Fishing Roundup July 6, 2006
Fishing Report for July 6th - July 12th, 2006
Mark Henckel of the Billings Gazette
Finley Point State Park
Shoreline of Flathead Lake from Finley Point.
Pretty much everything is fishing well now. If you can avoid cloudburst thunderstorms that might muddy your waters, you’ll find good stream fishing all over Montana right now.
The last of the big mountain snowmelt runoff has scoured the rivers. Flows have settled down. Just about everywhere, water temps remain cool enough to provide day-long good fishing.
Reservoir trout and walleyes are settling into their summer patterns and good angling is to be had for them as well.
It’s prime time to fish Montana. Go get ‘em.
Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness: Fishing is good on the alpine lakes for fly fishermen with smaller terrestrial patterns and nymphs and lure fishermen with a variety of small spinners and spoons. Creeks and streams are running clear. Pretty much all lakes are ice-free now.
Big Hole River: It’s dropping and clearing and warming up fast. Flows are real low on the upper river. Caddis, PMD’s, yellow sallies are all coming off.
Bighorn River: Flows are down to 1,920 cfs. It’s strictly a nymphing game with no major, consistent hatches. Scuds and sowbugs trailed by midge larvae are good bets and hoppers are starting to produce on warm, windy days.
Bitterroot River: Fishing is good with a variety of ways to catch trout. Yellow sallies, PMD’s and drakes are hatching. Hoppers are also starting to get some attention from the fish.
Blackfoot River: Fishing is good with both dry flies and down-under stuff. Attractor patterns are working and there have been caddis hatches on the river. Down under, big nymphs and streamers are both getting some attention of trout.
Canyon Ferry: Walleye fishing has been pretty good on the south end of Canyon Ferry. Most action has been off pond 3 or pond 4 near the river mouth. Jigs, bottom bouncers with crawler harness and cranks have all been working well. A few walleye are being caught from shore at Court Sheriff while using spinners. Rainbow anglers have been doing well trolling cranks 20-25 feet deep between Hole in the Wall and White Earth.
Castle Rock Lake: Great place to go fishing for bluegills, walleyes, bass and small northern pike. Leeches are good bait right now, as are nightcrawlers.
Clark Fork: The evening caddis hatch remains a bright spot on this river. During the day, you’ll see scattered hatches of PMD’s, yellow sallies and green drakes. The river is fishing well.
Cooney Reservoir: Leeches are the hot bait. Anglers are sorting through little walleyes for some keepers. A few big ones coming for the night anglers. This year’s stocking of rainbow trout continue to grow.
Deadman’s Basin: Some muskies are being caught. Trout are being caught by trollers using cowbells and nightcrawlers. Bank fishermen are also doing well with marshmallows and crawlers. A lot of boat traffic. – Garlynn Buffington, Super D, Ryegate.
Flathead Lake: Flathead Lake is a good place for perch or lake trout. The Lake Super whitefish bite is still a couple of weeks off but with the good perch fishing in Elmo Bay and Big Arm, you can expect some great whitefish fishing when they do turn on. Blue Bay has seen some nice lake trout being caught off the dock. Jigging out from the point and in the bay is seeing some success as well. On the north end of the delta the water is clearing up and the lake trout are biting.
Fort Peck Reservoir: The best bite seems to be on the main lake from Snow Creek east all the way to the dam. The Pines, Gilbert Creek, Bell Point, Bear Creek are all producing. Lindy’s, bottom bouncers, jigs and cranks are all working Lakers are down 100 to 110 feet with excellent fishing. The boat ramp is now usable at Fourchette Bay.
Fresno Reservoir: Action has slowed a bit. Some walleyes and pike being caught. Most are using bottom bouncers and spinners or crankbaits late in the day.
Gallatin River: Salmonflies are done. Attractor dries are working through the canyon during the day and caddis in the evenings. A few PMD’s are also out. Nymphing is spectacular.
Georgetown Lake: Action has slowed down for trolling. The weeds are starting to have an effect. Early morning and early evening for float tube fly-fisherman seems to be the best time and best tactic.
Hauser Reservoir: A few rainbows are being caught around Black Sandy in the morning hours. The rainbows have moved to deeper water and anglers are having success while trolling deep diving Rapalas or spinners. Shore fishing has been slow. Walleye fishing has improved with fish being caught in the Causeway.
Holter Reservoir: A few rainbows are being caught in the early morning around the Split Rock area. Most rainbow action has been from trolling deep with cowbells and a wedding ring tipped with a crawler. Walleye fishing has been best after dark or in the evening. Jigs and leeches are working best.
Lake Frances: The walleye fishing is good and the fish have been running a little larger than in past years.
Madison River: On the upper river, salmonflies are between Raynolds and Lyons. Big golden stone nymphs and pheasant tails are also working on the river, along with caddis.
Missouri River, Below Holter: Some PMD’s and caddis coming off. Hare’s ear parachutes are producing well, along with dry patterns. Lightning bugs, MFG’s, beadhead pheasant tails and black and brown buggers are also good choices.
Nelson Reservoir: Action is picking up. Bottom bouncers are producing with crawlers or leeches for walleyes. Fish are spread all over the lake.
Noxon Reservoir: Some very nice largemouth bass are being caught.
Rock Creek: There are a variety of hatches coming off, from yellow sallies and PMD’s to drakes and caddis. Fishing conditions are good for both dry fly fishermen and wet fly anglers.
Seeley, Salmon lakes: Northern Pike fishing has been slow on Seeley Lake and Salmon Lake with the best time to try your luck is during the week to avoid the water skiers and personal watercrafts.
Smith River: Flows are getting low at 221 cfs. People are still going down, but the fishing turns off at about noon due to higher water temperatures.
Tongue River Reservoir: About 5,000 campers were at the park over the July 4th weekend. Early morning and late evening are best for crappies in the shallows and near the weeds. A seven-pound walleye and four-pound smallmouth were caught Sunday. A lot of small bass are being caught.
Yellowstone River: Fishing is very good on the upper river with some big caddis hatches coming off. Attractor patterns are working well. Big black nymphs are working well. Life is good! On the river below Billings, the river is dropping and clearing and smallmouth bass action is picking up. Small minnows or nightcrawlers on a jig or Lindy rig. Fish the swirls near current or rip-rap. Catfish are biting on shrimp or cut bait.
More Information
This is a brief synopsis of fishing conditions and reports from select waters across the state.
Recent News
