Fishing Montana Style - Diversity and Opportunity
Its summertime in Montana and the fishing is fantastic. There’s something for every angler throughout the state so grab your gear and pick your favorite.
Western Montana
Early summer is a hot time for catching the voracious pike. These post-spawn predators are looking for something to eat. Cut bait is always a sure thing, or try Rapala’s “Mystic Minnow” or weedless spinners. Lures in chartreuse and white seem to work the best this time of year, and concentrate on depths of 20-feet or less.
Check out Swan and Seeley Lakes off of Hwy 89, or head west along Hwy 2 to the Thompson Chain of Lakes. All three – Upper, Middle and Lower – fish well in early summer. Blanchard Lake, near Whitefish, is another pike hot spot, although be aware of the slot limits. Anglers are allowed 4 pike less than 28 inches and one greater than 36 inches.
Also try the Flathead River and the sloughs. Boaters can put in at the Sportsman Bridge fishing access site off of Hwy 82 on the Flathead River and head up the river to the mouths of Fennon Slough and Rose Creek.
When you’re fishing the sloughs, you can also fish for bass particularly in July after they’ve spawned. Toss out from the bank looking for good hiding spots such as submerged logs and other underwater structures. Use spinner baits in white and chartreuse, as well as Roboworms or Senko’s in 4’s and 5’s.
Noxon Reservoir at Thompson Falls is the premiere small mouth bass fishery in Western Montana. Fish rock structures and submerged weed beds using crankbaits, plastic worms and spinner blades.
Lake Blaine and Echo Lake near Kalispell offer great bass fishing particularly using a boat to fish depths around 12 to 15-feet where the bass are hiding. If the water is high enough at Echo, take advantage of the access to float over and fish Abbot and Peterson Lakes.
A little farther south along Hwy 93, angle the Flathead River below Kerr dam down to Perma. There’s fishing access at the mouth of Robertson Creek. The site is at mile post 88.5 on Highway 200, 3.4 miles east of the junction with Hwy 135. The area is just below the Flathead Indian Reservation allowing 4-miles of fishing out of the reservation boundaries; however, if you’re fishing on the reservation be sure to obtain a tribal fishing permit and information.
In addition, harvesting bass on many of the lakes requires a warm water fisheries stamp, which costs $5.00 and is available from any licensing agent.
Sack up the Kokanee at Lake Mary Ronan off of Hwy 93 or Koocanusa Reservoir in Libby. Jig around 30 to 40-feet using the standard maggot with white corn on a Swedish Pimple or Glo-Hook. Alternatively, cast with Doubly Whammys and wedding rings with a snubber to protect the tender mouths of the Kokes.
Take advantage of the rivers before the heat really kicks in and slows down the bite. Outside of Missoula, the Bitterroot, Blackfoot and Clark Fork Rivers dominate the trout fly fishing action. With practically unlimited options in fly selections, check with local outfits to see what’s working at that particular time. But be sure to include a few hoppers in your arsenal since they’re fairly consistent this time of year, and keep a nymph with a streamer handy if all else fails.
Don’t miss hitting the lake trout in Flathead Lake. There’s a “Hex” mayfly hatch the end of June in Polson Bay at the end of June, which bring in large schools of whitefish. Lake trout take advantage of this food source, so downrig or jig the Narrows the last week of June or first week of July for trophy lakers.
Central Montana
For walleye use bottom bouncers with a worm harness, crankbaits, or try perch patterned Rapalas. Canyon Ferry fished well early in the summer, and expect Holter and Hauser Lakes to follow. Sink your lure to roughly 5 to 10-feet deep on Canyon Ferry and 10 to 15-feet on Hauser and Holter.
Other good walleye fisheries in Central Montana include Lake Frances near Valier and Tiber Reservoir close to Shelby. As the water warms up throughout the summer, try switching to a jig with a nightcrawler or minnow.
If the walleye fishing slows down, many anglers switch to fishing for rainbows in these same waters. The post-spawn bows are hitting the open water and respond well to trolling hotshots and cowbells, or try a crawdad colored jig. Fishing is best early in the morning, late in the evening or on overcast days.
The Beaverhead and the Bighole Rivers are producing well this season with lots of 14 to 17 inch rainbows. Water should be clearing up in most rivers by early June, and more water with cooler temperatures is expected this season, which will help fishing throughout the summer.
Try stonefly nymphs trailed behind with a streamer. Caddis, pheasant-tail and prince nymphs are also good bets. On crummy days try Blue-winged Olives. For the best chance of success give yourself plenty of time to enjoy different sections of each of these rivers.
There are lots of Missouri River post-spawn rainbows that are reaching 15 to 21 inches. They’re feeding actively this time of year and hitting lures and flies. Try the Mepps 2, yellow and black Panther Marten, or Wooly Buggers on a casting bubble; fish within two miles of Little Prickly Pear Creek, Dearborn River or Little Sheep Creek. While you’re cruising for trout, nymph the mid-river runs for large schools of mountain whitefish reaching up to three-pounds.
The Missouri River also boasts a healthy population of quality brown trout that are active in the shallows mornings and evenings. Try a yellow Panther Martin, Mepps 3, a hammered brass spoon or small yellow spoon. The size limit on browns allows one harvested over 22-inches.
Eastern Montana
Tongue River Reservoir in July is the state’s premiere crappie fishery. Lots of deep bays and ample campsites provide good opportunities for fishing from the shoreline. Expect the Tongue to live up to its reputation of limits of ten-inch fish each day; a tiny minnow or a small spinner blade are most productive.
Walleye fishing is big in Eastern Montana. Even though drought and low water are constant issues, Fort Peck is renowned for this popular species and offers top-notch fishing throughout the summer. In June and July go to 25-feet with a bottom bouncer and a worm harness. Try crankbaits off of the points and deep bays in the evenings.
Nelson and Fresno are relatively shallow reservoirs that provide good walleye and pike opportunities. Dead drift and fish mudlines on windy days with a jig head and minnow on Nelson. Fresno has a uniform bottom running approximately 40-feet deep making it ideal for bottom bouncing with a worm harness and a spinner blade. Don’t worry about fishing bays because many have silted in through the years.
Tiber has struggled since the introduction of Cisco as its forage base a decade ago due to low water and winter draw downs during their spawning time. Nevertheless, Tiber reports abundant 13 to 14-inch walleye.
The Tongue River Reservoir holds the state record of a 37.5 pound pike caught in 1972. Use large spoons such as Five of Diamonds, red & white, black & white and alligator patterns; fish off of the points and in deeper bays. Suspend a smelt from a bobber in bays to tempt in the big boys.
Fort Peck has lots of deep bays and shoreline that provide good pike fishing opportunities. Mepps Musky Killer and spoons work well. Expect to catch them incidental when bottom bouncing for walleye. This is the same for Fresno and Nelson Reservoirs.
On Frances and Tiber troll jointed plugs or light spoons 100-feet behind the boat for pike throughout the day. On Frances dead drift on windy days with a Twister Tail. You can expect to catch a few quality perch using this method.
Lake trout are abundant in Fort Peck. Downrig on the bottom - roughly 125-feet deep – on the midlake bar between Haxby Point and the four pumphouses on the dam using a black flutter spoon with Smelly Jelly. Tiber boasts a relatively small population of lake trout. They’re usually caught near the dam jigging in deep water with a spoon on the bottom.
Fort Peck also has six-pound small mouth bass in the Forchette Bay area. Use crank baits, spinner blades and Twister Tails. Also try the Yellowstone River near Miles City, or head to Bighorn Lake near Billings. Structure oriented fish, such as small and large mouth bass, can be captured using crankbaits along the steep canyon walls.
No matter what your fishing preference might be Montana has a diversity and abundance for every type of angler. The hardest part is simply deciding where to go!
Western Montana
Early summer is a hot time for catching the voracious pike. These post-spawn predators are looking for something to eat. Cut bait is always a sure thing, or try Rapala’s “Mystic Minnow” or weedless spinners. Lures in chartreuse and white seem to work the best this time of year, and concentrate on depths of 20-feet or less.
Check out Swan and Seeley Lakes off of Hwy 89, or head west along Hwy 2 to the Thompson Chain of Lakes. All three – Upper, Middle and Lower – fish well in early summer. Blanchard Lake, near Whitefish, is another pike hot spot, although be aware of the slot limits. Anglers are allowed 4 pike less than 28 inches and one greater than 36 inches.
Also try the Flathead River and the sloughs. Boaters can put in at the Sportsman Bridge fishing access site off of Hwy 82 on the Flathead River and head up the river to the mouths of Fennon Slough and Rose Creek.
When you’re fishing the sloughs, you can also fish for bass particularly in July after they’ve spawned. Toss out from the bank looking for good hiding spots such as submerged logs and other underwater structures. Use spinner baits in white and chartreuse, as well as Roboworms or Senko’s in 4’s and 5’s.
Noxon Reservoir at Thompson Falls is the premiere small mouth bass fishery in Western Montana. Fish rock structures and submerged weed beds using crankbaits, plastic worms and spinner blades.
Lake Blaine and Echo Lake near Kalispell offer great bass fishing particularly using a boat to fish depths around 12 to 15-feet where the bass are hiding. If the water is high enough at Echo, take advantage of the access to float over and fish Abbot and Peterson Lakes.
A little farther south along Hwy 93, angle the Flathead River below Kerr dam down to Perma. There’s fishing access at the mouth of Robertson Creek. The site is at mile post 88.5 on Highway 200, 3.4 miles east of the junction with Hwy 135. The area is just below the Flathead Indian Reservation allowing 4-miles of fishing out of the reservation boundaries; however, if you’re fishing on the reservation be sure to obtain a tribal fishing permit and information.
In addition, harvesting bass on many of the lakes requires a warm water fisheries stamp, which costs $5.00 and is available from any licensing agent.
Sack up the Kokanee at Lake Mary Ronan off of Hwy 93 or Koocanusa Reservoir in Libby. Jig around 30 to 40-feet using the standard maggot with white corn on a Swedish Pimple or Glo-Hook. Alternatively, cast with Doubly Whammys and wedding rings with a snubber to protect the tender mouths of the Kokes.
Take advantage of the rivers before the heat really kicks in and slows down the bite. Outside of Missoula, the Bitterroot, Blackfoot and Clark Fork Rivers dominate the trout fly fishing action. With practically unlimited options in fly selections, check with local outfits to see what’s working at that particular time. But be sure to include a few hoppers in your arsenal since they’re fairly consistent this time of year, and keep a nymph with a streamer handy if all else fails.
Don’t miss hitting the lake trout in Flathead Lake. There’s a “Hex” mayfly hatch the end of June in Polson Bay at the end of June, which bring in large schools of whitefish. Lake trout take advantage of this food source, so downrig or jig the Narrows the last week of June or first week of July for trophy lakers.
Central Montana
For walleye use bottom bouncers with a worm harness, crankbaits, or try perch patterned Rapalas. Canyon Ferry fished well early in the summer, and expect Holter and Hauser Lakes to follow. Sink your lure to roughly 5 to 10-feet deep on Canyon Ferry and 10 to 15-feet on Hauser and Holter.
Other good walleye fisheries in Central Montana include Lake Frances near Valier and Tiber Reservoir close to Shelby. As the water warms up throughout the summer, try switching to a jig with a nightcrawler or minnow.
If the walleye fishing slows down, many anglers switch to fishing for rainbows in these same waters. The post-spawn bows are hitting the open water and respond well to trolling hotshots and cowbells, or try a crawdad colored jig. Fishing is best early in the morning, late in the evening or on overcast days.
The Beaverhead and the Bighole Rivers are producing well this season with lots of 14 to 17 inch rainbows. Water should be clearing up in most rivers by early June, and more water with cooler temperatures is expected this season, which will help fishing throughout the summer.
Try stonefly nymphs trailed behind with a streamer. Caddis, pheasant-tail and prince nymphs are also good bets. On crummy days try Blue-winged Olives. For the best chance of success give yourself plenty of time to enjoy different sections of each of these rivers.
There are lots of Missouri River post-spawn rainbows that are reaching 15 to 21 inches. They’re feeding actively this time of year and hitting lures and flies. Try the Mepps 2, yellow and black Panther Marten, or Wooly Buggers on a casting bubble; fish within two miles of Little Prickly Pear Creek, Dearborn River or Little Sheep Creek. While you’re cruising for trout, nymph the mid-river runs for large schools of mountain whitefish reaching up to three-pounds.
The Missouri River also boasts a healthy population of quality brown trout that are active in the shallows mornings and evenings. Try a yellow Panther Martin, Mepps 3, a hammered brass spoon or small yellow spoon. The size limit on browns allows one harvested over 22-inches.
Eastern Montana
Tongue River Reservoir in July is the state’s premiere crappie fishery. Lots of deep bays and ample campsites provide good opportunities for fishing from the shoreline. Expect the Tongue to live up to its reputation of limits of ten-inch fish each day; a tiny minnow or a small spinner blade are most productive.
Walleye fishing is big in Eastern Montana. Even though drought and low water are constant issues, Fort Peck is renowned for this popular species and offers top-notch fishing throughout the summer. In June and July go to 25-feet with a bottom bouncer and a worm harness. Try crankbaits off of the points and deep bays in the evenings.
Nelson and Fresno are relatively shallow reservoirs that provide good walleye and pike opportunities. Dead drift and fish mudlines on windy days with a jig head and minnow on Nelson. Fresno has a uniform bottom running approximately 40-feet deep making it ideal for bottom bouncing with a worm harness and a spinner blade. Don’t worry about fishing bays because many have silted in through the years.
Tiber has struggled since the introduction of Cisco as its forage base a decade ago due to low water and winter draw downs during their spawning time. Nevertheless, Tiber reports abundant 13 to 14-inch walleye.
The Tongue River Reservoir holds the state record of a 37.5 pound pike caught in 1972. Use large spoons such as Five of Diamonds, red & white, black & white and alligator patterns; fish off of the points and in deeper bays. Suspend a smelt from a bobber in bays to tempt in the big boys.
Fort Peck has lots of deep bays and shoreline that provide good pike fishing opportunities. Mepps Musky Killer and spoons work well. Expect to catch them incidental when bottom bouncing for walleye. This is the same for Fresno and Nelson Reservoirs.
On Frances and Tiber troll jointed plugs or light spoons 100-feet behind the boat for pike throughout the day. On Frances dead drift on windy days with a Twister Tail. You can expect to catch a few quality perch using this method.
Lake trout are abundant in Fort Peck. Downrig on the bottom - roughly 125-feet deep – on the midlake bar between Haxby Point and the four pumphouses on the dam using a black flutter spoon with Smelly Jelly. Tiber boasts a relatively small population of lake trout. They’re usually caught near the dam jigging in deep water with a spoon on the bottom.
Fort Peck also has six-pound small mouth bass in the Forchette Bay area. Use crank baits, spinner blades and Twister Tails. Also try the Yellowstone River near Miles City, or head to Bighorn Lake near Billings. Structure oriented fish, such as small and large mouth bass, can be captured using crankbaits along the steep canyon walls.
No matter what your fishing preference might be Montana has a diversity and abundance for every type of angler. The hardest part is simply deciding where to go!
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