(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

“I hate to say this but the walleye has slowed down for the inexperienced fishermen. It is just a harder bite to work. The water is cooling. Water tempis 66 degrees from 71 degrees. The water is cooling and it has not turned over yet. Chartreuse and orange seem to be working. I caught a 33 incher. We limited out on Sunday on pike. We still are seeing lots of Northern Pike and bass”, bill explains.. York island seems to be a good place to get trout right now. Use flashers and squids. Blue and silver spoons seems to be a working. Fishing for the cure tournament is this weekend. A one day event with a prize for walleye and northern pike.

Call 406-599-8092 for details.

Tongue River Reservoir

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

“Fishing for walleye is slower I think,” explains Colton. Northern pike are catching well. Bass are doing really good right now. Use cranks especially blue and red.

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

Hell Creek-Fort Peck Reservoir

Hell Creek fishing has slowed down a bit. The Northern pike are doing okay on crank baits at 14 to 16 feet.” Bass are biting really well. On the main lake they have been biting like crazy. Bottom bouncers with a leach are working. Walleye bite is more spotty right now. The bite changes daily. They vary from 18 to 25 feet.

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

Gene Moore, of Lake Ridge says,” Head to the Pines for good fishing right now. They are catching smallmouth a lot as well as walleye northern pike.

Salmon at the dam is just starting. The catching is real spotty. You have to work for them. A few 20 to 27 pounders have been caught. Lake trout are working with flashers, squids and flutter spoons. They are catching lots of big trout on the lake. Walleye are at 30 to 40 feet.

They are finding lake trout at 80 to 110 feet. Use flashers and squids and flutter spoons.”

Lake Elmo Billings

Boat and off shore fishing is producing fish. Trout are being caught. The heat was slowing down the fishing but the last cooler day helped the fishing.

Cooney Reservoir Jenny/ Maleri

Sam says,”someone caught a nice 5 pound walleye off the dam. Worms are working pretty well off shore. The water is clearing up. Boat fishermen are having success with dough cheese bait in salmon flavor.”

Deadmans/Martinsdale Justin

“Trout fishing at Martinsdale in mornings and evenings is best but slow fishing. Trout fishing you can pick up some. The water is definitely lower and so fishing has slowed,” Justin explains.

“Deadmans is tough water right now. It is definitely slow. It is not a good bite right now. The heat is not helping and the water is down. Go to the higher waters in the mountains, “he said.

MDon’s Lewistown- Dale

“Spring Creek fishermen are still fishing with hoppers. They are using PMDs. The upper is better than the lower. The hatch has started. The water has been a bit off color.

At Achley use bait from shore. Fishing is really poor. From a boat use deep trollers, leaded lines and Dick Night lures.

The fishing on the Missouri at Fred Robinson fish for catfish is good using traditional bait. We have had an east wind which has changed things.

Northern Pike are still on,“ says Dale.

On Crooked Creek by Winnett, not much being caught.

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.

Minnow Bucket-Allen Camarillo 861-0156

The big action has been the catfish on the Yellowstone river. From Huntley down you can catch them. You can get small mouth as well. Use cut bait for catfish. Sauger are also being caught and seem to be biting more.

Average walleye are being caught at Hysham as well. The moss is clearing a little bit. There lots of places that people are catching like Pompey, Waco, and the B Horn near Custer.

Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon

People are saying the fishing has improved a bit this week. Perch fishing has picked up. Nice ones. You have to work a bit harder for the walleyes but you can find them on the South end. Water temperature has cooled a bit.

West Side Sports Dan 1-406-654-1611

Nelson has slowed up. We have had lots of rain. We got 2 inches last night again. The mosquiyos are liking it so bring repellent. Use a bottom bouncer, and spinner harness for walleyes and go deeper 12 to 20 feet.

Cranks are working for northerns but go shallower depending on the weeds.

Forchette

The Fall Classic was a tough fish. Saturday was decent fishing then Sunday was slow. That is the way things are right now. Try using worms and bottom bouncers for walleye. For northerns they are using cranks and rapalas, shad raps and flicker shads. The heat and rain is determining success.

Billings-Scheels Matt

Fort Peck Glasgow I heard people are catching lake trout. They are jigging and also using a worm harness.

Tongue River Bass fishing has really turned on I am hearing. Head toward structure using a slow trolling motion. Walleye, crappie, pike fishing has been real good as well.

Cooney Matt says, ” Troll cranks with lead core during the day at 2 ½ miles an hour and you will have success for walleye.

The Yellowstone Catfish are still hot on the Yellowstone. Use the standard bait.

Yellowtail At yellowtail we hear they are catching a few walleye and sauger. Use crank baits at 35 feet.

Rich’s Tackle- Richard

People are catching a few trout on flies The rivers I hear are doing pretty good despite the restrictions and low water. The Madison is pretty good. The Jefferson by White Hall and Twin Bridges has had some decent catches for rainbows.

Canyon Ferry

People are saying fishing has picked up this week. It seems the best time to catch is 10 to 2. They are using just about everything. Also catching some nice trout.

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

Pretty shallow here.

Petrolia

I had a couple guys come in who fished Petrolia. Each was jigging for walleyes and did have success on different days. One fellow caught a few 2 ½ to 3 pounders.

Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977

It has picked up this week as the water has cooled a little bit.

Streamer nymph fishing is good. Use Copper Johns in red and green on both rivers. Dry fly fishing on the Yellowstone has improved. The Stillwater is also better fishing with drys but we still are not seeing hoppers.

Baetis are working. Streamer nymph fishing is picking up using copper johns in red and green. That is working on both rivers. Go early to streamer fish or wait for a day that is overcast and has cooler temps.

Because of the low water and water temp be aware of how you handle the fish you catch. Do as little handling as possible.

Fort Smith Trout Shop 666-2375 Rich

For dry fly fishing baetes are working. We are starting to see PMD’s and Sally’s moving up the 13 miles toward Big Horn access. PMDS and Sallys are starting to work below as well. We are starting to see the water warm above Big Horn access. Use small black caddis as well at 13 mile access.

Nymphing is still good on the Big Horn river. Streamers in black and olive are working real well there.

(Report compiled by Carol Henckel; Cover Photo: montanaangler.com)