Ice Fishing and Fly Fishing Reports in Montana

Helena Area Reservoirs Fishing Report for the Week of 01/23/2017
By angelamontana

Posted: January 24, 2017
Anglers are reminded that ice conditions can be extremely variable.  Ice thickness can range from thick enough to support a vehicle to open water.  Extreme caution should be used when accessing the ice.
 
Canyon Ferry:  Rainbow trout fishing continues to be a bit slow, but rainbows are being caught from Pond 4 to Confederate Bay using various colors of jigs or ice flies, tipped with worms or maggots, in 10 feet of water or less. Yellow perch and a few walleye are being caught between Hole-in-the-Wall, Duck Creek Bay, and Confederate Bay using Hali jigs or Swedish Pimples, tipped with maggots, in 40 to 55 feet of water.  Ice conditions have been reported at 19 to 22 inches from Pond 4 to the Confederate Bay and 12 inches on the North end of the reservoir. Adam Strainer, FWP, Helena
 
Hauser:  Rainbow fishing is improving in the Causeway and at York Bridge while using jigs and maggots or powerbait 5 to 8 feet below the ice.  Rainbows are also being caught in open water below Canyon Ferry Dam on worms.  A few ling are reportedly being caught at night.  The ice in the Causeway is 10 to 12 inches. At Black Sandy there is 12 to 18 inches of ice. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena
 
Holter:  Perch fishing is really inconsistent with those that are finding the schools doing really well.  The best perch catches are occurring around the old Lake Lodge, the prairie dog town and near Split Rock in 40 to 60 feet of water on jigs and maggots or worms. These areas are producing a few rainbows as well  on jigs and maggots or powerbait in 10 feet of water.  There is about 14 to 20 inches of ice around Log Gulch, Departure Point and Holter Ramp.  Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena
 
Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir:  Kokanee action has slowed down a bit with some salmon being caught while using ice flies or jigs and maggots or corn 15 to 30 feet below the ice.  Perch are being caught just off the bottom in 20 to 30 feet of water with an occasional ling being caught as well.  There is 18 to 20 inches of ice.  Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena
 

 

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