Welcome back to another weekend on the water! As we head into the upcoming days, fishing conditions across the region are heating up right alongside the weather. Whether you are chasing salmon in the deeper sections of our lakes, targeting active bass in the shallows, or looking for a quiet morning with the fly rod, there is plenty of action to be found.
Below is the latest (as of April 30, 2026) breakdown from Chancy’s Fish Camp of what’s biting where, along with the best techniques and depths to help you maximize your time on the water:
Bitteroot lake
Salmon bite is picking up. Try south end or mid lake trolling dodgers and small hoochies in 45 to 55′ water. Few nice rainbows later afternoon with planer boards and flys.
McGregor lake
Early morning rainbow bite, try small flat fish or flicker shads. Lake trout troll small spoons in 50 to 60′ water.
Middle Thompson
Producing some nice salmon trolling 40 to 60′ water also few nice perch starting to bite deep weed edges.
Loon lake (TCL)
Good large and smallmouth action also some nice pike and few crappies. You can also troll mid lake for rainbows.
Lake Mary Ronan
Salmon bite heating up jigging near Camp Tuffit area or mid lake 35′ water. Perch action slow but starting to pick up.
Flathead river sloughs Fennon & Church
Good largemouth action on crankbaits and chatterbaits. Few nice pike on jerkbaits or dead baits. The launch at Sportsman Bridge is open and is a little better for launching.
Echo lake
Still producing nice smallmouth and largemouth. Try jerkbaits or chatterbaits. Few big pike in the bays being caught and Lake Whitefish out in main body 40 to 50′ water.
Flathead Lake (Easr Bay)
Still some perch action but starting to slow down. Try Polson Bay area for good smallmouth and perch action also.
Swan lake
Still producing pike on south end with dead bait or big swim baits. Try early morning trolling shorelines for rainbows and Cutts.
Rodgers lake
Excellent bite on graying, flys try balance leech patterns or small buggers. Spin fishing small spinner or spoons or tube jigs.
Smith lake
Lots smaller pike, hitting spinnerbaits or dead bait
Thompson river
Lower end good for nice brown trout few brookies. Be sure to check regulations on the river.
Noxon Reservoir
Bass fishing has been good and few nice walleye starting to work back down to the main lake again. Try jerkbaits and chatterbaits for bass. Walleye jig fishing with gulp minnow or swimbaits 3 to 4″ sizes.
Tight lines have a great weekend!!.
Feature photo via Chancy’s Fish Camp