GAZETTE FISHING REPORT
Fishing spotty, but better times around corner
By JOHN LETASKY
Of The Gazette Staff
Fishing in Montana and Wyoming should be picking up.
Many anglers reported fishing was decent. At the Bighorn, crowds are down said Todd Stapleton.
Sure, there are spotty days, but that's fishing. Nothing is guaranteed.
For ideas on what to use and what to expect, here's the Gazette's weekly report. Montana- Absaroka-Beartooth Mountain Lakes
- Snow pack between 8,000-8,500 feet. Trailhead for the Stillwater drainage is open for nine miles. West Fork of the Stillwater road is open to Breakneck Park. Lost, Keyser Brown and First Rock are open. I like soft-hackle flies this time of year fished just subsurface. - Jim Yeager, Old West Anglers & Outfitters, Columbus.
- Ackley Lake
- It has been spotty. Spawning season is about over. - Jack Spicer, Don's, Lewistown.
- Beaverhead River
- The flows are in the medium range and water visibility is good on the upper portion above Grasshopper Creek. Below that point, the river has some color to it. Nymphs remain the prime fly for anglers, with Serendipities, Yellow Sallies and various small midges working best. - Robbie Curtis of Dillon's Watershed Fly Fishing Adventures.
- Big Hole River
- There five different hatches happening on the Big Hole River right now and fly fishermen are seeing some great fishing. The annual salmon fly hatch will probably only last another four or five days, but there are plenty of caddis, midge and golden stone fly hatches. Fishermen are using brown size 10 caddis, small golden stone flies and either black or dark green midges (size 20). - Chris Dupuis of Butte's Bob Ward and Sons
- Bighorn Lake
- Fishing is good. Mainly what has been caught are good-eating size fish. The walleye are anywhere from 14-20 inches. The Slide Area was pretty good this weekend for trollers. Some people did fish above the docks at Black Canyon and Jack Joyce caught a 5-pound rainbow there. - Josh Anderson, Ok-A-Beh Marina.
- Bighorn River
- It is fishing really good. The flows are at 9,900 cfs. Mostly nymph fishing right now, using orange or red San Juan worms, trailing with a size 16 flashback hare's ear or a flashback pheasant tail. Orange or pink-soft hackle sow bugs in size 14 are also working. Use some split shot to get flies down. We should start seeing PMDs and mayflies toward the end of the month. There are not too many people fishing the river. - Todd Stapleton, Bighorn Fly & Tackle, Hardin.
- Boulder River
- It is very high and muddy. The water temperatures are warm and the river is up. It is unfishable below McLeod. Above the East and West Forks it is high. Try a stonefly nymph, like bitch creeks, woolly buggers or beadheads. - Jim McCall, Rainbow Run Fly Shop, Billings.
- Canyon Ferry Reservoir
- The walleye are biting and anglers are having some success. The trout are also biting. The fishing was good this weekend. - Townsend Marine.
- Castle Rock Lake
- Use jigs and 11/2-2 inch minnows. Crappies, large and smallmouth bass are being caught. So are the pike. The pike are 2-3 pounds. Walleyes are running 2-21/2 pounds. Bluegills have not started to bite. Fish your bait slow. - Will Suralski, Minnow Bucket, Huntley.
- Clark Fork River
- The river has come down some and anglers are doing OK. People using lures are reporting some good luck. - Chris Dupuis of Butte's Bob Ward and Sons.
- Clark Canyon Reservoir
- The reservoir is fishing very well with float tubers reporting good luck on the south to southwest corner of the lake. Chironamids, leech patterns, Sheep Creeks and damsel flies are all working well. The best fishing is early in the day before the wind comes up. -Robbie Curtis of Dillon's Watershed Fly Fishing Adventures.
- Cliff & Wade Lakes
- They are fishing well with leech patterns. In the evening, there is a little dry fly action with midges and PMDs. - Glen Gallentine, The Tackle Shop, Ennis.
- Cooney Reservoir
- The fishing was fair last week. The one area that seemed to be doing any good was up by the dam. There was plenty of action, but the fish were small. Crawlers were working on both trout and walleye. - Dan Montoya, Cooney Dam Country Store.
- Deadman's Basin
- They are catching some fish while trolling. - Tracy Goffena, Enjoy Sports, Roundup.
- Fort Peck Reservoir: Big Dry Arm
- Fishing is pretty good. A good number of small walleye are being caught. Most fishermen are traveling south toward China Wall and the Bug Creek area. On the 18th, we had a 9-pound walleye landed by Max & Skip Daniels about two miles south of the marina. On Monday, a lot of people caught 2-3 pound walleye. Smallmouth bass fishing is picking up. - Kim Whiteman, Rock Creek Marina.
- Fort Peck Reservoir: Crooked Creek
- Larry Beilen of Hilger and Bruce Krug of Lewistown limited out on walleyes and sauger in one day. A 41/2-pound sauger was caught by the duo. A couple of 13-14-pound northerns were caught the same day by the fishermen, along with a few 3-pound smallmouth. They threw a little of everything at them. Gary Stone of Townsend caught a few catfish on the mouth of the Musselshell. Two fish were pretty big, 16 and 17 pounds. He also caught a 15-pound northern with that batch. He was using cut bait. They are catching northerns off the bank with live minnows, smelt and cut bait. - Ron Ronningen, Fort Musselshell Marina.
- Fort Peck Reservoir: Dam Area
- Walleye fishing has picked up. Some 8-10 pounders were brought in. Fish from Duck Creek on down to the Pines. The salmon action is OK. The salmon are fairly deep and anglers are using downriggers with a lure. Try a worm harness for the walleye and one could also pull a crankbait. - Donna Moore, Lakeridge Motel, Fort Peck.
- Fort Peck Reservoir: Fourchette Bay
- Some people say it has picked up and some say it hasn't. Crankbaits would be a good choice. - Susan Twiford, Westside Sports, Malta.
- Gallatin River
- It is muddy at the headwaters. Above the Taylor's Fork it is still dirty and it is also dirty in the park. - Chris Kumlien, Montana Troutfitters, Bozeman.
- Georgetown Lake
- Anglers are doing really well with damsel fly nymphs in a green to blue pattern in size 6 to 14 hooks. - Chris Dupuis of Butte's Bob Ward and Sons.
- Hebgen Lake
- Try woolly buggers in olive and black. Spin fisherman are also doing OK. The average fish is 15-16 inches. I caught a 20-inch brown the other day with an olive woolly bugger. - Brett Greco, Jacklin's Fly Shop, West Yellowstone.
- Jefferson River
- While it's still a bit high and muddy in the main stem of the river, fishermen are doing well in the sloughs and backwaters with bait and sculpin imitations. - Chris Dupuis of Butte's Bob Ward and Sons.
- Madison River: Ennis
- It is pretty muddy. We're running a lot of water and we got a lot of rain. Fishing is marginal. If you're really dedicated and want to work at it, you can pitch some big woolly buggers and bitch creeks along the banks. - Glen Gallentine, The Tackle Shop, Ennis.
- Madison River: Lower:
- Try a nymph or streamer. The high water has salmonflies moving out of the Bear Trap. - Chris Kumlien, Montana Troutfitters, Bozeman.
- Martinsdale Reservoir
- Nothing has changed much. Trolling is working with cowbells and lures. It is slow off the bank. Some of the browns are running 3-4 pounds. The rainbows are in the 11/2 to 2 pound range. They are also catching some of the planters and letting them go. - Dan McLaughlin, Mint Bar, Martinsdale.
- Missouri River: Below Holter
- The Missouri is at 8,000 cfs. It is steady and clear. It has been good fishing. We are seeing caddis and PMDs. Use an elk-hair caddis, size 14-16. Try a PMD parachute or a hi-vis PMD transitional, in size 14-16. Use lightning bugs and MFGs underneath. It is still hard to wade. - Garry Stocker, Montana Fly Goods, Helena.
- Missouri River: Fred Robinson Bridge
- It's not doing too bad. The catfish and walleye are active. - Tammi Combs, Bohemian Corners Cafe.
- Musselshell River: Lower
- I had some friends go down to the river and they said they did fair, catching some 1-3 pound catfish. Cut bait should work. - Tracy Goffena, Enjoy Sports, Roundup.
- Musselshell River: Upper
- It is in good shape now. Elk hair caddis are working. So will mayfly patterns. Blue-wing olives would be a good choice. Girdle bugs should start working. It is clear now. Bair and Sutherlin Lakes are doing good. - Ron Hinand, Ray's Sport and Western Wear, Harlowton.
- Nelson Reservoir
- It has slowed down quite a bit. The water is awful high. - Susan Twiford, Westside Sports, Malta.
- Newlan Creek Reservoir
- Trout are biting fairly well on bait. Mepp's spinners or orange Panther Martins are also working well. Anything with orange should work. - Tracy Goffena, Enjoy Sports, Roundup.
- Ruby River
- The water has cleared on the Ruby River and anglers are reporting good luck using nymphs and streamers. Dry flies are working well on the mid to upper sections of the river. - Robbie Curtis of Dillon's Watershed Fly Fishing Adventures.
- Smith River
- Was running at 371 cfs on Tuesday morning. The golden stone hatch is in full bloom. Try a golden stimulator (8-12), golden bird stone (8-12) and a brown drake (10). Lightning bugs and MFGs are also working here. Brown and black woolly buggers are good in the morning. - Garry Stocker, Montana Fly Goods, Helena.
- Spring Creek
- It is clearing up and fishing is improving. Hare's ears and prince nymphs and pheasant tails are all producing. Overall, it is picking up really good. Caddis hatches and blue duns in sizes 14-16-18 are all working. Lewistown bait angler Ed Robison pulled a 13-pound, 28-inch brown trout from the creek recently. - Jack Spicer, Don's, Lewistown.
- Stillwater River
- Above Absarokee it is high. It is tainted, but clear around the edges. The higher you go, the clearer it gets. Try big nymphs and fish close to the bank. Some caddis are appearing, but I haven't heard reports of the fish keying on them. My best advice is to fish nymphs until the river comes down a little. - Jim McCall, Rainbow Run Fly Shop, Billings.
- Stillwater River: Lower
- We think the river peaked Tuesday. Maybe we'll see some improvement in a week. - Jim Yeager, Old West Anglers and Outfitters, Columbus.
- Tongue River Reservoir
- We had some people come in this morning (Tuesday) and they said they were doing well fishing in 10-feet deep water. They caught over 70 fish, including walleyes, smallmouth and crappies. They were using jigs, minnows and crawlers. There is talk of having the campground open for July 4. - Mary Madrid, Tongue River Marina.
- West Rosebud River
- Good water conditions and some better than average fishing. The afternoon thundershowers are knocking the hatches out, so dry fly fishing is slow. Anglers using pheasant tails and prince nymphs are having good days. - Jim Yeager, Old West Anglers & Outfitters, Columbus.
- Yellowstone National Park
- It is fishing well. The Firehole is fishing really good, with PMD and caddis hatches in the evening. Some salmonflies are in Firehole Canyon. The Gibbon has been fishing well and had caddis and some drakes coming off. Yellowstone Lake is still fishing good. - Brett Greco, Jacklin's Fly Shop, West Yellowstone.
- Yellowstone River: Billings
- Catfish are biting well in the back waters. Use shrimp and cut bait. One 12-pounder came in last week and a 31 1/2-incher did as well. The perch fishing is good in the back waters. They are running 8-10 inches. Try a nightcrawler and a bobber near the edge of the weeds and willows. I discourage anybody getting on the river this time of year, it is high and dangerous. - Will Suralski, Minnow Bucket, Huntley.
- Yellowstone River: Columbus
- No change, it's still high and muddy. - Jim Yeager, Old West Anglers and Outfitters, Columbus.
- Yellowstone River: Livingston
- It is fairly high and muddy. - Rick Halloran, Dan Bailey's Fly Shop, Livingston.
Wyoming- Bighorn Mountain Creeks
- They are running high, but dry flies and worms are working the best. - Charlie Gould, Just Gone Fishing, Buffalo.
- Bighorn Mountain Lakes
- Sherd Lake, Long Lake and Ringbone Lakes are all open. The fishing is excellent. There are a few mosquitoes. - Charlie Gould, Just Gone Fishing, Buffalo.
- Bighorn River
- The water is still high. They are dumping around 6,000 cfs out of the dam. The creeks are just full. The creeks up in the Bighorns are still full. On Meadowlark Lake the ice is completely off and some brookies and small rainbows are being caught. - Ken Kucera, The Outdoorsman, Worland.
- Boysen Reservoir
- It is fishing good. Work the points 2 feet on out. Walleyes are being taken all over the lake. South of Cottonwood it is pretty dirty. Shad Raps, worm rigs, jigs and worms, leeches, it's all working. The Wyoming Governor's Cup is at Boysen Friday and Saturday. The deadline has passed to enter. - Gary Hackett, Boysen Lake Marina/Ken Kucera, The Outdoorsman, Worland.
- Buffalo Bill Reservoir
- It is pretty slow and off-color. Rapalas and Thomas lures are landing some fish. - Scott Aune, Absaroka Angler, Cody.
- Clarks Fork
- It is a chocolate mess. - Scott Aune, Absaroka Angler, Cody.
- Lake DeSmet
- Rapalas and worm harnesses seem to be working the best. The fish are nice, running from 18-19 inches. - Charlie Gould, Just Gone Fishing, Buffalo.
- Middle Fork Powder River
- The stoneflies are coming out and the water is still up. Fish yellow Sally patterns and Adams irresistable. Black and tan stones are also coming out after the yellow Sally patterns. Try dry flies close to the edges. - Charlie Gould, Just Gone Fishing, Buffalo.
- Newton Lake
- If you play the game, you'll catch some fish. The fish are extremely picky. Try damsels and midges. The fish that will be caught are big, probably over 20 inches. - Scott Aune, Absaroka Angler, Cody.
- North Fork of the Shoshone River
- It is very high and dirty. - Scott Aune, Absaroka Angler, Cody.
- Upper Sunshine Lake
- Fishing is exceptional. Run crankbaits or spoons from the boat. Power Bait and crawlers from the bank are all working. The fish will be cutthroat and splake (a cross between a lake trout and a brook trout). - Ken Kucera, The Outdoorsman, Worland.
- Ten Sleep Creek
- It is unfishable. - Ken Kucera, The Outdoorsman, Worland.
Perry Backus of the Montana Standard contributed to this report. The Billings Gazette Fishing Report runs each Thursday in The Gazette and billingsgazette.com. For comments or questions, contact Gazette outdoor editor Mark Henckel by phone at: (406) 657-1395, or by e-mail at: henckel@bsw.net
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