Anglers are reminded that ice conditions can be extremely variable.  Ice thickness can range from thick enough to support a vehicle to open water.  Extreme caution should be used when accessing the ice. Here’s the latest fishing report for the Helena area reservoirs from FWP:

Canyon Ferry

Most of the reservoir does not have stable ice except for bays and from Confederate south to the Ponds.  Rainbow trout fishing is fair from Broadwater Bay south to the Ponds using light colored jigs tipped with worms or maggots closer to shore at depths of 25 feet of water or less. Duck Creek is producing some perch, walleye and burbot in 40 feet of water on silver, gold or white Hali rigs tipped with worms or maggots. Perch are also being caught north of the Silos near the pressure ridge in 30 feet of water on pink jigs or Swedish Pimples with maggots.  Ice conditions have been reported as a consistent 9 to 10 inches from Hole in the Wall to the Silos and near the Ponds and at Duck Creek.  The pressure ridge near Hole in the Wall has become more stable, but still use caution with ATV’s around it. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Hauser

The Causeway area is still producing some nice rainbows. Successful anglers are using various colored jigs tipped with maggots or crawlers 6 to 8 feet below the ice. Rainbows are also being caught in open water from shore below Canyon Ferry Dam near Riverside Campground area. Using night crawlers and marshmallows or egg sacks is working well at Riverside. Anglers venturing out into the Causeway Arm and around the Powerlines are finding as occasional walleye and perch while jigging with ice jigs near the bottom in around 25 feet of water. Anglers out on Lake Helena are also finding some perch, walleye and burbot. 8 inches of ice has been reported around the Causeway. Lake Helena and Black Sandy area have around 6 inches of ice.  Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena

Holter

2 to 3 inches of ice has been reported around the Log Gulch area.  Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena

Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir

The best Kokanee bite has been on the south side of the reservoir in around 25 feet of water while using multi-colored Hali or Swedish Pimple type ice jigs and maggots or corn. A few perch are being caught in 15-25 feet of water while using the same equipment near the bottom. 10 inches of ice has been reported.  Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena