Category: Fishing Report

Fishing Report 9/16/26

HELENA AREA FISHING REPORT 9/16/26

🎣Canyon Ferry 🌊
Fishing continues to be strong, though the fishing pressure has waned significantly with the start of archery season. For the die-hard fisherman, they are being rewarded. The South End is still fishing well. With the cooler temps the walleye are starting to work their way back to the shallower depths. Bottom Bouncers are still working great with a nightcrawler, but with walleye falling into their fall patterns and putting on the feed bag for winter, pulling a crankbait is also worthwhile. I would look anywhere from 8’ down to 20’ depending on water and light conditions. Bottom bouncer colors to try are pink, blue, fire tiger and black gold, but other brighter colors are worth a try. For crankbaits I would try perch patterns primarily, but if you want to switch it up a bit go with crawdad and black gold. Keep those bottom bouncers at 1.0mph or less and for the crankbaits you can go as fast as 2.5mph. If trolling isn’t your style I would consider the North End of Canyon Ferry. The jig and jerk bait bite has been strong up there for the past couple of weeks. I like to fish the Eastern side more than the Western side. Target the rocky points and substrate transitions in 5’ to 15’ of water. My go to jig this year has been a 3” or 3.5” perch pattern on 1/4oz jig head. Perch has been my number one, but I have had luck on various other darker colored plastics. For jerk baits, it seems like the metallic colors are still the preferred choice of the walleye. Don’t be afraid to work those baits over 15’ of water either. Tod and I have been watching the walleye rocket from the bottom to clobber a jerk bait. Just remember to add long pauses in between your jerk series.

Rainbows are biting really well, again. Being a cold water fish, these cool fall weather days are making them quite happy. Bait choice hasn’t really needed a change. Brighter colored crankbaits or cowbells are working great, but the speed that the fish are willing to bite is much less specific and they are spread out more in the upper water column. They can be caught anywhere between 5’ to 30’ at speeds from 1.0mph to 2.5mph. The guys fishing on the South End are also catching the trout more frequently on their walleye gear.

The other curious note I wanted to share is the amount of perch I have been hearing of being caught on the South End. Frequent reports of guys catching some pretty nice perch on their bottom bouncing rigs. I hope that between the stability of the lake level this year and lack of pressure from the previous ice season, the perch had a good spawn and we can see more success in the future.

🛶Hauser🌲
The trout are biting very well from riverside down to lakeside with the hot zone being Eagle Bay down to Spokane Bay. Trolling is worthwhile with mainly crankbaits. Fire tiger or blue silver will work, but over the years I have found black gold to be my favorite color, but the best action has definitely been on zonkers and marabous. Black/olive, black/green, brown/orange and olive/yellow seem to be the top picks. That being said, if you want to focus in more on the brown trout, they seem to prefer the brighter colors more often. Another area worth trying is the cliffs across from Prop Ally all the way down to the dam. This area is almost exclusively a trolling game. Crankbaits are still my preferred bait, but cowbells with a wedding ring is worth using as well.

The walleye have definitely gone full swing into their fall patterns. Moving up to shallower water on rocky shore lines and points. These walleyes don’t seem to want to move up much past 10’ of water. I have found them slightly shallower, but the sweet spot seems to be 10’ to 15’ of water from York Bridge down to the dam and throughout the Causeway. By far the best luck I have seen has come from jerk baits like the Mavrik 110, Husky Jerk or deep Rip Stop. The key is the timing of your pause. Once you can find the right cadence, the walleye are responding very well. Otherwise, I am still finding decent success with jigs. Mainly on a perch, ayu or goby colored paddle-tail on a 1/4oz jig head. Cast up shallow and work just off the bottom.

The pike are also starting to get quite aggressive. There have been some big ones being caught throughout the lake but the Prop Alley seems to be the main area. They are certainly biting all the same stuff the walleye have been biting, but if you want to hone-in on them more, big spoons, jerk baits and glide baits are all good options. Anything that could look like a perch is the best color. I would recommend that regardless of if you are targeting pike or walleye, tie-on a titanium, steel or heavy fluorocarbon leader to help prevent unwanted donations to the lake.

🌄Holter🦅
The kokanee are still being caught though it seems that things have slowed down a bit. This is not very surprising as the fish are starting into full swing of their spawn. The bigger fish that are spawning this year seem to be pretty well concentrated in the bay on the far side by the dam suspended in 70’ to 90’ of water. They are quickly changing color and loosing the silver. Eating is still ok, but canning and smoking is probably the best approach for them . If you want to target kokanee, my best tactic is to first find the school. Once you locate them, use a heavier Kastmaster, Swedish Pimple or other type of jigging spoon tipped with something smelly and sit on top of the school and just keep that jig moving. You want to trigger an aggression strike since they are not feeding. Usually anything with red or orange works best.

Walleye continue to be caught through the canyon and lower Holter and still seem to be holding to those drop-offs and leading weed edges. The bite has remained strong, but moody with the daily weather changes. Again, good response to jerk baits in perch or metallic colors. However, the classic jig and a pinched crawler has also been effective. The interesting part with the walleye in Holter is they really want to be in a wolf pack. So if you catch one, there’s at least a few more in that same spot. Overall the quantity this year has been on the lower end but it has made up for it. However, the perch are being unusually fickle. Seems like no one is able to find the large schools this year. When the perch have been found they are a good size but not consistent. If you want to try finding them, a pinched crawler on a jig is usually my go to bait.

💧Regulating Reservoir⛵
Snagging season is full steam ahead. There have been decent sized fish being caught. No real giants, but healthy. More importantly, it sounds like many of the folks snagging for them are finding good luck overall. So I would recommend getting out there sooner rather than later.

🌊Missouri River(Toston Dam to Canyon Ferry)🛥
I have had a couple reports for this stretch and it’s been ok. Fish are being caught in slack water and deeper holes, but it has been inconstant. This is one of those stretches that simply requires time and experience this time of year to have consistent luck. If you want to try a drop shot with a small split tail, a bug looking bait, or a small jig with a perch or minnow colored split tail those are good places to start.

🛶Missouri River (Holter to Great Falls)🌊
Fishing has been fairly decent in the upper stretch. Mainly on nymphs like the Prince nymph, scuds or other bead heads. However, there are still big weed patches present that can make it hard to fish. Hopper-droppers have been proving effective, otherwise I would consider a terrestrial like a foam beetle or ant, especially early in the morning when things are still pretty cool. In the lower stretch there are some pike being caught on streamers. Perch, black and olive or straight black are the usual suspects to try if you want to give it a shot.

At this point, though the fishing has been good, hunting season is here and that is the main focus for most. We will continue to post fishing reports, but on an every other week frequency, at least until ice fishing season. Fingers crossed!

Good luck out there everyone!

-Jonathan

Fishing Report 8/31/26

HELENA AREA FISHING REPORT 8/31/26

🎣Canyon Ferry 🌊
South End continues to be fishing strong. It’s still a bottom bouncer bite, but there are murmurs of a crankbait bite going on. With the cooler nights, the water is going to be a more comfortable temp for the walleye. Pink, blue, fire tiger and black/gold for worm harness colors. Perch, black/gold and crawdad patterns for crankbaits. 1.0mph range for bottom bouncing and you can push up to 2.5mph for cranks. Mid Lake is still being temperamental, but fish are also being caught on the same baits as the south end. The North End is fishing very well, keeping in consideration it is the North End. Quantity is not what you’re after when fishing the North End. It’s all about the quality! Jerk baits are the hottest bait by far; mainly fishing the metallic silver or gold. Cast in 5’ to 15’ of water and work it aggressive, but slow. Use a series of two to three jerks then a long pause. Alternate if you want. 3 jerks, pause, then 2 jerks.

The rainbow trout are also enjoying the cooler nights. Trolling in between White Earth and the Dam is going to be the main stretch. 10’ down to 35’. The shallow water fish should respond well to a smaller, deep diving crankbait like a Berkley Flicker minnow. For the deeper fish, cowbells would work well, otherwise the bigger rainbows are willing to bite a bigger crank. Green/chartreuse, pink, and blues are good colors to start with and adjust from there.

🛶Hauser🌲
Walleye action is moving to the fall patterns. You can still find some fish in the weeds, but they are definitely starting to move out on to the rocky points, reefs and shorelines. Fish can be caught throughout the day, but it is definitively better in the evenings and mornings. They are responding very well to jerk baits. Silver, gold or perch patterns mostly. The other effective bait is a paddle tail on a jig head. Perch, Tennessee shad, Ayu colors are my go-to picks. Basically anything that could look like a small perch or minnow. 3” mainly, but don’t be afraid to throw a 4” bait. There can be some action in the Causeway as well. Both casting to share and bottom bouncing in the channel. Black/gold, green/chartreuse or any color with some orange in it are good picks. If you’re jigging I highly recommend tying on a heavy fluorocarbon, steel or titanium leader. The pike are getting very hungry and they are not shy about it, which if you are wanting to target them, now is a great time!

Trout are biting very well by Spokane Bay. Bart had a phenomenal day on marbou and zonker jigs. Perch, neon perch or river sculpin are usually the top performers. So I would work from Eagle Bay down to just past Spokane Bay if you want in on the trout action. Otherwise, from York Bridge to Hauser Dam is a good stretch to troll crankbaits or cowbells. Same colors as Canyon Ferry apply here. I have not heard anything about the kokanee. So either people aren’t catching or they are being very tight lipped.

🌄Holter🦅
The kokanee here are no secret. What they want to bite on that day may be hard to pin down, but it seems people are finding more success than not. The average size has been good, too. Holding around the 2lb mark up to 5lbs. The fish are starting to show the slightest bit of color and jaw structure changes. I suspect soon the big schools will start showing up in the bay South of Holter Dam. For now, trolling is working well with dodgers and a squid or wedding ring behind a snap weight. Chartreuse, Hot pink, orange or white are the most common colors. Scented corn is the preferred bait of choice, but some have been preferring standard shoe peg corn and finding success. Catching is still happening at the 60’ mark, but if the kokanee do what they’ve done in the past, 70’ to 90’ should lead to success.

Like Hauser, the walleye seem to be moving more and more out of the weeds and hanging out on the drop-offs. Work the very edges of weed beds or in between weed beds. Like the other two lakes, they are also responding well to jerk baits. It has not been unusual to watch a walleye come from 15’ and bite a bait at 6’ this year. Keep using the metallic silver, gold or a perch pattern. Drop shot with a worm is also effective if they are in a mood and want to stay on the bottom.

Perch have been hit or miss. There are some being caught sporadically through the weed beds in the canyon and lower Holter. Pinched crawler under a bobber is going to be the most consistent presentation.

That is all the info I have this week to share with you! Of note, the snagging season on the Regulating Reservoir opens Sept. 1st. Also, to everyone showing their appreciation for these reports, thank you! Hope you all catch lots of fish this week!

-Jonathan

Fishing Report 8/19/26

HELENA AREA FISHING REPORT 8/19/26

🎣Canyon Ferry 🌊
South End walleyes are still biting very well. I don’t remember a year where the bite has lasted this long, but I am not going to complain! It is very much a bottom bouncer or lindy rig bite. Just remember, these are slow techniques so keep the boat under 1.0mph as best as possible. Pink has been this year’s hot color, but purple, blue and fire tiger are also good options. I would start looking in 15’ of water and slowly work deeper until you start catching fish. Hole in the Wall is a good area to look in as a starting point, but it sounds like the entire South End is fishing. Mid Lake is also producing fish, but its been sporadic. Both White Earth side and Goose Flats have been producing fish. On the North End, fishing has been slower, but more quality fish are being found with jigs and jerk baits. Metallic silver and gold seem to be the colors of choice.

Rainbows are biting decent on the North End. The cooler nightly temps have been helping. Deeper diving crankbaits in silver, gold, rainbow or fire tiger patterns are a good choice. If you want to slow down the presentation, cowbells with a wedding ring in chartreuse, red or pink. From White Earth to the dam is the most productive stretch.

🛶Hauser🌲
Trout are showing up strong again in front of Spokane Bay at about 17’ of water. Usually around this time is when the browns start moving into that area to begin their spawn. I would recommend a marabou jig or a zonker and casting. The North End by the Dam to White Sandy has also been a productive stretch. It is much more of a trolling game in this area. Same colors as Canyon Ferry: silver, black/gold, rainbow trout or fire tiger.

Walleyes are biting well off the weed lines. In fact at the John Arnold, first place team weighed in 40lbs for 5 fish. Hauser is starting to throw some big fish again. Notably, the guys I have talked with have all noticed big clouds of bait. We haven’t figured out what they are yet, but they area small minnow of some kind. It is exciting! Hopefully that is a sign that forage is making a strong reappearance. Also of note, the walleye seem to be returning to rocky point and reefs. So I would guess that we will start seeing more and more fall patterns emerging. This coincides with the Causeway Arm starting to fish well, again. I would recommend jigs and jerk baits. Perch, goby or electric minnow seems to be the hot colors for jigs right now. Silver, gold and perch colored jerk baits are my go to colors to start with. Just remember to have a leader for the pike as they have been very active as well.

🌄Holter🦅
Kokanee are getting better and better! I have been talking to a lot of guys that have been doing well. Not every day of course, but there is more good days than bad days! 60’ down is the depth that has been unanimous for everyone trolling. All with dodgers and a hoochie/squid. Various colors depending on the day and the mood of the fish. Don’t be afraid to use the bigger dodgers , keep them closer to the snap weight and tie the squid close. I would not tie a leader longer then 18” behind the flasher. In fact I would push it up to 12” to really get some movement out of the bait. 1.2mph is usually the magic number for speed, but vary it until you find results. Also, target the early morning and evening time periods. I have heard little success from the mid-day window.

Walleye are biting well, but in slightly different places. They are still hanging out around weed beds, but in deeper water and seem to prefer drop-offs whenever possible. There are some still in the weeds themselves, but I have seen more success from the hard edges. They respond well to jigs with a worm but they haven’t been too afraid to chase down a jerk bait either. Perch patterns reign supreme. Hot perch, chrome perch, yellow perch, you name it. Amongst the walleye I have been able to find small schools of bigger perch as well, they aren’t everywhere, but every so often I will find some. They are very willing to bite the same baits as the walleye, but a drop shot with a small plastic minnow or worm is very effective as well.

💧Regulating Reservoir⛵
Kokanee are biting decently well from the little I’ve heard. Depths range from 10’ down to 35’. Mainly trolling out of kayak using a dipsy diver or small snap weight to get to depth with a wedding ring. Hot Pink or Chartreuse are safe colors to start with. If you have the means to find the schools, jigging a silver or gold kastmaster or Swedish pimple is effective tipped with corn.

🌊Missouri River(Toston Dam to Canyon Ferry)🛥
With the cooler evenings the water temps should hopefully be coming down to where it’s ethical to fish again. Walleye usually bite fairly well about this time of year before retreating back to the lake for winter. Small jigs and drop shots in slower moving water is the best tactic. Anything that looks like a bug is effective, or a hair jig. I would encourage morning fishing as the days still get warm and can get the water warm enough to stress the fish, especially the handful of brown trout that show up in that stretch.

🛶Missouri River (Holter to Great Falls)🌊
Fishing has been fairly rough overall. Mainly due to the weeds and where the fish want to hide. There has been some hopper action, but it is still mainly a nymphing game if you can get a clean enough stretch to fish. Pheasant tails, scuds, prince nymphs and hare’s ear mainly.

In the lower stretches the pike have been more active and chasing streamers. So if you want to try something different, pike on a fly is a lot of fun! If you want to stay conventional go with a good jerk bait in perch or trout patterns. Overall, my best luck for streamers has been with black or a brown and white pattern.

We continue to be blessed with good fishing! I know hunting is coming up but while its good, grab a rod and enjoy!

-Jonathan

Fishing Report 8/6/26

HELENA AREA FISHING REPORT 8/6/26

🎣Canyon Ferry 🌊
Fishing has been just fantastic on Canyon Ferry! I’ve been talking to a lot of people that have been doing great out there for walleye. South end continues to perform well on bottom bouncers. Pink. For whatever reason this year I have been hearing a lot of success coming from pink. Otherwise, green and chartreuse, blue, purple or black/gold. Remember to stay under 1.0mph. I would start at 15’ of water and work deeper until you start catching. Mid lake is starting to perform again with bottom bouncers as well. North end is getting better and better with casting action. Jerk baits and jigs are the name of the game up there. Brown backs, Tennessee Shad, Perch and Ayu colors are my favorite colors on a 3/16oz or 1/4oz jig head. For jerk baits I would try metallic and flashy. Silver seems to be the preferred color over all, but on a darker day gold can be good, too. Either tactic you will want to cast up shallow to shore and work it back. There is shore fishing to be had on the North end as well. There is a good evening bite off of Outhouse and certain evenings on Shannon.

Trout fishing is still happening with fish hanging in that deep water. Deep diving cranks in brighter colors like fire tiger or chartreuse pearl are good colors to start with. If you want to slow down the speed, try cowbells with a wedding ring or trolling spoon. There are still good sized fish being caught. I am frequently hearing of 2-3lb catches.

🛶Hauser🌲
The bite has stayed consistent for walleye in the weeds. York Bridge down to the Dam has been my most consistent stretch. Keep pounding the weeds with drop shots, jigs and neds. Perch, goby and ayu colors I find to be the best performing colors. A slip bobber and worm is also effective on the main lake portion, but usually performs better in the Causeway Arm, which is also fishing well right now in the morning and evenings. Rocky points are usually where the fish seem to hangout, but keep an eye or rather sonar, on those weed beds. I would recommend tying on a titanium, steel or heavy fluro leader. The pike have been very active! It took them half the year, but they are finally hungry and aggressive. Walleye jigs have worked, but big jerk baits along the weed edges have proven very effective as well. Silver, gold or perch patterns.

Like Canyon Ferry, the trout are sheltering in the deeper water from White Earth to the Dam. Bright, deep cranks are working here, but my go-to color of black/gold is still producing fish. Cowbells are a good tactic here, too, with wedding ring or trolling spoons also tipped with corn. I have heard only a few being caught, but there have been kokanee caught. I would say at this point there isn’t a targetable population. I have had the opportunity to speak with a handful of very good kokanee fisherman and they have not been able to consistently catch kokanee out of Hauser, but that same tackle also catches trout so one way or the other you will still be entertained.

🌄Holter🦅
Speaking of kokanee, I have been slowly getting more reports of guys catching in Holter. It’s been days of extremes it seems as of late. Either the fish are biting well or not at all, but I have heard they are going deep. Guys are still catching at 40’, but starting to mark many of the fish at 60’+ of water. I am also hearing the schools are starting to form, which is inline for the season. If you wanted to switch up and mark a school, vertical jigging with spoons can be a lot of fun. Silver, pink, blue/pink are usually my best colors. For trolling, squids are still the preferred bait with some scented corn. Chartreuse, white and orange seem to be the best selling colors for us right now so I am betting those must be the colors they are hitting on.

Weed beds from Cottonwood through the Clay Banks are still holding walleye and some nice quality fish at that – mainly throwing drop shots, jigs and slip bobbers. If you are using plastics, perch pattern reign supreme, but goby or electric shad has a chance to catch as well. The most popular choice this year on Holter is an 1/8oz jig head with a pinched crawler. I am also getting good reports with guys using jerk baits. Perch, gold and metallic colors are best. Like Hauser, I would use a pike proof leader. There have been tons of pike being caught on the walleye baits. If you wanted to target pike more, I have seen some posts online and heard murmurs of the Gates producing the occasional gator.

As a side note, it’s usually about now when the fly fishermen start fishing Land of the Giants for big browns. I haven’t had much for reports, but based on previous years, about now is when it’s worth checking in on that area with streamers.

💧Regulating Reservoir⛵
Kokanee fishing has been pretty good lately. It seems that the bite really is confined to early morning or evenings. What is curious is I am getting a lot of reports of fishing being marked and caught in as shallow as 15’ of water, but I am also talking with guys that have caught fish down in 30’ so the fish are keeping us on our toes I suppose! If you want to give it a go, I recommend a chartreuse, pink or orange wedding ring with corn. If trolling isn’t your speed then jigging a pink or silver Swedish pimple or kastmaster are both goods lures to use.

🛶Missouri River (Holter to Great Falls)🌊
The tailwaters have been the more productive stretches with the cooler water coming from the dam. Scuds, prince nymphs, hare’s ear and lightning bugs are the wet flies of choice. The hoppers have started to show up so if you want to throw a dry that is a good place to start. Otherwise, mayfly patterns like the parachute adams or purple haze as well as caddis have been possible choices in the evenings. In the lower stretches with slower, warmer water, guys have noted seeing some big pike and occasionally catching one. If you want to try for a pike on the fly, black sex dungeons are my favorite flies to throw for pike. Rainbow trout and perch patterns are also good choices.

That’s all I have for you all this week. Best of luck everyone!
-Jonathan

Fishing Report 7/30/26

HELENA AREA FISHING REPORT 7/30/26
🎣Canyon Ferry 🌊
The lake has been holding steady at 88% full and I think that stable lake level has contributed to the consistent, great fishing we have had. The south end is fishing very well for walleye. Primarily on bottom bouncers pulled less than 1.0mph. I am hearing a lot of talk about pink being the color. Not my first pick, but hey, if that’s what is catching the fish sign me up! Other colors to try would be black/gold, blue, purple and fire tiger patterns. I have also been hearing a lot of guys catching healthy sized perch fairly consistently. I don’t have any evidence to prove it, but I hope that means the perch had a strong spawning season this last spring. The north end is also fishing well again. It is a casting game up there. I like using a 3/16oz or 1/4oz jig and casting shallow to work it back deep. Perch, sungill and similar darker patterns seem to be the preferred colors right now. Another surprising tactic to try is jerk baits. The bright metallic colors seem to be the best performers.
Trout are still being caught in the cooler deeper water. This hot weather will have some affect on them. Generally this will slow down the bite and drive them to deeper cooler water. Cowbells trolled slowly is a good tactic but the trout should respond to deep diving cranks as well. Rainbow, Silver or fire tiger patterns would be my top picks.
🛶Hauser🌲
Not much has changed for the past couple weeks. The walleye are holding tight to the weeds still. Keep casting into the open pockets and areas in between weed beds. Evenings seem to be more of a jig bite with a perch or goby pattern. Mornings and during the day favor neds and drop shots. Some colors, just a different presentation. There are some walleye being caught throughout the causeway. It seems to be much more of an evening bite. My favorite tactic is an 1/8oz jig casted up against shore and jigged back. Perch and sungill patterns are the classic choices. If it is windy then size up to a 1/4oz jighead.
The best trout action seems to be in the White Sandy stretch to the dam. There is also some action to be had in front of Spokane Bay. Mainly trolling deep diving cranks. Black/gold, rainbow, brown trout or silver are the classic colors to troll. Start at 2.0mph and adjust up and down from there. If you are very, very lucky, there have been a couple kokanee caught by trout fishermen. I have yet to talk to anybody that has targeted the kokanee and had consistent success but at least they are present.
🌄Holter🦅
Walleye action has been red hot on the lower parts of Holter! Mainly from Oxbow bend to the clay banks. There has been consistently good quality from what I am being told too. Seems like it has been relatively easy to fill a limit with 15”+ fish. Same tactic as Hasuer. Look for pockets to cast a jig, ned or drop shot into. Goby or perch are the top patterns but purple has caught plenty of fish as well. For those patient enough, slow trolling a crankbait along the long weed edges can also be productive as well. Perch and rainbow patterns will be the main colors. I would also recommend using heavy fluorocarbon leader or steel/titanium leader as the pike are prevalent. Though good sized and as long they don’t steal your tackle they are good fun to catch too.
The trout action has waned, but that’s mostly from a focus shift. Most people trolling now have opted to start chasing the big kokanee in Holter. Rainbows certainly fill the time in between catches, but the kokanee bite has started to pick up more. I am mostly hearing a lot of reports from trolling at 40’ but that was before the heat wave. With the bright days, you can expect the fish to go deeper. I would still start at 40’ and work the baits down to depth. Unless of course you are marking the fish on a fish finder then adjust accordingly. Just remember to keep the bait above the fish kokanee are for more apt to rise for a bait than swim down. Keep your speeds between 1.0mph to 1.5mph. Chartreuse, orange or red are the first picks but as kokanee are, be ready with a couple different options for the day. Also typical for kokanee, evening and morning are the best times to target.
💧Regulating Reservoir⛵
Like Holter, the kokanee action is heating up on the regulating reservoir also. Most folks are trolling wedding rings behind a dipsy diver or small down-rigging system. I would start trolling at a depth of 20’ and work deeper in intervals until you find the fish. Pink, chartreuse, or a black and chartreuse are the staple colors. Sometime metallic colors can be good too like gold or silver. If you are able to find a school, small jigging spoons with scented corn can be quite effective. Same colors as the wedding rings.
🌊Missouri River(Toston Dam to Canyon Ferry)🛥
The water temps are going to be a big factor. The monitor page has the river temp at over 75 degrees Fahrenheit. That is way to warm for the trout and even too warm for the walleye to be comfortable. There’s a chance at some walleye still hanging out in the deeper slow pools or closer to Toston dam with cooler water. If you want to try, a drop shot with some kind of bug pattern is going to be your best bet. I small jig with a small paddle is also a good alternative. Keep in mind that if you catch a trout, the survivability in these temps is extremely low.
🛶Missouri River (Holter to Great Falls)🌊
The river is still running slow and with that the weeds are as bad as you would expect. The folks I’ve talked with seem frustrated with the bite lately; or rather lack thereof. If you wanted to try I would recommend a hopper pattern. Caddis is still a possible pattern. After that, the usual wet flies are the go to flies. Pheasant tail, hare’s ear, prince nymph, scuds, etc. The one opportunity however that might be worth a shot is pike fishing on the lower stretch closer to Great Falls. Pike on a fly is an absolute riot! I like slightly bigger streamers in the 4” to 6” range. Flies like a black sexy dungeon or triple d are my first choice.
Best of luck out there-stay cool!
~Jonathan

Fishing Report 7/16/26

HELENA AREA FISHING REPORT 7/16/26

🎣Canyon Ferry 🌊
South end continues to fish strong. The walleye seem to have spread out more all the way from East to West. I am hearing good reports from Ponds 1, 2 and 3 to silos and up to hole in the wall. I would start at the 15’ mark and work deeper. I have caught walleye as deep as 30’ in the heat of summer. Bottom bouncing is still the hottest tackle of choice. Blues, purples, black/gold and any kind of fire tiger pattern are the colors for most anglers. I recommend staying under 1.0mph. I have talked to a couple folks that have started seeing some success again mid lake. Mainly on the Goose Flats and Hellgate bay. Mainly bottom bouncing but if you have the electronics to hunt them with jigs that is quite effective, too. Perch patterns are the safest bet, but I have had success with electric shad or shad patterns as well. In the evenings, the main lake points have produced some walleye as well as the occasional small mouth. Same jigs stated above. Cast up shallow and jig them back into deeper water.

Trout are still biting. Not quite as well as before with the hotter temps and they are moving to slightly cooler, deeper water. They are still relating to shorelines more than open water and staying within 60’ of water. Mostly suspended around 15’ down to 30’ of water. Deep diving crankbaits drug at 1.5mph to 2.5mph in fire tiger, blue tiger, silver or sometimes gold. Still mid lake to the dam but they seem to be narrowed down to hot spots rather than spread throughout. From shore, marabous, spinners and spoons are you best bet and mainly in the mornings and evenings. Silver, rainbow or gold patterns would be where I would start and adjust from there.

🛶Hauser🌲
Walleye are strongly relating to weed beds. If you are lucky enough, and stealthy enough, sometimes you can see a wolf pack hanging out in the weed channels with a good pair of polarized sunglasses. My best luck has been using neds, dropshot or a drop dead ned rigs. If the day is a little cooler, or in the evenings or morning, I can entice a bite with small paddle tails like the mooch minnow or Keitech Easy Shiner jigged right along the edge. They don’t seem to like big jigging motions either. Small subtle motions that move right above the deeper weeds. Otherwise, look for pockets and channels in the weeds and work those thoroughly. Sometimes it take a couple casts at the same fish to get a nibble. I had one day where a goby color was the best and another day where it had to be a perch pattern. I haven’t had much luck with any other color.

The stretch from York Bridge to the dam seems to be best for trout right now. Assuming you are not getting flooded by wakes from the other boats that is. Mainly trolling cranks in blue tiger, racy shad, silver or black/gold depending on the day. Weighted cowbells with a wedding ring has also proven effective. I would stay closer to 1.2mph with the cowbells and as fast as 2.5mph with a crank bait. From what I was seeing I would say 20’ is where many of the fish like to hangout regardless of if it was 20’ to the bottom or 80’. I have also had some customers show me picks of some kokanee being caught in Hauser. Keep in mind it is incredibly random and variable and there is not a big population in Hauser. They are present, but I would say they are not plentiful enough to dedicate time to targeting.

🌄Holter🦅
The main attraction now on Holter is the kokanee. As is the case with these fickle fish, I have heard of guys having good days one day and very slow days later in the same week. The go-to bait is a snap weight with a dodger and snubber followed by a squid tied short and close to the dodger. Don’t shy away from the bigger dodgers either. I have found success using 5.5” as well as 7”. Use a straight silver of some kind, but chartreuse can be effective. Orange, pink, chartreuse or purple seem to be the colors of choice. Troll from 1.0mph up to 1.5mph. That thermocline should be showing up on fish finders now, somewhere between 25’ to 35’, and that is the depth I would start my bait at. However, if you see deep marks in packs of 1 to 6 fish, past 35’ in open water, chances are that is a kokanee. Don’t forget that scent is important so use tuna juice soaked corn or some other scented product.

Walleye are also relating pretty hard to the weed beds in Holter. Just like with Hauser, look for channels, bays or pockets within the weeds as those are the most likely place to hold the walleye or perch. Also using small 2.5” or 3” paddle tails or minnows in a perch pattern. But neds and drop shots are also working well here too. Bottom bouncing the edge of the clay banks or deeper water by Cotton Wood would also be worth a shot. Any pattern that resembles a perch is your best bet. Some days drifting a slip bobber with a leech right along the weed bed edge is also quite effective.

💧Regulating Reservoir⛵
The kokanee are still biting fairly well across the lake. I have spoke with guys that have caught them anywhere from 10’ in the early mornings and late evenings down to 45’ jigging. Mainly pink or chartreuse wedding rings or Swedish pimples. There hasn’t been much for size this year again. Mainly 10” to 12” at the biggest. Though I have heard of the random big one pushing 18” being caught here and there. A silver spoon cast from shore with scented corn can also produce fish as well.

🌊Missouri River(Toston Dam to Canyon Ferry)🛥
With the hot temps the fish have slowed down a little bit, but are still biting in the slow moving pockets. Mainly drop shots with some kind of bug looking pattern or leech. A jig and pinched crawler works, too. The hard part is navigating through all the crud flowing down from the algae blooms, but if you are willing to keep the line clean between casts there are some decent sized fish to be caught throughout that whole stretch.

🛶Missouri River (Holter to Great Falls)🌊
The main hatch right now for dries seems to be caddis, though there are some hoppers finally showing up as well. Trying a hopper and dropper can be extremely efficient and lethal. Purple lightning bugs, scuds and hare’s ear all work for the dropper. Just mind the weeds as you are likely to get the dropper hung up in them now with all the weed growth. In the lower stretches closer to Ulm, pike are being caught in slow water with bigger streamers. So if you have the means to travel to that stretch it can be a lot of fun!

That’s all I have for you this week folks. Best of luck and feel free to share catch with us on our Facebook page!

~Jonathan

Fishing Report 7/10/26

HELENA AREA FISHING REPORT 7/10/26

🎣Canyon Ferry 🌊
Fishing has been strong despite some of the variable weather we have had. I am hearing great reports on the south end, particularly on the east side, but also around the river mouth. Mainly dragging bottom bouncers with black/gold, purple, blue or a fire tiger color scheme. It seems the fish are really hanging out around the 15’ mark give or take. Stay in the .5mph to 1.0mph range and cover water. Mid lake is still throwing out the occasional big fish. Bottom bouncers will work up there, but it is really a casting game with electronics, still primarily on the east side of the lake around Goose Bay and the flats. Across the lake on the west side there have been fish caught off of the points. North end has been inconsistent for catching, but bigger fish seem to be caught more often here. I like to cast my jig up shallow and work it back. Brown backs, Tennessee Shad and perch patterns seem to be the most productive. On the right day a bright metallic jerk bait can also hit.

The trout continue to bite and fight well from White Earth up to the dam. Trolling a fire tiger, silver or gold crank is a good place to start. The trout seem to bite best around 10’ to 12’ and like it active. I would troll between 1.5mph to 2.5mph and wouldn’t go too far off of the shoreline as the fish seem to relate to the structure of the shoreline. Which is also good for shore fishermen! I have heard reports of fish caught from every camp ground shoreline. A bobber and worm will work, but I prefer gold, silver or rainbow pattern spoons or spinners. Another technique I like to use if fishing is slower is a bobber and a fly. A balanced leech will work or a soft hackle fly of varies types that sit just under the surface.

Lake is 89.4% full with an inflow of 4900cfs. The last rain storm has helped dramatically!

🛶Hauser🌲
Decent trout action while trolling from Spokane Bay down across Lakeside in the deeper water. Mainly crankbaits in rainbow, brown trout, silver or gold colors. Cowbells with a spinner or trolling spoon is another good option. Keep the speeds from 1.0mph up to 2.5mph. With cowbells I would stay on the slower end and stay a little faster with the crankbaits. If you aren’t finding much success by Spokane Bay I would travel down the lake to White Sandy and troll from there to the dam. If you are really lucky I have spoke to a couple guys that have managed to catch a wayward kokanee, but this has not been consistent.

The walleye are settling into their summer patterns with the longer, brighter days. My best luck has been along the weed bed edges from York Bridge all the way to the dam. Mainly casting jigs just off the edge and letting it sink along the weed wall. Use goby, shad and perch colors in a 3” or 3.5” paddle tail on an 1/8th or 1/4 oz jig head. Drifting a slip bobber and a leech into the weeds can also be deadly. The key is to be patient and thorough, but not stagnant. I have found some wolf packs, they are few and far between, but they are very willing to eat. As long as you keep moving slow and covering water the chances of finding one are good.

The hard part fishing the weed edge is you will find pike. Their appetite has finally overcome their caginess from this spring. They have not been responding to the bigger husky jerks and glide baits like I had hoped, but they are responding very well to jigs. Same colors as what the walleye are biting. If you want to narrow down the species a bit more, a tube jig is a good option.

🌄Holter🦅
Traffic in the store has been a bit slower from folks fishing Holter. What I have heard is the fishing has maintained. Walleye are still being caught throughout the canyon though it seems the lower part is providing better fishing. I would look to start at Willow Creek and work back from there. A multitude of techniques are still working. Typically this is the time of year when I find targeting the weed beds, just like in Hauser, work best. I like to drift a slip bobber along the edge with a leech, but throwing a jig or drop shot with a perch, goby or shad colored bait is a lot of fun when you get a fish to bite. Willow Creek, Cottonwood, Oxbow and Clay Banks typically hold weed beds, though it sounds like the ones around Split Rock are taking their time this year.

Rainbow fishing has been good from Split Rock down to the dam. Mainly on dodger and squids, because the guys that have been catching the rainbows are catching them on their kokanee tackle. But catching a fish is better than catching nothing! Speaking of which, it sounds like the kokanee fishing has been slowly picking up. I have not heard if the fish have started moving to depth or not. Typically it is about this time of year the kokanee start moving to deeper water. I like to troll a 5.5” to 7” dodger with a chartreuse, pink or orange squid tipped with scented corn at 1.0mph to 1.2mph.

💧Regulating Reservoir⛵
I have been getting some decent reports of guys catching kokanee fairly regularly. Mornings and evening has been the best bite windows. Mainly trolling a wedding ring with scented corn. The usual suspects of chartreuse, pink or orange. I have heard them being caught as shallow as 10’ and as deep as 35’. I would recommend trying to stay around 1.0mph to 1.2mph.

🌊Missouri River(Toston Dam to Canyon Ferry)🛥
Unfortunately, with the river spiking up the fishing has been hard. If you can get into the slack water and side channels there is a good chance walleye are sitting there . That is if your line doesn’t get covered in gunk flowing down. Small paddle tail jigs are quite effective, but if you can get into a real slow hole a drop shot works exceptionally well! Any bug looking plastic should work.

🌊Missouri River (Holter to Great Falls)🛶
The PMD hatch is starting to wane fairly quickly, however I am hearing trico and caddis are still hitting for dries. I have noticed some hoppers finally showing up, but I don’t think the fish have keyed in on them yet. Nymphing is a safe bet. Sow bugs, hare’s ear, scuds and the like continue to be the staples. I have been getting reports of thick weeds showing up so keep that in mind if throwing a nymph. Flows look to still be low, but not as bad as it was a month ago holding around 3900cfs at Craig.

Best of luck!

-Jonathan

Fishing Report 7/3/26

Fishing Report 7/3/26

Canyon Ferry:

The rains were very helpful for Canyon Ferry. Lake Level is rising despite being July which is good to see but the fish seemed to have responded well. Walleye are still being caught on the south end. It has not been crazy hot action but anglers are staying busy reeling in fish. Size is still on the smaller end at the 12” to 14” range. The inflow being strong has muddied up the water again. So back to bright colors but I have had consistent reports of black working well. Particularly around Confederate and on the Goose Flats. I would start at 8’ and work back and forth on each contour to about 30’ of water until you find where the fish are primarily hanging out. Just make sure to keep the bottom bouncers slow. 0.5mph to 1.2mph at most. Mid lake to the dam is fishing very well if you have some patience and maybe a little bit of luck. Casting jigs mostly in anything from 1’ of water to 20’ of water. The best colors seem to be anything with a dark colored back and lighter colored belly such as the 4” Brown Back Flatnose Max Scent or Perch colored Keitech. On the darker days, jerk baits with some flash seem to produce some fish too in 15’ or shallower. I will warn you that the action tends to be sporadic and there are long stretches of nothing but the bigger fish and best chance at bigger fish I find come from casting.

Trout remain active as heck from mid lake to the dam. We couldn’t seem to keep them off our baits at times during the tournament. Outside of the need to focus on catching a specific fish, they are still a ton of fun to catch! The water temps of 62 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit are making them very aggressive and active. If you want to target them, I would try trolling a crankbait in the 10’ to 25’ range over 20’+ of water at 1.5mph to 2.5mph. It did not seem like there was a particular color they were more drawn to, but I favor the more metallic stuff like gold or silver though rainbow or brown trout patterns tend to work as well. The thing that seemed to affect them the most were bite windows. When the bite was on it was really on! But when it shut off there isn’t a thing you could throw to get them to bite. Unfortunately I did not key in on any patterns for when they were on or off. The other good news is those fishing from shore should find some decent luck if you can fish on a shore that drops to depth quickly. Todd and managed to catch some trout close to shore while fishing for walleye. Spoons like a kastmaster or Thomas cyclone or a Panther Martin in gold, silver or some other bright color should yield results. Zonkers or marabous would also be effective from what I saw.

Inflow is about 6500cfs and lake level is sitting at 87.3% full

Hauser:

Still the same as last week, below Canyon Ferry Dam has remained slow for walleye and mediocre for the trout. Zonkers still work but a worm under a bobber or on the bottom is your best bet. But there is a chance with the current inflow that the spillway may be opened. Keep an eye out for that and if they open the spillway get there! Fishing a jig in those higher flows can be incredible!

Around Spokane bay and through the deeper water in front of Lakeside is still producing fish. Same as the stretch from White Earth to Hauser dam. I have not heard of any exceptional fishing, but it sounds like anglers are entertained at least. Mainly trolling crankbaits in the 10’ to 15’ range at the typical 1.5mph to 2.5mph speed. Black/gold is a staple, but silver, rainbow trout and perch patterns can also produce fish. I have heard of some murmurs from folks trolling in the deeper water with a dodger and wedding ring of some kokanee being caught. Unfortunately I don’t have much for details but it is curious.

Walleye continue to be caught off the rock piles and points in the Causeway arm. My go to tactic is a 1/8oz or 1/4oz jig head with a white, perch or pumpkin colored paddle tail. Cast up shallow and jig of the bottom as you work the bait back to the boat. Another fun tactic is drop shotting in the slightly deeper water around the rock piles (dredge cuts, Eldorado Bar) with a perch pattern or white bait. The big downside is you are likely to get piked using this technique.

Unfortunately, I don’t have much info this week for the Hauser pike. Was tied up and too preoccupied with the Canyon Ferry Walleye tournament. But I would suggest either a tube jig off the weed bed edges or a bigger jerk bait worked along the edges as well.

Holter:

Sounds like not much has changed as the Gates. Fishing has remained strong. Maybe slightly further down the canyon is producing more consistently but I am still hearing of fish being caught at the mouth. Drop shot with a perch pattern or a white split tail or drip minnow is where I would start and adjust from there. Using live bait like a leech can also be very effective if the fish are being fussy. The typical areas like Willow creek and Cottonwood are still the targeted areas but I have heard of some luck coming from the clay banks or oxbow bend.

Split rock to the dam is still producing nice rainbows. Snap weights with a dodger and a squid is the bait of choice. Remember to shorten the leader on the squid down to somewhere between 12” to 18”. You want to make sure to get the dodger to impart action to the bait. Scented corn is still the bait of choice. Chartreuse, pink or a purple back squids are the main baits on the menu. Wedding rings are also a good choice in the same colors. Troll anywhere from 1.0mph to 2.0mph. If targeting trout, favor the faster side and for kokanee keep it on the slower side. Depth range to target is 15’ to 35’ for the trout. I would say the kokanee should be looking to start diving down but with these cooler temps and rains keeping the surface cooler I have not heard if that is affecting them. Keep an eye on the fish finder. If you see a mark in 50’+ of water, there is a good chance it is a kokanee.

Regulating Reservoir:

Still have not heard much on the Regulating Reservoir. The little I have heard is there was some decent luck in 10’ to 15’ trolling wedding rings at 1.0mph. Chartreuse, chartreuse/black, red or pink are the typical colors to try this time of year. If you have a fish finder and can locate the schools, vertical jigging with a small pink or silver Swedish pimple tipped with scented corn is a fun tactic. I would say the key would be to keep moving and note the area that holds the fish that day and focus there as much as possible.

Missouri River (Toston Dam to Canyon Ferry):

I have yet to hear any reports of too much gunk flowing down stream but also, the flows are significantly higher this week with all the rain. Floating would be fun but fishing will be harder. However, if you can find some good slack water or calm, deep stretches a drop shot with a leech or small minnow pattern is worth throwing. The walleye will be hunkered down but they should remain in that stretch until late fall.

Missouri River (Holter Dam to Great Falls):

This weather is kinda wreaking havoc on the river. The safest choice I would say at this point is to really focus on PMD’s but there may still some caddis hatches on occasion. Particularly in the upper stretch, you may still find luck on sow bugs, scuds and hare’s ear. There’s a chance some small hoppers are showing up but I have not heard of much in the way of any hopper hatches yet. However, flows are finally on the healthy side with a discharge of 4,800cfs. I doubt this will remain for long but hopefully this will give the fish a good reprieve from the warmer, slower water.

Have a safe and fun 4th of July!

-Jonathan

Fishing Report 6/11/26

HELENA AREA FISHING REPORT 6/11/26

🎣Canyon Ferry 🌊
The inflows have settled down quite a bit since the crazy rainfall we had, but it wasn’t without making the lake muddy. Regardless, the fishing is maintaining and staying good. Trolling around ponds 1, 2 and 3 is still producing fish. Bright colors are the general first pick. Orange, chartreuse and yellow for bottom bouncers. For crankbaits I would try fire tiger, gold or black/gold or UV bright colors. Perch patterns will still catch though so don’t be afraid to throw those. I have had reports of good shore fishing by the Silos with a bobber and worms, or jigging small paddle tails in perch patterns or bright colors.

North end is still producing trout in the deeper water with deep diving crankbaits. Fire tiger, rainbow trout or silver are the colors I recommend starting with. Troll 1.2mph to 2.5mph and favor the shoreline and structure. I wouldn’t recommend going deeper than 60 feet of water. The other thing to watch for with the spike of heavy inflow is the walleye dispersing across the lake faster. If they have made it to the north end, I like jigging perch patterns on an 1/8oz or 1/4oz jig from shallow water towards the boat into deeper water.

Current Canyon Ferry level is 87.1% full with an inflow of 4100cfs

🛶Hauser🌲
Fishing below Canyon Ferry Dam has been proving to be slow. Some fish are being caught, but not swiftly. If you are dead set on it, I would try a bobber and a leech or worm in any slow swirls. Jigs are usually effective, but with more sunlight from summer and slow flows the weeds are nearly impossible to work a bait in.

Walleye are still biting at the Causeway, but it has been mediocre. Most fishing is happening with a slip bobber and worm or leech. A green/chartreuse or white paddle tail or ribbon tail jig is usually worth a try. The walleye are starting to show up all along the shore from York Bridge to Hauser Dam. My favorite approach is casting up shallow and jigging back to deep. Goby, perch or sungill patterns are my go-to colors on 1/4oz jig heads. I would also recommend tying on a 12lb+ fluorocarbon leader to help from loosing baits to hungry pike.

Pike should be coming out of their funk after spawn, I hope. I expect this to be the weekend when they start getting back to biting well and not giving so much attitude. I should have an accurate update on the bite next report.

🌄Holter🦅
Gates is getting weedy, but there are pike being caught on the edges, some big ones from what I have been hearing. If this is a fish you are targeting, I recommend a jerk bait in silver, gold, rainbow or perch patterns. Generally the bigger the better. Otherwise, jigging a tube jig off the weed edges is quite effective. Past the Gates area up into Land of the Giants I am hearing decent reports of fish being caught. Marabou or zonker jigs are still the first pick in olive/black, orange/yellow or brown/orange. The little bit I have heard from fly fishermen is streamers have been producing success as well.

Walleye are being caught in various locations throughout the canyon. I would check Willow Creek or Cottonwood. I recall last year that Cottonwood was fishing well with a bottom bouncer in perch patterns being pulled in 30 feet of water at 0.6mph to 0.8mph. Drop shots are also effective on a slow drift. Perch, smelt or goby colors usually find me the best luck.

Trout are being caught left and right in the lower section of the lake. Mainly on wedding rings behind a cowbell. It doesn’t sound like any one color in particular is producing, but I hear chartreuse and pink being brought up the most. Every once and a while it sounds like a kokanee is being caught. It has not been frequent, but they are still present. 1.0mph to 1.5mph seems to be the speed of choice while trolling.

🌅Lake Helena🎣
I have confirmed that Lake Helena is getting weeded up too much to be trolling on. There are some pockets that could be fished, but it is all but over for trolling in.

💧Regulating Reservoir⛵
Kokanee fishing has been decent. There has been a noted slow down, but catching is still happening. Trolling a wedding ring around 35 feet of water is where I would start. Orange, pink or chartreuse are the safe choices. Sometimes black and chartreuse can produce fish if they aren’t biting anything else. A silver or pink spoon jigged at the same depth with corn can also produce fish.

🌊Missouri River (Holter to Great Falls)🛶
The river is low and slow, but fishing is decent. Last I heard nymphing is the ticket to success. Prince nymphs and hares ear are the classic choices. I am told the PMD’s and Caddis are hatching when the weather is cooperating. When they are hatching it sounds like that bite is phenomenal.

🚣Missouri River (Great Falls to Ft. Peck)🏡
Paddle fishing has been hot! A ton of fish have been being caught at both Slippery Anne and Fred Robinson Bridge. If you still have a tag, this will be your last shot to get it filled. Friendly reminder that there is a requirement of only one hook per line and all barbs need to be pinched or removed.

Best of luck everyone and Happy Father’s Day!
-Jonathan

Fishing Report 6/5/26

HELENA AREA FISHING REPORT 6/5/26

🎣Canyon Ferry 🌊
South End was fishing very well until the rain and spring run off hit. This will help move the walleyes North up the lake, so jig fisherman get ready! Fishing on the South end should remain good along ponds 1, 2 and 3 on the East side despite the rain and runoff. Brighter colors to cut through the murk will be much more needed than previous weeks. Trolling a crank bait will still produce fish, and while a perch pattern should still produce, crankbaits with chartreuse or orange on them will have more of a chance to get the attention of a fish. On a really dark day, work your contrast and try black. Same applies for bottom bouncers. Watch the water temps. If the temp drops a few degrees, crankbaits will slow down, but bottom bouncers will produce fish. Troll the cranks between 1.5mph to 2.5mph in 12’ to 6’ of water. Bottom bouncers should be ran less than 1.0mph in 8’ of water and deeper. If you want to fry jigging, natural colors like perch, sungill or electric shad have been my staples on 1/4oz jig heads.

Trout are still being caught on the North end, but they are in deeper water. Trolling 2.0mph or more along steep banks or sharp drop offs with rainbow, firetiger or black/gold crankbaits should produce some fish. If the turnover has not happened yet, this rain off may trigger it. Typically the thermocline holds around the 25’ mark which is what I would target for depth with my baits. If you are casting from shore, spoons and spinners in the morning or evening in particular should get you some action. On a bright day, silver is the go to, if it’s an overcast day then gold. If the water seems murky or stained then try black or orange.

Lake is 85% full with an inflow of 8100cfs

🛶Hauser🌲
Below Canyon Ferry Dam was producing some fish. Both walleye and trout with worms and a bobber or jigging a marabou or small paddle tail. The thing to watch for now is if the spillway is opened up. If it opens, fishing will get crazy! I like to switch up to a silver or gold spoon for the trout and white or brown and white plastics on a 3/8oz jig head for the walleye.

The walleye definitely seem to be moving through and out of the causeway arm. Causeway fisherman are still catching, but it has not been real hot action. Bobber and a leech is the stand-by, but a pumpkin and orange or green and chartreuse ribbon tail grub or paddle tail on a 1/4oz jig head is my favorite to start with. Once you get out of the causeway arm and more into the main lake, more natural colors are the best bet. Perch, Tennessee or Arkansas shad, electric shad are all good colors.

Trout are being caught mainly in the main lake stretch. I would focus below Canyon Ferry Dam to Spokane Bay then through the canyon by York bridge or from White Sandy to Hauser Dam. I usually have my best luck on a black gold, but rainbow or brown trout patterns are a good bet, too.

Finally tied on to some pike with the fly rod and missed a couple others on big husky jerks. From what I observed, they are showing signs of being in spawn now. Lots of big fish swimming parallel in pairs over gravel bars next to good weed beds. I am fairly certain the bite will be on in about 2 weeks based on their current behaviors and the mood of the ones that did eat.

🌄Holter🦅
The Gates is becoming hit or miss for the walleye. Best bet is in the main channel straight out from the launch or down the canyon. Drop shot or ned rigs are still the baits that give me the most confidence. Perch patterns will be the best producers, but anything that looks like sculpin or minnow are worth a shot. The underdog tactic that may be the ticket for the day is a pinched crawler on a jig head, slowly retrieved right along the bottom. Willow Creek and Cottonwood usually start turning on pretty well about now. So those are both areas to start looking and trying out.

The river stretch above the Gates is still producing plenty of trout. Marabou or Zonker jigs are still my go to baits. Orange and brown, yellow and brown and olive and black are the colors I would try first. Trolling in Lower Holter has been producing trout, but there has been some kokanee action here and there. Nothing hot is being reported, but there is some ok size coming out. Try trolling with bait down around 25’ to 35’ and troll somewhere between 1.0mph and 1.5mph. Chartreuse, pink or orange squids or wedding rings are my favorite colors.

🌅Lake Helena🎣
Fishing is still going on but weeds are growing up fast. I don’t see much time left on Lake Helena unfortunately. If you wanted to keep trying, yellow perch pattern in a shallow running crankbait is the number one producer. The thing to watch for is when the lake heats up enough for the walleye to migrate out. If you hit that window right the causeway will have a crazy week of fishing.

💧Regulating Reservoir⛵
Kokanee fishing is still occurring and fish are being caught. It sounds like they are still holding around the 30’ to 35’ mark for depth. The catch isn’t hot, but they are willing if you get it right. Jigging small pink or silver spoons or trolling chartreuse or orange wedding rings behind a small dodger are both safe bets. Troll between 1.0mph to 1.5mph to start then adjust accordingly.

🌊Missouri River (Holter to Great Falls)🛶
The flows remain low and slow despite the rain. It came up slightly to 3400cfs, but no water has been let out of the dams. Hopefully once the reservoirs are filled up some more there will be water released, but last I heard (prior to all the rain) there were no plans to release the water. BWO’s are still around some but I have been hearing plenty of reports of early PMD and Caddis hatches happening. The other thing I’ve been hearing plenty of is the fish tailing on the surface chasing emergers.

🚣Missouri River (Great Falls to Ft. Peck)🏡
Paddle fishing has been going through some weird spikes, but there has been success. That being said, the flows are over 15,000cfs finally. Now is the time! If you still have a tag to fill I would drop everything and get there while the flows stay high. I have already heard some good reports from James Kipp to Slippery Anne. The only way it will it will get better is if the flows settle back down to about 10,000cfs. I find that to be the right mix of flows for fish movement and snagging without excessive weight.

BONUS!!!
Salmon Lake🍣
Pike Fishing was starting to get good! But we caught a little of everything. Brown trout, smallmouth, Perch and of course pike. Nothing too crazy but it was a good enough bite to keep us entertained for the day. My go to is a size 12 or 14 Husky Jerks in silver, gold or Brown trout and work it along the weed edges. For those that want to try their hand at fly fishing pike, the north end of Salmon lake is a great place to learn. The only hard part is choosing the fly for the day. It could be anything from a 4” fly to a 12” fly. That being said black or a black and white is usually where is start but I’ve had days where perch or suckerfish patterns are stellar!

Get out there and enjoy the waters! We always love hearing about your wins and if we can help with the struggles let us know.

~Jonathan