Montana Fish Report

Trolling was pretty tough this week. Saturday the weather was very windy and we had to quit early.  Guide Tim Noxon was two shy of limits on Saturday with 8 hook ups and 4 landed.  Fly fishing was outstanding on Wednesday and Sunday with 38 hook ups and 27 fish landed for the two days.  Sunday we had to quit early as the wind blew us off anchor.   The surface water temperature is still below 60 degrees and there are numerous fish showing on our fish finders from 5-30 feet deep.  This week the fish did not hit our trolled baits in shallow water over structure, so we concentrated trolling at 5-6 feet deep in 48-50 feet of water.  When the weather cooperated, we caught limits trolling orange and pumpkinseed grubs and red spoons.  The average size fish we are putting in the box trolling is around 2 pounds. We are trolling the area between Slough Point and Wildcat Point on the west side of the lake.   

When the wind does not blow us off anchor, fly fishing has been very good.  We are nymphing in 10-11 feet of water with the boat anchored over rocky structure.  The fish we are catching and releasing are bigger than those we a hooking trolling.   The average fish landed fly fishing is 2.5 pounds with a good number approaching 3 pounds.

Bobber fishing is “hot” in 10 feet of water south of Pelican Pt on the west side.  This is an early bite, over by 6:30 A.M.   Set your threaded night crawler 5-7 feet deep. tnoxon@gmail.com www.fishtraveler.com (530) 825-3454