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, perch and walleye are being caught in 15 to 20 feet of water out from the Silos or north towards Hole in the Wall. The rainbows are being caught on silver and pink or red jigs with worms or maggots. Walleye and perch are being caught while using pink, red or yellow Hali jigs or spoons with red hooks tipped with nightcrawlers, perch eyes or maggots. An occasional ling is being caught along with the perch and walleye on the bottom. The Duck Creek to Confederate area has slow fishing overall. There is 16 inches of ice around the Silos and Ponds, 15 inches at Hole in the Wall and Duck Creek, 10 inches at White Earth and 9 inches at Shannon. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena
Hauser: A few perch are being caught near the Causeway Powerlines while jigging with maggots. Fishing on Lake Helena has been slow. Rainbow fishing has been good at the Causeway near the inflow and out from Black Sandy while dead sticking small spoons or jigs tipped with crawlers 6 to 10 feet below the ice. A few burbot and northern pike are being caught out from White Sandy at night while using setlines with dead bait. There is 10 to 14 inches of ice on Lake Helena and 8 to 10 inches of ice in most places on Hauser. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
Holter: Perch fishing has been great or slow, depending on location. The most consistent fishing has been on the opposite bank areas across from the Prairie Dog Town and Log Gulch. Some perch and burbot are being caught along the Beartooth road in 30 to 50 feet of water while using various jigs tipped with maggots or crawler pieces. Rainbow fishing has been great at the Gates of the Mountains and on the lower end of the reservoir while fishing 6 to 8 feet below the ice with meal worms, plain crawlers, various jigs or small spoons. A few northern pike are being caught at the Gates as well while using set lines with dead suckers or herring in 4 to 10 feet of water. There is 9 to 10 inches of ice near the Gates of the Mountains and 10 to 12 inches on the lower end of the reservoir. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir: Kokanee fishing has been decent while jigging in 30 to 40 feet of water with various spoons or Halis tipped with maggots or corn. A few perch are being caught with the same equipment while jigging near the bottom. There is 10 to 12 inches of ice. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
