Trout rivers are dropping, clearing

By Mark Henckel of Montana Lee Newspapers - 07/17/2008

BILLINGS — Southcentral Montana rivers are starting to drop and clear. Look for the trout fishing to get better and

better as the weeks pass.

The Boulder, Stillwater and upper reaches of the Yellowstone River are now in fishable shape along with the Madison, Jefferson and upper reaches of the Gallatin.

On the reservoirs, walleyes appear to be starting to head a little deeper though there’s still a good shallow bite going on at Fort Peck Reservoir and action near the dikes at the south end of Canyon Ferry are still producing some fish.

As everyone has said all along this year, everything on the waters is about two weeks later than normal. And fishing, in most places, is very good right now.

Here’s the weekly fishing report:

Beaverhead River: Flows continue to be good on the river. Flies that are working well include Micro Mayflies, San Juan Worms, Flashbacks, Beadheads, and Split Case PMD’s, Streamers are best on cloudy days. For dry flies, try PMD’s, and Cream Puffs. Hoppers are just starting.

— Johanna McLaughlin,

Uncle Bob’s Outdoors, Dillon.

Big Hole River: Golden Stones are working on the Big Hole. The flows are decreasing and fishing is good. Use PMD’s, Caddis, Royal wulffs, and trudes. Pat’s Stones and San Juan Worms are also catching fish. Try a Black Magic, and hoppers have also just started.

— Johanna McLaughlin,

Uncle Bob’s Outdoors, Dillon.

Canyon Ferry Reservoir: 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.

— Eric Roberts, FWP, Helena.

Clark Canyon Reservoir: Chironomids, Beadheads, Purple Princes, and several of the Denny Rickards fly patterns, and Sheep Creeks are working well. Fishing remains best in the deep channels, and continues to pick up in the shallows. The average fish length has been 18 to

20 inches this week.

— Johanna McLaughlin,

Uncle Bob’s Outdoors, Dillon.

Flathead Lake: Lake trout trolling is very good. The fish are suspended up in the

25 to 50-foot thermal. The jig fishermen are also doing well. The lake whitefish are just starting to bite.

— Bob Orsua, MoFisch Charters.

Gallatin River: The Gallatin is fishing very well in the canyon with big, black stonefly nymphs fished tight to the banks. At the current higher flows, fish will inhabit the calmest water they can find. Don’t get worked up about the visibility. Some of the best days on the Gallatin have come when the water is a pea green color.

— Kris Kumlien,

Montana Troutfitters, Bozeman.

Hauser Reservoir: Rainbow fishing is slow with a few being caught in the early

morning hours while trolling cowbells around the Black Sandy area. The rainbows are hanging around 30 to 35 feet deep. Walleye fishing is good in the Causeway while using jigs tipped with a worm or leech in 8 to 15 feet of water. Most walleyes caught have been small.

— Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena.

Holter Reservoir: Some nice rainbows are still being caught early in the morning while trolling cowbells tipped with a crawler. Most rainbow action has been around Split Rock and the Oxbow in 20 to 30 feet of water. A few rainbows are being caught from shore at Departure Point on marshmallows or worms. Walleye action is very good throughout the reservoir. Jigs tipped with a worm or leech has been the best bet in 8 to 12 feet of water.

— Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena.

Jefferson River: The river continues to drop and clear, and although fishing isn’t red hot, it’s been decent near Whitehall and through the Lewis and Clark Caverns section.

— Kris Kumlien,

Montana Troutfitters, Bozeman.

Madison River: The Salmonflies are somewhere around Lyons by now and heading upriver but that hasn’t seemed to matter to the fish. Despite the big bugs being up high, fishing has been great all over, lots of boats, but lots of fish and lots of action. Your go-to attractor nymphs like princes and lightning bugs are also producing.

— Kris Kumlien,

Montana Troutfitters, Bozeman.

Missouri River, Below Holter: The bugs are everywhere and most of the fish in the river are up on them. We have caddis, PMD’s and, on the lower river, we also have Drakes and yellow stones. The best fishing of the year is starting.

— Garry Stocker,

Montana Fly Goods, Helena.

Billings Gazette outdoor editor Mark Henckel may be contacted at henckel@billingsgazette.com or at 657-1395.