Holter Reservoir Fishing Report by Jonathan Miller with Capital Sports in Helena 7.31.26

Holter:

Walleye action has been red hot on the lower parts of Holter. Mainly from Oxbow bend to the clay banks. There has been consistently good quality from what I am being told too. Seems like it has been relatively easy to fill a limit with 15”+ fish. Same tactic as Hasuer. Look for pockets to cast a jig, ned or drop shot into. Goby or perch are the top patterns but purple has caught plenty of fish as well. For those patient enough, slow trolling a crankbait along the long weed edges can also be productive as well. Perch and rainbow patterns will be the main colors. I would also recommend using heavy fluorocarbon leader or steel/titanium leader as the pike are prevalent. Though good sized and as long they don’t steal your tackle they are good fun to catch too.

The trout action has waned but that’s mostly from a focus shift. Most people trolling now have opted to start chasing the big kokanee in Holter. Rainbows certainly fill the time in between catches but the kokanee bite has started to pick up more. I am mostly hearing a lot of reports from trolling at 40’ but that was before the heat wave. With the bright days, you can expect the fish to go deeper. I would still start at 40’ and work the baits down to depth. Unless of course you are marking the fish on a fish finder then adjust accordingly. Just remember to keep the bait above the fish kokanee are for more apt to rise for a bait than swim down. Keep your speeds between 1.0mph to 1.5mph. Chartreuse, orange or red are the first picks but as kokanee are, be ready with a couple different options for the day. Also typical for kokanee, evening and morning are the best times to target.