Montana’s Missouri River reservoirs are offering a range of summer angling action, with changing fish patterns requiring versatile tactics. This week’s regional fishing report by FWP outlines the latest hotspots, depth transitions, and successful presentations for walleye, rainbow trout, perch, and kokanee salmon across Canyon Ferry, Hauser, and Holter reservoirs.
Canyon Ferry: Walleye fishing has slowed down a bit on the south end but is really picking up mid reservoir. The Silos to Ponds 3 and 4 for the south end with Beaver Creek Bay, Snaggy Bay and both shorelines up to Gull Island for the mid reservoir while using bottom bouncers with slow-death rigs or worm harnesses in perch, purple or pink spinner blade colors in 20 to 30 feet of water. Various colored jigs and crankbaits have been working as well. The north end is producing walleyes in Hellgate Bay and off of points in the main reservoir. There are reports of some really nice perch being caught by anglers using walleye rigs in these same areas. Rainbow fishing has slowed up some as the fish are moving to deeper water. Some anglers are finding rainbows while fishing with walleye gear, lures or cowbells in the traditional walleye spots as well as the north end of the reservoir while trolling cowbells or deep diving rapalas. Shore fishing is slow. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena
Hauser: Rainbow fishing has been good below Canyon Ferry Dam while using slumpbuster streamers or pheasant tail nymphs. Anglers trolling cowbells and spinner combos are catching rainbows early in the morning near York bridge and trolling dark-colored crankbaits out from Black Sandy is also producing a few trout. Walleye action has been good while using jigs and leeches from the Causeway Bridge and jigging around weed beds in the Causeway Arm. Some anglers are catching walleye during the late evening hours with slip bobbers and leeches. A few perch are being caught while out searching for walleye. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
Holter: Some nice kokanee are being caught between Log Gulch and the Dam while trolling dodgers or cowbells with hoochies or wedding rings tipped with maggots or corn. Some anglers are finding salmon around 40-45 feet deep, while others are catching a few fish closer to 90 feet deep. Walleye fishing has been good while using various jigs and leeches or crawlers near Willow Creek, Cottonwood Creek, the Clay Banks and around other points and weed beds throughout the reservoir. A few perch are being caught while fishing for walleye. The best rainbow bite has been early in the morning between Black Beach and Split Rock while trolling cowbells or dodgers with spinner combos tipped with crawlers. Fly fishing on the upper end of the reservoir with dark-colored nymphs or streamers has also been producing a few nice trout. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
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