Montana Fish Report

The lake level dropped one foot this week and is eight feet from full. Water temperature is 79-82 degrees. Water is green-stained (lots of plankton- a good thing!) with strong mud lines near shore. Watch for floating debris and unmarked island tops. Trout: With the kokanee action so hot, few anglers are targeting trout, but we are seeing the occasional rainbow thrown in with a limit of kokanee. If you wish to troll for trout, fish 40-50 feet deep over deepest water in the main lake with shad-patterned lures such as Excel, Apex, Needlefish, or Rapala Countdowns, and use Bang or ProCure threadfin shad scent on your lures. Kokanee: The bright full moon slowed the kokanee bite earlier in the week, and caused the best bite to be later in the day. Now that the moon is not out all night, fishing should improve. Kokanee are congregating in the main lake and moving deeper. Troll 50-80 feet deep in the main lake. The waters around Rose Island and the dam seem to be holding the most, and also largest, fish. Tie on an R & K Micro Hootchie, Uncle Larry's Spinner, Wedding Ring, or a Crystal Basin Wiggle Hootchie, in pink, orange or purple, or a watermelon, orange sparkle, or Kevorkian Apex. Run your lures behind Slingblades or Vance's dodgers in the same color family. Always tip your hooks with shoepeg corn and apply scent liberally. Carp Spit has been a hot scent, with Kokanee Special, garlic, and Gary Burns' special scent also attracting limits. Many anglers are using natural or pink Berkeley maggots instead of corn. Bass: Fair action. Water is very stained so noisy baits are your best bet, and adding a little chartreuse to your plastics is a good idea, too. Use a chartreuse dye pen to color the tail. Throw top-water lures in the morning and evening hours such as Pop-R's Pencil Poppers, Zara Spooks and buzzbaits. Rattletraps, Spinnerbaits, jigs with rattles and Senkos will work better in the heat of the day. Fish the backs coves. Most fish are being caught in fairly shallow water. Remember to practice catch and release. Catfish: Lots of big cats this week!Catfish are moving into the coves and into shallower water as the water warms up. A sliding sinker rig, and a ball of crawlers or a piece of anchovy or sardine is your best bait. Leave your bail open so the cats can't feel the line. Successful catfish anglers move their bait often. Fishing for cats is usually best at night, but plenty of anglers catch them during the day as well.

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