Montana Outdoor
FWP Helena Area Reservoirs Fishing Report 1.27.25
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 and from the Silos to Hole in the Wall in 10 to 20 feet of water on yellow or pink glow hooks and tungsten jig heads tipped with worms or maggots. Perch and walleye are being caught in 25 to 35 feet of water towards Hole in the Wall and out from Duck Creek while using green and yellow jigs with maggots or worms. There is 6-10 inches of ice around the Silos, Ponds, Hole in the Wall, Duck Creek and Confederate. Mid reservoir to the north end is either open water or an unstable sheet of ice. Ice conditions should continue to improve with the colder weather. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena
Hauser: Some nice trout are being caught at the Causeway while using small ice jigs with rubber legs, plain crawlers, or spoons tipped with crawler pieces. A few walleye and perch are being caught in Lake Helena and near the Causeway Powerlines while using various jigs tipped with maggots or nightcrawlers. Ice conditions have improved recently and there is around 6 to 8 inches of ice. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
Holter: Ice conditions have improved recently, and the perch bite is hot once again. Good numbers of perch are being caught near the Prairie Dog Town and out from Departure Point while fishing near the bottom in 20 to 40 feet of water with small jigs or spoons tipped with maggots or crawlers. Rainbows fishing has been good at the Gates of the Mountains and in the bays on the lower end of the reservoir while fishing 3 to 6 feet below the ice with dark colored ice flies tipped with crawler pieces. Ice conditions are variable and there is 3.5 to 5 inches depending on location. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir: Kokanee fishing has been decent while jigging in 25 to 35 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 6 to 8 inches of ice. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
Skeletal remains found near Flathead River
On February 4, 2025, at about 1015 am, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was notified that a Tribal Game Warden had located skeletonized human remains in the Buffalo Bridge area on the Flathead River.
Wildlife Overpasses Work—And This Video is the Proof
This footage from Idaho Fish and Game shows over 1,000 deer safely crossing the Cervidae Peak Wildlife Overpass in just two months—proving that these crossings are saving lives, one hoof at a time.
