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.
Canyon Ferry: Rainbows are being caught from the Silos to Pond 4 in 10 to 15 feet of water on yellow, chartreuse or orange jigs tipped with worms or maggots. An occasional perch or walleye are being caught in deeper water out from the Silos or Duck Creek. There is 3-6 inches of ice around the Silos, Ponds, Duck Creek and Confederate. Mid reservoir to the north end is either open water or an unstable sheet of ice. Ice conditions should improve with the colder weather. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena
Hauser: Walleye and perch fishing has been decent in Lake Helena while using various jigs tipped with maggots or nightcrawlers. The ice on Lake Helena is variable and ranges from 3 to 8 inches. Trout action at the Causeway has been good while using small ice jigs or spoons tipped with crawler pieces 3 to 6 feet below the ice. A few perch, and walleye continue to be caught near the Powerlines while jigging near the bottom. The ice in the Causeway area is between 4 and 7 inches thick. The rest of the reservoir is either open water or still has unsafe ice. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
Holter: No safe ice. Some areas on the upper and the lower end of the reservoir have frozen over recently but more cold weather is needed to set it up. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir: Kokanee fishing has been decent while fishing deeper water with Hali or Pimple style ice jigs tipped with maggots or corn. A few perch are being caught with the same equipment while jigging near the bottom. There is 5 to 8 inches of ice. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
