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 a quarter to one half mile out from the Silos in 10 to 15 feet of water on pink or mixed color jigs with either a worm or maggots. Rainbows, perch and walleye are being caught in 25 to 35 feet of water around Hole in the Wall and out from Duck Creek while using green or multicolored jigs with a worm, waxworms or maggots. An occasional burbot is being caught as well on the bottom with cut bait. 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: Rainbow fishing has been decent near the Causeway and out from Black Sandy while using either set lines or while jigging with small spoons or jigs tipped with crawlers. Fishing on Lake Helena has been slow. A few perch and walleye are being picked up in the Causeway Arm during the evening hours while jigging near the bottom. A few burbot are being caught out from Black Sandy at night while using setlines with glow jigs and cut bait. There is 10 to 14 inches of ice on Lake Helena and 8 to10 inches of ice in most places on Hauser. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
Holter: Rainbow fishing has been good at the Gates of the Mountains and in some of the bays on the lower end of the reservoir while fishing 3 to 6 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 if water. Perch fishing has been amazing for some anglers and slower for others. Good numbers of perch are being caught out from Departure Point, the Prairie Dog Town, and along the opposite shoreline while fishing in 30 to 50 feet of water with Swedish Pimples or small tungsten jigs tipped with maggots or crawler pieces. A few burbot are being caught amongst the perch while using perch tackle and with setlines and cut bait. There is 9 to 10 inches of ice near the Gates of the Mountains and 10 to12 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 7 to 10 inches of ice. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
