Reservoir rainbows, Big Dry walleyes hitting

By Mark Henckel of Montana Lee Newspapers - 04/26/2006

Rainbow trout action remains hot on many reservoirs and walleye action has started to heat up on the Big Dry Arm of Fort Peck Reservoir.

More warm days and rising water temps would make fishing even better.

With recent rains and snows, many rivers are running high and off-color, which has hampered some fly fishermen.

But there are still many places to go with waters like Ackley Lake, Deadman’s Basin, Canyon Ferry, Holter, Hauser and Lake DeSmet among this week’s choices.

Here’s the fishing report: Ackley Lake: Fishing is very good for trout from shore, using rainbow colored or chartreuse Power Bait.

— Dave Snyder, Don’s, Lewistown.

Bighorn Lake: Fishing has been decent. The Slide Area is good with jigs and minnows and some are being caught at the head of Black Canyon.

— Will Suralski, Minnow Bucket, Huntley Bighorn River: The black baetis nymph in size 18 is the hot fly. Pink sowbugs are also working along with red midges. A two-tone San Juan worm in orange black or red and black is a good fly. Midges are coming off, but providing little action.

— Tom Osen, Bighorn Fly and Tackle Boulder River: It’s running high, but clear. Fishing is good with beadhead nymphs. Hatches are spotty with some caddis and some March browns showing.

— Jim McCall, Rainbow Run Fly Shop Canyon Ferry Reservoir: Water levels are rising, but boats are still being launched off gravel beaches. Concrete ramps may be usable in a week. Rainbow trout fishing is good along the shorelines. Walleye fishing is still nonexistent.

— Terry McArdle, Townsend Marine Castle Rock Lake: The fishing is good with anglers catching some walleyes, bass and northern pike. Water is cold for panfish.

— Scott Lundin, Osprey Realty.

Cooney Reservoir: Action is slow. The male walleyes are shallow at night. FWP is spring sampling at night. Very few are fishing.

— Scott Lundin, Osprey Realty Deadman’s Basin: Fishing was good over the weekend, until the wind came up. Rainbows about 14-18 inches make up the bulk of the catch. No muskies or salmon yet.

— Cliff Sutton, Super D, Ryegate.

Fort Peck Reservoir, dam area: Walleye action is good down the Big Dry Arm. Both spawned and non-spawned fish are being caught including some fish up to 9 to 12 pounds. Jigs and minnows are your best bet in 6 to 20 feet of water. Lake trout are still biting well with a couple of salmon also caught as that ran 8 to 10 pounds.

— Gene Moore, Lakeridge, Fort Peck Fort Peck Reservoir, Hell Creek: Lake trout are still biting well with limits being caught. Some walleyes are turning on west toward Timber Creek and that action is improving. Bob Magnuson and Tim Davis won the Tough Guy Tourney last Saturday with a weight of 38 pounds. Marina construction has begun.

— Deb Thomas, Hell Creek Marina Fresno Reservoir: A few pike are being caught, but no significant catches of walleyes so far.

— Howard Stromberg, Stromberg Sinclair, Havre Gallatin River: The river is muddy, but is dropping a bit. It’s mainly nymph fishing with stonefly patterns, copper john’s and prince nymphs.

— John Mahoney, Montana Troutfitters, Bozeman Hauser Reservoir: Good rainbow bite. Walleyes are in the spawn and not biting.

— Terry McArdle, Townsend Marine Holter Reservoir: Rainbow trout fishing is good. Walleyes are in the spawn and not biting.

— Terry McArdle, Townsend Marine Madison River: The upper Madison is fishing well. Big nymphs and streamers are your best bet. Some baetis are out. The lower Madison is off-color, but fishable. Stonefly or San Juan worm patterns are working well.

— John Mahoney, Montana Troutfitters, Bozeman Martinsdale Reservoir: Action is best in early morning and late evening. Marshmallows and crawlers are your best bet. Browns and rainbows are both being caught.

— Cliff Sutton, Super D, Ryegate Missouri River, Below Holter: Flow is at 6,400 cfs. The water temp is 44 degrees. Some baetis are starting to show up. Parachute baetis and CDC parachute baetis patterns are producing. Pink scuds, pink lightning bugs and brown buggers are working down under.

— Garry Stocker, Montana Fly Goods Missouri River, Fred Robinson Bridge: The first few paddlefish are being caught. Catfish angling is good with dead minnows treated with Smelly Jelly.

— Dave Snyder, Don’s, Lewistown Nelson Reservoir: Fishing is slow with walleyes spawning. The northern pike bite has slowed with colder weather. Fishing is expected to heat up in the next two weeks.

— Melissa Lundstom, Westside Sports, Malta Petrolia Reservoir: Fishing is slow.

— Will Suralski, Minnow Bucket, Huntley Smith River: Flow is at 500 cfs. Floating is good and the fishing is slow. It’s off-color but some are being caught on brown and black buggers, San Juan worms and yellow and black buggers.

— Garry Stocker, Montana Fly Goods Spring Creek: High and muddy. A few anglers are catching trout on beadhead hare’s ears.

— Dave Snyder, Don’s, Lewistown Stillwater River, Lower: Fishing is good and the river is clear. A few March browns are hatching and tan caddis in the afternoons. Beadhead prince nymphs and beadhead hare’s ears are working well.

— Mike Segota, Suds n’ Bugs Fly and Tackle, Columbus Stillwater River, Upper: It’s running high, but clear. Some surface activity with March browns and a lot of caddis coming off. Best bets are beadhead copper johns, lightning bugs and prince nymphs.

— Jim McCall, Rainbow Run Fly Shop Tongue River Reservoir: A few crappies are being caught and some smallmouth bass. Overall, fishing is still slow. The lake level is rising. All boat ramps are usable and courtesy docks are in.

— Bob Peterson, Tongue River Reservoir State Park manager Yellowstone River, Columbus: It’s high and off-color, but fish are hitting along the edges. Pheasant tails and woolly buggers are your best bets. No major hatches right now.

— Mike Segota, Suds n’ Bugs Fly and Tackle, Columbus Yellowstone River, Huntley: The river is high and muddy. Catfish are all that’s hitting. Big minnows, shrimp and cut bait are all producing.

— Will Suralski, Minnow Bucket, Huntley Yellowstone River, Livingston: River levels are dropping a bit. It could be fishable in a couple of days, if levels keep going down. Blue-winged olives are hatching. No Mother’s Day caddis yet.

— John Mahoney, Montana Troutfitters, Bozeman