Eastern Montana Fishing Report for the Week of 8.24.15
By angelamontana

Posted: August 27, 2015

With warm weather is here please be aware that it can be
unpredictable.  Enjoy yourself but remember alcohol alters your judgment
So use it sparingly while enjoying the outdoors. Keep an eye on the
weather as temperature, wind and precipitation can change quickly. This
report is compiled on Monday and Tuesday and reflects conditions and
results of fishing from the past week.  If you wish other information feel
free to contact most parties for current daily information. Good luck
fishing from the Montana Outdoor Radio Crew.

(Report compiled by Carol Henckel)

Rock Creek Marina-Bill 1-406-485-2560
“The wind blew all week and so not much fishing happened. It was too hard
to get out on the water.  So there was no fishing happening.  The water
temperature has dropped from 74 to 68 degrees I was told.  We did not even
have fishermen out here and some of that is school starting as well as the
heat. I can’t tell you much about the fishing.  I do know they are
catching salmon at the dam and doing real well,” Bill said.

Tongue River Reservoir /Bob Pederson
“Fishing has been very slow.  Water level is good.  Access for campsites
are 90% real good. Heat is a problem. Smoke is heavy here today. We have
had one Saturday where it was 30 degrees overnight and then 90 degrees
by the end of the day.  That makes for slow fishing,” Bob explains.
Tongue River Marina  1-406-757-2225 Wade Stephannie /Warden Jordan Straley

Gabe says,” Fishing for walleye is slow. People are catching crappies and
bass.  They are finding them close to shoreline.  We are selling a lot of
minnows so they must be working. Look for  walleye you should head to
below the dam. The northern pike are in the shallows in 2 to 3 feet
depths.  Try using a top-water bait or spoons. Chartreuse seems to be the
color to use.”

Stephanie and Wade Bastrom now run the Tongue river Marina.  The Marina
schedule is Monday to Thursday 8 to 6 pm, On Friday and Saturday 7 to 9 pm
and Sunday, 7 to 6 pm. We will have minnows, leaches and night crawlers.

Clint Thomas- Hell Creek Marina 1-406- 557-2345  Craig Putchat-Park Office
Hell Creek-Fort Peck Reservoir
“Fishing is decent for northern pike and bass.  Walleye fishing has been
pretty slow. The water has finished turning over. Many have headed toward
Crooked Creek.“, Cody says.

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

Gene, of Lake Ridge said,” Fishing has been excellent. The Salmon
fishermen are limiting out by 10 am. They are still going deep to 75 to 95
feet deep.  The best spot is at the dam.  Lots of fishermen out there.
Definitely the  best fishing since 1996 and 1997.  They are using flashers
and squids. The lake trout are doing well.  The walleye fishing is decent
in the evenings.”

Lake Elmo Billings FWP-Bob Gibson
Fishing has been good. They are still catching. Traffic of fishermen to
Elmo have slowed down with school getting ready to start. Fishing in the
morning and evening seems to be best. I heard that the Big Horn is
working with using the big ugly hoppers. Those are catching fish.

Cooney Reservoir Jenny/ Malerie/ Glenis
Walleye fishing has picked up. It seems to be better in the evening
after dark when it has cooled down. Try bright neon lures and pink power
bait. Cooney is in stage 1 fire restrictions but you can use the
campfire designated fire rings.

Deadmans  Tony Stefani
“Fishing this week seemed to be slow. Much fewer people out there.
Fishermen are saying they are not catching much.  They are saying heat is
a factor. I know of a couple salmon being caught. No big success stories
being told,” Tony said.  Remember campers about our change to a pay site.
There are 22 sites at Deadmans.

Deadmans/Martinsdale Cozy Corner Bar Lavina 406-636-22
“ I have had no news on Deadmans or Martinsdale. I think between the hot
temperatures and getting ready for summers end and school starting no one
is going out.  I did hear that they are catching cats east of Pompey
Pillars at Mosebys on the Musselshell.”

Don’s Lewistown-Dale 1-800-879-8194
“It is pretty smoky here.  Fishing was fair this week.  On Spring Creek
they are doing well on nymphs. Hoppers seem to be a slow taake.  Use
Copper Johns or pheasant tails.  Achley fishing is okay from a boat at 10
to 15 feet.  Fort Peck fishing is okay.  the heat is affecting it some.
You can do well at Duck Creek and Crooked Creek.  Watch the wind it can
change quickly.  Go to a depth of 15 to 25 feet deep,” Dale said.

Achley is fishing pretty well.  Go to 8 to 12 feet depths.
On the Missouri channel cats are biting. Use cut bait or crawlers. It is
a little mossy but if you find the holes or a back island you do pretty
well,” Dale said.

Crooked Creek-Grant
Crooked Creek marina is now open Friday, Sat and Sunday.  Word has it
that the fish are biting well at Crooked Creek. Walleye are still being
caught. The store is open and they have night crawlers and other
supplies. The campground is open. The number is 1-406-429-2999.

Minnow Bucket-Eddie White  696-1281
Eddie said, “Catfish fishing on the Yellowstone was been good. We
caught big cats.  The best bait was cut suckers.  The catfish caught
were 6 to 12 pounds.   I took my grandpa fishing at Martinsdale and we
fished off shore using power bait. Go deep. We caught 3 pound
rainbows.  Crawlers were not working the powerbait was.  We also
headed to Castle Rock and caught a big northern pike.  We also caught
some big bluegill bigger than my hand.  At Deadmans we caught a few
salmon off shore using power bait.”

We are now in summer hours.  We are closed Monday. On Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday we are open 11 to 5, Friday 11 to 7, Saturday 7
to 7 and Sunday 7 to 5pm.

Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon
“Lots of numbers of perch are being caught. Size is 10 to 12.  It is
smoky here and hot.  They are catching walleye in numbers but they are
eater size. They are catching 14 to 16 walleye, not a lot of big ones,
mostly eater size. They are catching plenty of trout,” Sharon said.
The Marina is open. Hours are 7 am to 7 pm.

West Side Sports Jim Mayer 1-406-654-1611
Access is being limited at Nelson. At Nelson water is lower. Fishing is
the same. Head to the North shore for boat access.  Walleye bite is okay
with a bottom bouncer at 10 to 30 feet depths. Forchette has been good
using bottom bouncer with worm harnesses.
Forchette was good fishing using a bottom bouncer and a jig with a leech.”

Shop hours are 8 to 6 Monday to Saturday and closed on Sunday. Stop in
any time

Billings-Scheels
Josh says,” At Hell Creek fishing I hear people are catching fairly well.
Heard they were catching a few bass and walleye. At the dam they are
definitely catching salmon. Guys are   coming in buying what they need and
heading right back up there.

On the Boulder I went fly fishing using   hoppers especially parachute
Adams. The fish were biting.

Yellowtail at Olka has been fair for walleye and sauger. The bass is
really good fishing right now. They are not deep.   For walleye use jigs
and cranks. They water is clean.

On the Yellowstone I hear they are catching a few small bass.”

Rich’s Tackle Richard  406-285-4540
“ Canyon Ferry fishing hasn’t changed. They are catching numbers in
walleye. Lots of small ones. The walleye are deeper.

The rivers are open.  No more Hoot owl. The water is coming up and that is
because they are using less irrigation water. It is definitely mossy and
weedy which makes it harder for fly fishing,” Rich says.
Shop hours are Sunday 12 to 4 pm.  Closed Monday.  Tuesday to Saturday 7am
to 6 pm.  You can always call ahead if you are coming through and need
something on off hours and we may be able to help.

Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977
“On the Yellowstone fishing is good. It is clear. You can try the
hoppers they are working well.  Use tans, peach and purples to catch
them.  On the Stillwater nymphs are working sometimes.  It seems to
vary from day to day depending on the water temperature.  The lower
Stillwater is floatable if you are careful.  Use nymphs and streamers.
The hoppers are starting to come to the water.  There is a bit of a
caddis hatch.  Try using purple haze.  The Upper Stillwater is good
only for wading.  It is too low to float, “said Bill.

We now are in summer hours in the shop and are open Tuesday to Sat. from
9 am to 2 pm. We are closed Monday and Sunday.

Big Horn Trout Shop Fort Smith 666-2375
Stephanie says,” The cfs is still staying steady. Use tricos early in the
day. They are going more for orange scuds. There is some action on caddis,
hoppers and pseudos.  The water is mossy so you have to get past the moss
and weeds to get to the water. Fishing is a mixed bag. Use size 14 to 16.
There is grass out there but it is fishable.    The dry flies are working
better in the morning. The water has been warm at 64 degrees.”
Our shop hours are 7 am to noon now Monday to Sunday.

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