Prime picks
Blanchard Lake: Should you’re fixing to fry up some tasty panfish, that is the spot. Crappies and perch have been on the chew. This physique of water is pretty shallow all the way in which round, so that you’ll wish to goal weed edges with a tungsten jig tipped with maggots. – Ray Ward, Kalispell
McGregor Lake: Some good sized rainbows have been caught not too long ago, with one fish pushing 10 kilos. Tie on a small jig, wolly bugger jig or a tornado tail with a wax worm on it. Rainbow trout are often positioned alongside the shoreline. You’ll additionally discover some lake trout out deep in about 60-80 toes of water. For the lakers, attempt a tube jig with some minimize bait. – Chancey and Dave’s Fish Camp, Evergreen
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Bitterroot Lake: The kokanee chunk continues to choose up. Discover a spot about 120-feet deep and get a line within the water about 30 toes down. Swedish Pimples and glow jigs have labored finest. – Ray Ward, Kalispell
Canyon Ferry Reservoir: Rainbows, perch and walleye are being caught in 15-20 toes of water out from the Silos. The rainbows are being caught on silver and pink or purple jigs with worms or maggots. Walleye and perch are being caught whereas utilizing pink, purple or yellow Hali jigs or spoons with purple hooks tipped with evening crawlers, perch eyes or maggots. An occasional ling is being caught together with the perch and walleye on the underside. The Duck Creek to Accomplice space has gradual fishing total. Keep away from the strain ridges on the south finish of the reservoir. There may be over 20 inches of ice from the Silos all the way down to the ponds, 18-20 inches of ice round Duck Creek and the north finish has 3-5 inches of ice. – FWP, Helena
Echo Lake, Bigfork: Anglers are having success hauling in whitefish, lakers and perch. The go-to depth has been proper round 20 toes. – Ray Ward, Kalispell
Georgetown Lake: There may be nonetheless about 20-plus inches of ice with a foot of snow cowl. Anglers are having success focusing on rainbow trout and kokanee, particularly through the morning hours. – Duane’s IceFishing Leases, Anaconda
Hauser Reservoir: Some good rainbows proceed to be caught close to the Causeway space and Black Sandy whereas utilizing inexperienced or silver jigs or ice flies tipped with maggots or crawlers in 6-10 toes of water. An occasional burbot is being discovered within the Causeway Arm whereas utilizing minimize bait close to the underside. The Causeway space has 10-18 inches of ice and Lake Helena has 16-20 inches of ice. – FWP, Helena
Holter Reservoir: Perch fishing has been unbelievable out from the BLM boat ramp, the Prairie Canine City, Log Gulch, Departure Level and all through a lot of the decrease finish of the reservoir whereas utilizing Swedish Pimples, Halis or different jigs and maggots close to the underside in 20-45 toes of water. Some good rainbows proceed to be caught on the Gates of the Mountains whereas utilizing varied ice jigs tipped with crawlers in shallow water. A couple of burbot are being caught whereas utilizing minimize bait close to the underside at evening. Twelve to 16 inches of ice has been reported. – FWP, Helena
Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir: Kokanee motion has picked up not too long ago whereas utilizing pink or inexperienced ice jigs, Halis or dodgers tipped with purple maggots or corn in 20- 45 toes of water. A couple of perch are being discovered whereas utilizing smaller jigs and maggots close to the underside. Sixteen to twenty inches of ice has been reported. – FWP, Helena
Swan Lake: Lake trout are being caught on the aspect of the lake adjoining to the freeway in about 60-80 toes of water. Anglers may decide up a number of kokanee in these areas as effectively. Perch and pike have been making a displaying close to the south finish of the lake. Rainbow trout will also be picked up close to the shorelines in shallower water. – Chancey and Dave’s Fish Camp, Evergreen
Whitefish Lake: Anglers are nonetheless getting onto good numbers of whitefish and lake trout close to State Park. About 8-10 inches of ice has been reported, however it’s all the time a good suggestion to watch out when traversing throughout a giant lake. – Chancey and Dave’s Fish Camp, Evergreen
Matthew Kiewiet is the managing editor for the Impartial Document and The Montana Commonplace.