This will be the final report sent out for our winter fishing season. We will resume sending out reports for the summer fishing season beginning in April.
Canyon Ferry: The river has opened a large channel on the south end and is eating away at the ice. In most areas the ice is pulling away from the shore. The colder weather has caused some areas to ice back up and become accessible, however, we feel it is too unsafe for FWP staff to access. Great rainbow fishing is occurring on the north end by shore and boat. Look for the rainbow fishing to become excellent once there is more open water throughout the reservoir. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena
Hauser: No safe ice. The Causeway area has frozen back up recently, but the ice will most likely be gone by the end of the week with the warmer temperatures and high winds that are expected in the forecast. Most of the reservoir remains open water or has unstable ice conditions. Lake Helena also has unstable ice conditions and open water. Look for good rainbow fishing to continue in areas that are free of skim ice along the shorelines. A few rainbows, walleye, and burbot are being caught below Canyon Ferry Dam while using Marabou jigs, cut bait, or worms and marshmallows. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
Holter: No safe ice. The Gates of the Mountains area has frozen back up recently and has been preventing boats from launching at the ramp. The ice will most likely be gone again by the end of the week with the warmer temperatures and high winds that are expected. Look for great rainbow fishing along the shorelines to continue after the ice recedes once again. On the lower end of the reservoir, there has been skim ice between the Prairie Dog Town and the Dam and too much ice near the BLM boat ramp and Log Gulch boat ramp to allow for boat launching. Look for this ice to get blown away by the end of the week. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir: No safe ice. The ice has been pulling away from the shorelines recently, and with warmer temperatures and high winds in the forecast, more open water is expected by the end of the week. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
Photo: GenesisGraphics from Getty Images Signature
