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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

Montana Fishing Guide

Canyon Ferry Lake

Canyon Ferry Lake 


Size:  33535 acres
Elevation:  3798 ft
Mtn Range:  Not in a Mtn Range
Wilderness Area:  Not in Wilderness Area
Directions:  E OF HWY 287N BETWEEN TOWNSEND AND HWY 284
Township:  08N   Range:  02E   Section:  30
FWP Region:  Region 4
Fishing District:  Central Fishing District


Canyon Ferry fish report
Fishing Report
Walleye fishing for smaller sized fish has been good throughout the reservoir. Most action has been off the south dikes and between Hole in the Wall and White Earth. Trolling cranks or bottom bouncers with leeches 10-15 feet has been working best. Try jigging off rocky points on the north end to find some larger sized fish. Rainbow anglers have had good luck trolling fire tigers 15-20 feet deep north from Hole in the Wall. Perch are starting to bite, with a few caught off the south dikes and around Goose Bay. (7/14/2008)


Species Present
Game Fish Opportunities:
Brown Trout, Burbot, Rainbow Trout, Walleye, Yellow Perch
All Species Present:
Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Common Carp, Fathead Minnow, Largemouth Bass, Longnose Dace, Longnose Sucker, Mountain Whitefish, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Stonecat, Utah Chub, Walleye, White Sucker, Yellow Perch, Burbot
NOTE: There may be game fish present (including Species of Concern) that are not listed in the game fish category due to low numbers for that fish or special regulations. Until you identify your catch, please handle all fish carefully. Thank you.

Fishing Regulations
Fish Consumption Advisory  Fish Consumption Advisory in effect. (Read More).
Standard Fishing Regulations for the Central Fishing District
The standard fishing regulations for the fishing district(s) apply. Please check your copy of the regulations, or visit the site(s) linked above for more information.
Exceptions to Standard Regulations
Applies to entire water body:
Hook and Line/Setlines: 6 lines with 2 hooks per line through the ice.
Walleye: 20 daily and 40 in possession, only 1 over 28 inches.
Yellow perch: 15 daily and in possession.
Magpie Bay
Closed (as posted) March 1 through June 14.
Boating Regulations

Standard Boating Regulations for the State of Montana

Exceptions to Standard Boating Regulations for Canyon Ferry Lake
Regulation Description & Exceptions
No-wake speed White Earth, Goose Bay, Yacht Basin, Cave Bay, Little Hellgate, Magpie Bay and Carp Bay within 300 feet of dock or as buoyed; and from Canyon Ferry Dam to Riverside boat ramp

Fishing Pressure
Year Days Fished¹ Trips² State Rank³ Regional Rank³
2005 80,248 1,353 3 2
2003 91,697 1,783 3 2
2001 106,810 1,977 3 1
1999 119,886 2,721 1 1

¹  Estimated yearly fishing use in angler days (one angler fishing one body of water in one day for any amount of time).
²  The number of times that a section of water was reported as having been fished (used to estimate the number of "Days Fished").
³  How this section of water ranked among all surveyed sections in the state or region, based on "Days Fished" in a survey year.
 
Stocking Info
Stocking Avg Number
Date Species Length (in) Stocked
Oct, 2006 Rainbow Trout 8.3 3,965
Sep, 2006 Rainbow Trout 7.8 80,461
Sep, 2006 Rainbow Trout 7.7 52,148
Sep, 2006 Rainbow Trout 7.7 53,673
Jun, 2006 Rainbow Trout 7.9 22,387
May, 2006 Rainbow Trout 8.1 50,295
Apr, 2006 Rainbow Trout 8.3 56,720
Oct, 2005 Rainbow Trout 5.9 2
Oct, 2005 Rainbow Trout 6 137,752
Oct, 2005 Rainbow Trout 5.7 63,359
Sep, 2005 Rainbow Trout 7.9 2
Sep, 2005 Rainbow Trout 8.4 86,925
Mar, 2005 Rainbow Trout 7.2 40,258
Sep, 2004 Rainbow Trout 8.1 53,298
Jun, 2004 Rainbow Trout 7 98,210
Oct, 2003 Rainbow Trout 8.3 11,046
Sep, 2003 Rainbow Trout 7.8 13,970
Sep, 2003 Rainbow Trout 8.4 63,837
May, 2003 Rainbow Trout 8.1 100,593
Apr, 2003 Rainbow Trout 7.9 24,709
May, 2002 Rainbow Trout 5.4 492,960
May, 2002 Rainbow Trout 5.8 20,566
Apr, 2002 Rainbow Trout 4.8 78,705
Apr, 2002 Rainbow Trout 5.9 55,633
Sep, 2001 Rainbow Trout 4.6 9,166
Sep, 2001 Rainbow Trout 4 28,690
Jun, 2001 Rainbow Trout 7 19,528
Jun, 2001 Rainbow Trout 6.5 19,454
May, 2001 Rainbow Trout 5.7 550,516
May, 2001 Rainbow Trout 6.2 23,896
Apr, 2001 Rainbow Trout 4.7 38,800
Apr, 2001 Rainbow Trout 5.5 47,520
May, 2000 Rainbow Trout 6.3 367,528
Apr, 2000 Rainbow Trout 5.9 185,264
Oct, 1999 Rainbow Trout 3.1 148,934
Jul, 1999 Rainbow Trout 7.7 756
May, 1999 Rainbow Trout 5.9 461,948
Apr, 1999 Rainbow Trout 5.1 101,590
Sep, 1998 Rainbow Trout 2 137,426
Jun, 1998 Rainbow Trout 5.7 140,695
Jun, 1998 Rainbow Trout 5 108,503
May, 1998 Rainbow Trout 5.9 253,347
May, 1998 Rainbow Trout 5.1 51,559
Apr, 1998 Rainbow Trout 4.9 24,710

Gauging Stations

 
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This page is from the Montana FWP ~ Montana Fishing Guide. [http://fwp.mt.gov/fishing/guide/report.aspx?llid=1115272464371&begmeas=0&endmeas=1]
Friday, July 25, 2008 - 2:08:01 AM