Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Helena Area Fishing Report

January 25, 2010

Canyon Ferry: Rainbow fishing picked up slightly near the waterfowl pond (#4) closest to Whitehorse Road on the South end. The best bite is early in the morning. Successful anglers are using green or black jigs and wooly buggers tipped with worms or maggots in 7-10 feet of water. Yellow perch fishing remains inconsistent, but the few fish being caught are large. Perch fishing continues to be best along the pressure ridge between Duck Creek and Hole-in-the-Wall. Various colors of glow hooks and chartreuse Swedish pimples, tipped with maggots or perch eyes in 40-55 feet of water, are effective. An occasional walleye is being caught along the Hole-in-the-Wall pressure ridge. Burbot (ling) fishing remains very slow across the reservoir. Reported ice depths: South end/ Waterfowl Ponds - 18”-20”, Silos/ Hole-in-the-Wall - 18”, Duck Creek Bay/ Confederate - 14”-16”, White Earth - 16”, Magpie Bay - 8”-10”. Adam Strainer, FWP, Helena

Hauser: Rainbow fishing has improved over the week and anglers are finding trout in the Causeway. The best bet has been using jigs and maggots in 8 to 10 feet of water. Walleye and perch fishing are slow. There is 6”-12” of ice out from the Causeway Bridge and 12”-14” at Black Sandy. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Holter: Rainbow fishing has improved around Black Beach and Departure Point. Brown or Chartreuse jigs tipped with maggots in 10 to 15 feet of water has been working best. Anglers are finding perch and walleye in deeper water out from Departure Point. A few reports of good fishing around Cottonwood Creek have surfaced. There is 12”-14” of ice. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir: Kokanee fishing continues to be slow with a few small salmon being caught on occasion. Perch fishing has been nonexistent. There is 14”-18” of ice. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena