Conditions are heating up across the Missouri River chain, with excellent multi-species action reported on Canyon Ferry, Hauser, and Holter reservoirs. Whether you are targeting aggressive deep-water walleye, trolling for hard-hitting rainbows along the shorelines, or looking to hook an occasional northern pike or smallmouth bass, local waters are producing great results.
Canyon Ferry: Good walleye fishing can be found from the Silos to Pond 4 and the river mouth in 8-20 feet of water while using bottom bouncers with spinner blades in white and pink or white and orange colors. Mid reservoir action is from White Earth north to Gull Island on crankbaits or chartreuse jigs with a worm in 15-20 feet of water. Rainbows are being caught by walleye anglers or by those trolling cowbells or green and yellow crankbaits from Cemetary Island to Crittendon along the west shore. Shore fishing has produced rainbows on worms or jigs with a worm around the Silos, White Earth and the north end. An occasional smallmouth bass is being caught around the rocks on the north end while using spoons. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena
Hauser: Rainbow trout fishing has been great below Canyon Ferry Dam while using small grey, brown or olive nymphs or wooly buggers. Anglers using jigs and nightcrawlers below the dam are catching a few trout as well. Trolling cowbells and wedding rings tipped with crawlers has been productive for trout between White Sandy and Soup Creek. A few walleye are being caught while using jigs and leeches from the Causeway Bridge and around the Eldorado Bar dredge piles. An occasional norther pike is being caught around the dredge piles while casting larger spinners. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
Holter: Trout fishing has been great during the early morning or later evening along the shorelines while flyfishing with various streamers. Good number of rainbows are being found throughout most of the reservoir while trolling cowbells or dodgers with various spinner combos. A few walleye are being caught inside the Canyon, near Cottonwood Creek, and in other small bays between the Clay Banks and the Dam while pitching jigs and crawlers, trolling bottom bouncers or using slip bobbers and leeches. An occasional kokanee is being picked up while trolling for trout between Split Rock and the Dam. A few northern pike continue to be caught around weed beds while casting spinners or spoons or larger streamers. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
Montana's outdoor week, in your inbox at 7am Friday.