Central to Eastern MT Fishing Report 10.30.19
By angelamontana

Posted: October 31, 2019
Fall  is here. This year we are still having very unusual weather and that means sudden changes in weather and water.  Outdoor enthusiasts including fishermen need to pay attention to these changes.   Storms like snow and dangerous fire can   happen    quickly, so fishermen or fisherwomen need to   keep in touch with the weather service and let others know where they are for safety sake when out and about.  Enjoy yourself but remember alcohol alters your judgment. So, use it sparingly while enjoying the outdoors. Keep an eye on the weather as conditions such as temperature, wind, fire and precipitation   can   come in with fierce strength.  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- Monty LeTexier , Wyatt 1-406-230-1283  for Linda 

Marina number is less reliable in winter.  1-406-485-2560

Linda reports,” It has been colder than hell.  The wind is blowing ferociously .  It has been 35 to 40 mph.  Last afternoon the wind chill was 6 to 9 degrees.  Today it is a little calmer.  We do have a little ice on the shoreline. We have not seen any guys fishing, you have to be real brave to want to be out in this.”

If you wish to make reservations for the 2020 summer, please call Monty at 406-465-0241.  If you wish information for winter ice fishing call me, Linda, at the Marina at 1-406-485-2560.  I check my messages fairly often and will return your call.  You can also call me on my cell phone as well 406-230-1283 to get information.   The marina is closed for the season. “

 

Tongue River Reservoir Raymond /Spencer/ Greg

Raymond  reports, ” We had people here this weekend and we had nice weather. The water temperature is now 43 degrees.  We are pulling the regular docks this week.  I talked to some fishermen. They had caught a bass and walleye.  That was the first walleye I have seen caught in quite a while. They headed north to the cliff near the dam.  We only got an inch or two of snow with this storm.

The power and water are turned off. That means the dump station and fish cleaning station are off .  Camping spots 1 to 11 have power but no water through the winter months.    Reservations  are no longer needed for the campground and it is first come first serve.  “

Remember to check your regulations for the information for this region about what minnows  you may use on Tongue.     .

Tongue River Marina  1-406-757-2225 Wade, Stephanie, Greg, Fletcher /Warden Jordan Staley

The marina is closed until ice fishing.

Someone  said ,“It was decent weather this week before the storm. I heard of a few guys  fishing but did not hear of any success. ”

 

 

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

Clint reports, ” I have had a few guys going after  pike pitching spoons in 8 to 10 feet depths.  They were getting some decent pike.   It has been cold as hell here with a wind.   People have said the lake trout are down towards the dam.  I heard they are finding an occasional walleye toward Hacksbee.  “

Hell Creek Marina is open 7 days a week. ­­­­­­­

 

Lake Ridge Motel Eddie and Carrie Mindt 1-406-526-3597

Jamie   reports, “  we did not get any snow.  It has been cold and windy beyond tolerance.  The wind has been blowing beyond 40 mph.  People left early in the week before the storm hit.  No one wanted to head out with the wind. Before the wind the lake trout people were saying fishing was  good. Guys were using spoons and going to shallow depths  of 15 to 30 feet using a crank.  The salmon were moving into the marina   bay, but I think that stopped with the weather change. “

We can cover all your needs and if you want to charter a boat, we can help with that too.   Our hours are   7am-6 pm Monday through Sunday.

 

 

Fort Peck Marina  Jessica & Scott Collinsworth   1-406-565-6283

Open  Monday to Friday  11am to 9am/ Saturday and Sunday 8 am breakfast and open to 10pm  Tackle Store is open 7 am to 9pm daily

Scott  reports “ salmon snagging- snagging has been hit and miss  again.  Some guys that have been  cruising the shorelines. They have been getting some, but  normal areas have been sporadic.

Lake trout- Fishing was  getting better until  the water temps  dropped and the wind picked up. .  Fish are being caught in 10 to 35 feet of water. Guys are still trolling spoons and cranks.

Pike- The weed edge at the back of the bay are still producing some really good pike.

Walleye- Not many people are trying for them.   Most guys are chasing  lakers.

For a current fishing report give us a call  at the marina  1-406-526-3442. “

The bait and tackle store are open  Thursday thru Monday, and we have everything you need for chasing fish on Fort Peck. We also have campsites available with power for anyone that wants to bring your camper to the lake. The spots are  on concrete and right on the lake shore. You can access the lake right from your camper.   “

 

Cooney Reservoir – Marina Matheson. Shauni, Cynthia, Jake

A source  reports ,” fishing has been okay from shore.  Try a worm or a marshmallow.  You can catch  trout.    The walleye  bite seems slow. Before the weather there were lots some boats out there.  They were using a jig. They were liking something with   green and a white belly.”

The water has been turned off now.   The electricity is also off except at Marshall Cove and Red Lodge campgrounds.  The docks are pulled. Soon we will be working on dock repairs after the pre-winter maintenance is done.    You no longer need reservations, so the camp sites are first come first serve. The kiosk has the reduced rate for camping  listed.  Remember, your dogs are welcome but don’t forget your leash.

Lake Elmo FWP Bob Gibson

Bob reports,  “ we have had a lot of wind.  I have not even seen any walkers it just is too cold with the wind.  We had some huge groups of migrating birds. The snow has gotten the migration going.  This morning we had a skim of ice on the water.  The only things fishing are the mergansers.  The gulls are out in full force.   ”

 

 Deadmans Tony Stefani/ Pat  

Pat says,  “ We  had campers,  but they were hunters.  I was told someone caught one fish from shore.”

I did speak to someone else who said they had a couple of guys who fished Deadmans and caught a few nice fish this week.

Deadmans/Martinsdale Cozy Corner bar Lavina 406-636-2261

Staff reports, “We were told that  someone caught a fish at Deadmans and a Martinsdale before the storm. “

 

Checkerboard Inn   Checkerboard, MT   Rick and Judy Geordge  406-572-3373

Rick reports,” we were told with the cold weather Bair Lake was froze over.  Of course it was only a thin layer and it probably will leave with the warmer weather later in the week. It was 13 below this morning.  It is 16.9 degrees now.  We only got a couple of inches of snow.   We have seen lots of hunters.”

 

Sports Center 120 2nd Ave South Lewistown, MT   535-9308  Colby / John Tognetti

Our hours are 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and 10 am to 4pm on Sunday

John reports , “  It has been pretty dam cold here this week.  About the only place to fish is Spring Creek.   I am hearing Achley is not fishing at well.

Missouri- On the Missouri there are  fish, but the clarity of the water is marginalized.   The wind is really blowing so that is not going to make it any easier.  The snow is 6 inches in town but out of town it depends on the wind. ”

Crooked Creek Marina Winnett, Montana   James  (Slim) and Abbie Craig, Carri Craig   406-429-2999 

The marina is open and in full swing now.  We are open 7 am to 7 pm every day.

Slim says, “ We have had a lot of wind  and cold.  The weather has been pretty nasty.  We have had guys going out in a boat to fish. They can’t get a good presentation because of the wind. They headed to Squaw Creek. They are using a minnow and a jig  the wind has been blowing 40 mph.  They caught a few  walleye.  We have no snow. The road is not bad. ”

Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon

Sharon reports, “we have had a lot of wind  and cold.  The weather has been pretty nasty.  They were catching trout before the storm.  No one was heading out.  We have no ice.  The temperature is 32 degrees and only the brave fools would go out and I have not met any. The docks have been pulled.  ”

The Marina is open. Hours are 7 am to 7 pm.

The Flamingo is closed.

 

West Side Sports Jim Mayer 1-406-654-1611  

Dan  reports,  “ I have no reports from  Forchette this week.

Guys are catching walleye and northern pike   at Nelson before the wind started blowing.  We have had 4 solid days of wind.  We have even had a skiff of ice in places.  They were jigging with a minnow or a jig rap going to 20 feet depths.   ”

Shop hours are 8 to 6 Monday to Saturday and closed on Sunday.

 

 Billings-Scheels Jayce, Tanner, Matt 

Jayce  reports, “The weather has been awful. I came back from home from hunting because the snow and the wind was miserable.

Yellowstone- On the Yellowstone  they were catching  walleye and sauger going east towards Custer and Hysham.  They were using a jig or a jig wrap.

Fort Peck-  I hear they are snagging  salmon at Fort Peck mostly  in the bay or at the dam.

Big Horn-I heard fishing is just okay on the Big Horn.  Guys say a scud, or a sow-bug is working nymphing. “

Rich’s Tackle Richard  406-285-4540

Fishing has been  possible because of the weather.  Wind has been terrible.

A few fishermen have tried  fishing for ling and have a little luck for ling.

Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977 ,Bill, Ken, Jasmine

Jim says, “the weather has been tough for fishermen. The wind has made it rough to do a presentation.  Not a lot of people  out there. Try different  types of nymphs. It varies a lot.  People were seeing blue wing olives when the weather was warmer.   Just try a variation as things change often. “

Montana Adventures and Angling in Fort Smith  Beau McFadyean 406-855-3612

Beau says, “ I have been fishing the Missouri this week.  Fishing has been  poor in the morning.  It picks up and is good at noon and after.  We saw a good baetes hatch or BWO. It is a pseudo hatch.  It starts with a dry and nymphing is working.  We were catching rainbows and brown trout. It was really windy at times.  “

Big Horn Trout Shop Fort Smith 666-2375   Rick/Stephanie/

Rick says, “ we had eight boats go out today. We have blue skies today.  The river is at 3,000 CFS and 99 % of full.    Fishing is slow.  The water is definitely off color. We are seeing more action on streamers.   The ramp project  repair has been put on hold.  They had some major problems,  so it was stopped.  You can still use the ramp itself.  Try a JJ special or a thin mint.      Try nymphing.  Use a soft gray Ray or an orange scud. Try a San Quan worm  or a two-toned red wine-colored fly.   A black pheasant also works.   Dries are just not working. ”

Our hours   are   8 am to 12 every day.

 

Madison River Outfitters- West Yellowstone – Tom Forsberg.  Open 730am-9pm  406-646-9644.

 West Yellowstone Area Fishing Report 10/7/19 

 

No further fishing report until Spring

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