Are you tired of staring at a motionless bobber while everyone else is hauling in trophy-sized rainbows and fat walleyes? The fish haven’t disappeared—they’ve just moved, and if you’re still standing on the shore, you’re missing out on the hottest bite of the season! From a massive shift at Canyon Ferry that has the pros ditching the banks, to the “hidden” depths where Kokanee are currently hiding near the dam, here is the latest reports from FWP that will turn your “bad luck” into a record-breaking haul.
Canyon Ferry: The rainbows have mostly moved offshore, so shore fishing has really slowed down. Boat anglers are doing well throughout the reservoir while trolling cowbells, spoons or rapalas. Casting flies or nymphs has also worked well on the north end for rainbows. Walleyes are being caught between the Silos and Pond 4 and around Pond 2 while using orange and brown crankbaits or red slow-death rigs in 10-15 feet of water. Walleyes are also being caught around Hellgate while trolling bottom bouncers with a worm in 20 feet of water. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena
Hauser. A few nice rainbows are being caught while trolling blue, grey, or orange crankbaits out from Black Sandy and a few are being caught below Canyon Ferry Dam while using Power Bait or crawlers and a marshmallow. Some walleye and an occasional perch are on the bite in Lake Helena and the Causeway arm. Using various jigs and crawlers, bottom bouncers and spinners, or slip bobbers and leeches has been working well. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
Holter: Good numbers of Rainbows are being caught throughout most of the reservoir while trolling cowbells and spinner combos or various crankbaits. A few nice kokanee are being picked up while trolling dodgers and hoochies or wedding rings 20-30 feet deep near the Dam. A few Walleye, perch, and northern pike are being caught while pitching jigs and crawlers, or casting spinners, spoons or Rapalas around various weed beds or points inside the Canyon near the Gates of the Mountains, Willow Creek, and near Cottonwood Creek. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena