Holter Fishing Update by Jonathan Miller with Capital Sports in Helena 8.31.26
The fish at Holter haven’t exactly gone into hiding—but they are keeping anglers guessing. Jonathan Miller of Capital Sports in Helena has the latest on where they’re biting and what’s working.
The kokanee here are no secret. What they want to bite on that day may be hard to pin down, but it seems people are finding more success than not. The average size has been good, too. Holding around the 2lb mark up to 5lbs. The fish are starting to show the slightest bit of color and jaw structure changes. I suspect soon the big schools will start showing up in the bay South of Holter Dam. For now, trolling is working well with dodgers and a squid or wedding ring behind a snap weight. Chartreuse, hot pink, orange or white are the most common colors. Scented corn is the preferred bait of choice, but some have been preferring standard shoe peg corn and finding success. Catching is still happening at the 60’ mark, but if the kokanee do what they’ve done in the past, 70’ to 90’ should lead to success.
Like Hauser, the walleye seem to be moving more and more out of the weeds and hanging out on the drop-offs. Work the very edges of weed beds or in between weed beds. Like the other two lakes, they are also responding well to jerk baits. It has not been unusual to watch a walleye come from 15’ and bite a bait at 6’ this year. Keep using the metallic silver, gold or a perch pattern. Drop shot with a worm is also effective if they are in a mood and want to stay on the bottom.
Perch have been hit or miss. There are some being caught sporadically through the weed beds in the canyon and lower Holter. Pinched crawler under a bobber is going to be the most consistent presentation.
That is all the info I have this week to share with you! Of note, the snagging season on the Regulating Reservoir opens Sept. 1st. Also, to everyone showing their appreciation for these reports, thank you! Hope you all catch lots of fish this week!
