Canyon Ferry Walleye Festival

Helena Area Reservoirs Fishing Report 10.13.20
By angelamontana

Posted: October 13, 2020

Canyon Ferry:  The trout action is improving throughout the reservoir.  Shore anglers are catching rainbows while using nightcrawlers and marshmallows around the Silos, White Earth and Shannon.  Boat anglers are having success around White Earth and Goose Bay while trolling crankbaits or cowbells.  Walleye are being caught on bottom bouncers and worms with pink or blue spinner blades or jigs from White Earth to Hellgate in 25 to 40 feet of water.  A few walleye and perch are being caught from shore at White Earth and Pond 4 on worms.   Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Hauser Rainbow action has been great lately and shore anglers are picking up good numbers of fish at the Causeway Bridge and Riverside below Canyon Ferry Dam. Night crawlers and power bait have been catching most but some fly anglers are having success as well. Anglers trolling various crankbaits around York Bridge and Devil’s Elbow are finding some nice rainbows. Most walleye anglers are pitching jigs in 10-15 feet of water around Black Sandy/White Sandy. Anglers are also finding some walleye during the late evenings at the Causeway Bridge. Floating jigs and leeches/crawlers are working well. White, pink and orange have been popular color combos.   Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena

Holter:  Rainbows action has been great lately. Most fish were picked up on the lower end of the reservoir from Split Rock to Black Beach and Juniper Bay. Boat anglers trolling dark colored crankbaits have been doing well and some are finding fish while trolling cowbells tipped with crawlers. Rainbow anglers are also picking up some nice fish from shore at Departure Point and Lake Lodge with crawlers and power bait. Perch action slowed down over the weekend but a few are still being found while pitching jigs around Cottonwood Creek Bay. Anglers are finding an occasional walleye while out jigging near Cottonwood Creek as well. White, pink and orange have been popular color combos.   Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena

Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir:  The snagging season for Kokanee Salmon opened on September 1st and will run through October 31st.  Limits are 35 salmon daily with 70 in possession. The canal has been shut off as of October 1st. Anglers snagging for Kokanee will be inside the reservoir through the rest of the month.   Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena

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