If you’ve been waiting for a sign to ditch your responsibilities and hook up the boat, this is it. The fish are officially throwing a party in the Helena area reservoirs, and you’re invited. From walleye putting up numbers at Canyon Ferry to rainbow trout practically jumping into boats at Holter, the action is red-hot. Grab your worm harnesses, dust off the cowbells, and let’s dive into where they’re biting, courtesy of FWP.
Canyon Ferry: Walleye fishing continues to be very good between the Silos and the Ponds, including the river mouth in 15 to 20 feet of water. Also, from White Earth to Gull Island and the Goose Bay flats, Hellgate Bay and between Confederate and Duck Creek in 20 to 35 feet of water on bottom bouncers with slow-death rigs or worm harnesses in perch, fire tiger, blue, purple or gold spinner blade colors. Various colored jigs and crankbaits have been working as well. A few perch are being caught by anglers using walleye rigs in these same areas. Rainbows are being caught on walleye gear, lures or cowbells in the traditional walleye spots as well as the north end of the reservoir around Hellgate, Cemetary Island and the west shore. Shore fishing has produced a few rainbows around the Silos, Confederate and White Earth. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena
Hauser: Walleye and perch fishing has been good in the Causeway Arm while pitching jigs and crawlers or trolling spinner rigs. Shore anglers are catching a few walleye from the Causeway Bridge with slip bobbers and leeches. Rainbow fishing has been good along the cliffs from Lakeside to York Bridge while trolling cowbells or dodgers with wedding rings and using various streamers below Canyon Ferry Dam is producing a few nice rainbows early in the morning. An occasional northern pike is being caught around the weed beds in the Causeway Arm and around the Dredge Piles while casting larger spinners or swim baits. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
Holter: Rainbow fishing has been great throughout most of the reservoir. Anglers on the upper end of the reservoir are doing best while using small grey or brown nymphs. The Black Beach to Split Rock area on the lower end of the reservoir is producing good numbers of rainbows while trolling cowbells or dodgers with spinner combos tipped with crawler pieces. A few nice kokanee are being picked up while using similar equipment at depths down to 60 feet between Split Rock and the Dam. A few walleye are being caught along the Clay Banks and in some of the small bays in the Canyon with various jigs and crawlers or slip bobbers and leeches. A few northern pike continue to be caught around weed beds while using larger streamers, spinners, or swim baits. A few perch are being caught around the weed beds with smaller jigs. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
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