slowed because of the heat. Trout fishing has better at Red Lodge Creek. Power bait is working with a sinker off shore.

We are in stage 1 fire restriction so you can have a fire in a fire ring.

Deadmans/Martinsdale Justin

“At Martinsdale you cannot load or unload at the ramp because of low water. Trout fishing at Martinsdale in mornings and evenings is best because of the heat but real slow fishing. You have a better chance of loading at the gravely area to the south, “Justin explains.

“At Deadmans the water is off the boat ramp. You may not be able to launch and load off Deadmans as the water is dropping. There are a few rainbows being caught from shore. It is tough water right now.

The Boulder is okay although low. You can catch a few rainbow trout. The area is in Stage I fire restrictions.

Twin Lakes has very low water. It is in Stage II fire restriction right now.

I also know that people are catching fish at Blue Lake as well,“Justin said.

Don’s Lewistown- Dale

“We are in the dog days of summer right now. Only place to fish is Spring Creek. It is fair fishing. Use dry flies. Grasshoppers, nymphs and some PMDs.

At Achley use bait from shore. Fishing is very slow.

Ponds are mossed up.

On the Missouri at Fred Robinson people are still fishing for catfish.

Use traditional bait”, Dale said.

Crooked Creek-Grant

Water at Crooked Creek is very low now. The marina will not be open. It is closed but cabins are still available for other uses just call 1-406-429-2999.

Minnow Bucket-Allen Camarillo 861-0156

The river has gotten lower and has cleared some. You still see some moss. Bass fishing is good I hear at Waco, Pompey and Captain Clark.

Catfish fishing is good. They are catching bigger catfish in the 10 plus range. Use the usual cut bait, minnows or crawlers. Sauger are being caught as are walleye in the Hyshum and Custer area.

Some big bass are being caught in Billings. Some people are really catching big ones right by the city.

Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon

People are saying the fishing I about the same as last week. Perch fishing has picked up. You have to work a bit harder for the walleyes. Walleyes Unlimited is having a walleye fish fry at Canyon Ferry and anyone is welcome. It is at 5 pm on September 1st at Gazebo 3.

West Side Sports Dan 1-406-654-1611

Nelson has slowed with the heat. Nelson is working with a jig and a crawler in shallow water at 20 to 25 feet. Bottom bouncers have slowed up.

Try cranks at 8 to 12 feet for pike.

Forchette

At Forchette Bay the walleye bite has slowed down. Northern pike has picked up. Try cranks as they are working. The level is good and we are green with no fire restrictions.

Billings-Scheels Nate

Tongue River I have head of 20 to 30 fish being caught in a day. They are catching bass, crappies and walleye. They are using every variety and technique and finding they work.

Yellowstone I hear fishermen are catching bass and sauger below the diversion dam. They are catching bass around Huntley. Catfish are still hot on the Yellowstone. Use the standard bait.

Dry Arm Rock Creek Lots of pike being caught . Nice ones I have heard.

Rich’s Tackle Richard

The rivers have really dropped but some are catching despite the restrictions and low water. Between the low water and heat, fishing is not predictable.

Canyon Ferry-I went fishing last Sunday on Canyon Ferry and we had lots of waves. We caught five between 14 to 21 inches. Got them on the north end. We saw them on the screen but they were just not biting. We were see them at the points. If we caught any they were full of minnows.

The rivers are low. They shut off the irrigation ditch on the Gallatin and so it is up just a bit. Harrison Lake which feeds into the Jefferson is only half full. It is muddy and you cannot put a boat in.

The Big hole, Jefferson and Madison have hoot owl rules for fishing because they are so low. We have heard of rain south of here but we sure have not seen it here.

West Gallatin The West Gallatin is really low. Really hard fishing.

Pretty shallow here.

Petrolia

I heard again from a couple of guys that are perch fishing. They said it is hit and miss at Petrolia. They said they caught them early in the day.

Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977

On the Yellowstone it is running real shallow. It is real tough fishing. Look for cooler water like the ripples which are more oxygenated. The water is 70 degrees. Fish early early morning and late evenings. They are using copper johns, red and geen nymphs. The colors pink nd peach are working the best . The Yeti hopper is also working.

The Stillwater is really low and is at 200 cfs. You can’t float it but you can wade. Use sink type flies. Look areas of oxygenated water and ripples to fish. The Yellowstone is a little better than the Stillwater.

Due to the low water and water temps be aware of how you handle the fish you catch. Do as little handling as possible.

Fort Smith Trout Shop 666-2375 Rich

Dry flies are working. Black caddis are coming off. PMDs and baetes are also working. Tiny midges in spot spots are really working. A few Yellow Sallys are being seen. Nymphing is still excellent. The CF is 1900 and the water is cold at 48 degrees. The Big Horn Lake has not turned over and I don’t think it is going to this year.

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

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