Montana Fish Report

Most anglers fishing for kokanee are catching a few trout. Early morning and late in the evening the trout will move toward the surface to feed.  Trolling anglers try long lining a small F5 Rapala, or a small square-billed crank bait 150-200' behind the boat.  As the sun rises drop your baits down to deeper/cooler water. There have been some really impressive browns being caught. To target them try trolling 2-3 mph, with shad patterned spoons, or shad patterned jointed baits. Also, try rolling frozen shad in 30-50' over the main river channel. Kokanee fishing is good. Most anglers are finding their limits in a few hours of fishing.  Main lake near the spillway, and the dam have been the most productive areas to locate schools.  The fish will be closer to the surface in the morning. Try trolling 20-30' until the sun comes up, then drop down to 40-50' throughout the afternoon.  Pink has been the hot color with orange coming in a close second.  Uncle Larry's spinners have been working well, and come in many different fish catching colors.  Also, small micro hoochies, and bugs have been getting bites. Often times when the fish aren't biting it is a good idea to put on a large sling blade.  The larger blade swinging violently through the school will aggravate the fish into biting. Bass bite is fair. The fish are finishing up with the spawn and are in a post spawn mode.  The majority of fish have pulled off the bank due to dropping water levels. They will move up in the morning and evenings to feed and then head out to deeper water midday.  Early morning top water bite has been good.  Try using a walk the dog type bait such as a Spook, Rover, or Sammy.  Or, twitch a popper near the shoreline.  Add a feather tail to your bait to improve the action and get a few more blow-ups.  Once the top water bite dies, switch to a soft plastic presentation.  Crappie bite is good. Try using a red/white or chartreuse crappie jig with live minnow, fished under a slip-float. The crappie will suspend in standing timber and brush.  Try casting past the cover and fishing your presentation into it.  The night fishing bite has started to pick up.  Anglers using a drop light in the backs of coves have been catching some nice crappie, bass, and trout.  Glory Hole Sports  (209) 736-4333, (209) 586-2383