NW Montana Fishing Report by Snappy’s Sport Senter 10.28.19
By angelamontana

Posted: October 30, 2019
With hunting season starting, most people don’t realize this is one of the best times of the year to be out fishing. Remember to dress warm and be prepared! Open water season is almost over, and hard water is just around the corner.

Ashley Lake
A few reports of decent perch. Try looking around points and transition zones. Use a 1/4oz jig with wax worms and fish 6in off the bottom. No reports of Salmon.

Church Slough
Use of sonar is an excellent way to get on top of crappie. Look for log piles or brush on bottom. Use Pete’s Cactus Candy Jig and a Crappie Candy for good success. A few lucky anglers have caught nice pike.

Echo Lake
Good late season bass fishing for dedicated anglers. Low and slow works best in 20ft of water or deeper. The whitefish bite should still be going. Use a Whitefish Slayer or a 3/8oz jig with a small plastic craw.

Fennon Slough
Water levels are continuing to drop so use caution going in from the river. Crappie are hanging around heavy structure. Jig Demon Jigs with wax worms. No recent reports of pike action.

Flathead Lake
Fall Mac Days are still producing lots of smaller lakers down deep. Once located, jig Zimmer Tackle with cut bait for great success.

Flathead River
The whitefish are ready to spawn. Reports say they are stacked from bridge in Hungry Horse down to Sportsman Bridge. Use various jig weights and Backwater Bait AnkleBiter Craws. Fly fishing has produced nice cutts and a few lakers. Use bead headed nymphs.

Koocanusa
Another great week for the rainbows. Capt Andy’s Trolling Flies off a planer board is very productive. Also try pulling a Lyman plug and flasher off planer boards. The bows are moving shallow.

Lake Mary Ronan
Jig Rat Finkes with maggots in 25ft of water and a Swedish Pimple for an attractor. Go out in front of Tuffit. Try trolling a Needle Fish using leaded line and let out 4 colors for catching rainbows and maybe a salmon.

Little Bitterroot
Now is a great time to troll for rainbows. Use Capt Andy’s trolling flies and Plug It lures off planer boards. No recent reports of salmon activities.

Lower Thompson
Good pike action using spoons like the Northland Jaw Breaker. Cast into heavy cover and use a random jig pattern to get a bite response.

Middle Thompson
For the dedicated angler, salmon fishing has been great. Troll Little Jake’s with leaded line and tip with corn and maggots.

Rodgers Lake
Another banner week for nice cutthroat in and around exposed weeds. Reports say to use black ant fly patterns or use Joe’s Flies for spin Casting

Smith Lake
Pike fishing has slowed a little but for those who venture out in a boat, you can locate pockets in the weeds and do well. No reports on perch.

Swan Lake
Lake trout action is heating up and are nailing Zimmer’s Doodlebug jigs with cut bait. They are in 40-60ft of water. Sonar helps locate fish so pay attention to transition zones with structure on bottom.

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