Montana Fish Report

The Department of Fish and Game is planting Melones every week now, plus there are two- to three-pound holdovers being caught.  Bank fishing is really picking up. Bite is best in the morning.  Trollers have been doing well fishing over the main river channel from upriver under the bridges into the main lake (the spillway/dam area) from 20 to 50 feet deep with any small shad-imitation lure such as Needlefish, Excel, Sockeye Slammers, Humdingers, and Rapala Countdowns.   In low light conditions such as rainy or overcast days, tie on a gold, copper, or painted lure.  These colors will stand out in darker water.     Trout are feeding heavily on schools of small shad.   Danny Layne of Fish’n’ Dan’s Guide Service notes that the shad schools are moving into shallower water and most trout that he is catching are in water no more than 80’ deep.  Be sure to vary your trolling speed or try making figure-S patterns- this will often catch a hungry trout’s attention. Bank anglers  have been bringing in some big holdover trout while fishing in the shallow waters in the backs of Angels and Glory Hole Cove, while throwing spoons such as Kastmasters or Excel with threadfin shad scent, or on Power Bait or Pautske’s Eggs fished on a sliding sinker rig and a 24” leader. The spotted bass are gorging on shad and are shaped like fat little footballs. Fish main lake points, humps and islands.  Drop-shotting is producing a good number of fish.  Tie on a double drop-shot rig using two Roboworm Alive Shad or two Berkley Power Minnows, or a combination of both.    With weekly trout plants and trout moving into shallows, it is time to start throwing swimbaits. Try throwing a Mother Lode Toad Thrasher or a Huddleston rainbow trout or holdover pattern.  If you find a ball of shad on your graph, try dropping a vertical jigging spoon and ripping it through the bait. This will often create a feeding frenzy.  There have been many reports of trout trollers catching nice bass way offshore on shad-patterned trolling spoons. If you want to fish from shore try using a wacky rig Senko. Cast out away from the bank and let it fall slowly. (209) 736-4333, (209) 586-2383