Montana Fishing Reports

Hauser Area Fishing Report by Jonathan Miller with Capital Sports in Helena MT, 7.4.26

Hauser Area Fishing Report by Jonathan Miller with Capital Sports in Helena MT, 7.4.26

Hauser:

Still the same as last week, below Canyon Ferry Dam has remained slow for walleye and mediocre for the trout. Zonkers still work but a worm under a bobber or on the bottom is your best bet. But there is a chance with the current inflow that the spillway may be opened. Keep an eye out for that and if they open the spillway get there! Fishing a jig in those higher flows can be incredible!

Around Spokane bay and through the deeper water in front of Lakeside is still producing fish. Same as the stretch from White Earth to Hauser dam. I have not heard of any exceptional fishing, but it sounds like anglers are entertained at least. Mainly trolling crankbaits in the 10’ to 15’ range at the typical 1.5mph to 2.5mph speed. Black/gold is a staple, but silver, rainbow trout and perch patterns can also produce fish. I have heard of some murmurs from folks trolling in the deeper water with a dodger and wedding ring of some kokanee being caught. Unfortunately I don’t have much for details but it is curious.

Walleye continue to be caught off the rock piles and points in the Causeway arm. My go to tactic is a 1/8oz or 1/4oz jig head with a white, perch or pumpkin colored paddle tail. Cast up shallow and jig of the bottom as you work the bait back to the boat. Another fun tactic is drop shotting in the slightly deeper water around the rock piles (dredge cuts, Eldorado Bar) with a perch pattern or white bait. The big downside is you are likely to get piked using this technique.

Unfortunately, I don’t have much info this week for the Hauser pike. Was tied up and too preoccupied with the Canyon Ferry Walleye tournament. But I would suggest either a tube jig off the weed bed edges or a bigger jerk bait worked along the edges as well.

Regulating Reservoir:

Still have not heard much on the Regulating Reservoir. The little I have heard is there was some decent luck in 10’ to 15’ trolling wedding rings at 1.0mph. Chartreuse, chartreuse/black, red or pink are the typical colors to try this time of year. If you have a fish finder and can locate the schools, vertical jigging with a small pink or silver Swedish pimple tipped with scented corn is a fun tactic. I would say the key would be to keep moving and note the area that holds the fish that day and focus there as much as possible.

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