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: Rainbow fishing has really picked up with great numbers being caught from the Silos to the ponds in 15 feet of water on bright colored wonderbread jigs or black and brown woolly buggers with worms. Rainbows, perch and walleye are being caught in 25 to 35 feet of water out from the Silos or north towards Hole in the Wall. Bright colored jigs tipped with maggots or worms are working equally well. An occasional ling is being caught along with the perch and walleye on the bottom. There is 18 inches of ice around the Silos and Ponds, 17 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 great at the Causeway and out from Black Sandy while dead sticking small jigs tipped with maggots or crawlers. A few perch are being caught near the Causeway Powerlines and out on Lake Helena while jigging with maggots. A few burbot are being caught out from White Sandy at night while using setlines with dead bait. There is 10 to 13 inches of ice on Lake Helena and in the Causeway Arm. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
Holter: 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 small jigs and maggots or crawler pieces. A few northern pike are being caught at the Gates as well while using set lines with dead baits close to shore. Perch fishing has been hit or miss depending on location. Most anglers have been fishing from the Prairie Dog Town to the Log Gulch area in 30 to 50 feet of water with various jigs tipped with maggots or crawler pieces. The ice along some of the shorelines has melted rapidly with the warm temperatures we’ve had recently, use extreme caution if heading out onto the ice. There is 7 to 10 inches of ice near the road to the Gates of the Mountains. The ice on the lower end of the reservoir is now extremely variable. Use caution and be careful. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir: Kokanee fishing has picked up recently while jigging in 30 feet of water with Swedish Pimples or Halis with a small glow jig dropper, 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
