FISHING REPORTS

For the most current Ice Fishing conditions and reports, please visit www.iceshanty.com

You can always find great information and weekly updated fishing reports from our great friends at Montana Outdoor Radio Show

3/20/2024

This will be the final ice fishing report sent out for our Helena Area Reservoirs for the season. We will resume our spring and summer open water fishing reports when conditions allow in April. 

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 around the Silos near shore in 8-10 feet of water while using white or pink glow hooks or jigs tipped with worms, maggots, or shrimp.  Duck Creek is producing rainbows and perch in 35-45 feet of water.  Stay away from the pressure ridges on the south end of the reservoir and be careful when accessing the ice as it is getting soft and pulling away from the edges.  There is 10-12 inches of ice around the Silos, Duck Creek and Confederate. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Hauser: Rainbows are being caught in open water at the Causeway, York Bridge and Riverside while using leech pattern flies, spawn sacks, power bait and marabou jigs. A few Ice anglers are still fishing on Lake Helena and out from Black Sandy, but the ice is going away fast.  Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena   

Holter: Rainbows are being caught in open water at the Gates of the Mountains area from shore and by boat while using night crawlers, spawn sacks, power bait, marabou jigs and leech pattern flies. The Lower end of the Reservoir has unsafe ice that is receding from the shorelines and not many anglers have been heading out onto the ice.   Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena

Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir:  A few kokanee are being caught while jigging Hali or Sweedish Pimple type ice jigs tipped with maggots or corn in 20-35 feet of water. Not many anglers heading out onto the ice anymore. There is around 5-6 inches of ice left and it’s going away fast.  Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena

Christopher Hurley | Fisheries Technician

Region 4 | Fisheries Division

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

930 Custer Avenue West

Helena, MT 59620

Office: (406) 495-3272

3/1/2024

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 15-16 inches of ice from the Silos down to the ponds, 13-15 inches of ice around Duck Creek and Confederate and there is 5-7 inches of ice on the north end of the reservoir.  Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Hauser: Rainbows, perch walleye and ling are being caught near the powerlines in the Causeway arm and on Lake Helena while using pink, green or glow jigs tipped with crawlers, cut bait or meal worms in 5 to 20 feet of water. Rainbows are also being caught from the Causeway road with various jigs. There is 8-10 inches of ice.  Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena   

Holter: The perch bite has been great on the lower end of the reservoir out from Indian Trail and Departure Point while using various jigs tipped with maggots, meal worms or crawler pieces in 30 to 50 feet of water. A few rainbows are being caught while using black, brown, or green ice flies and crawler pieces 5 to 10 feet below the ice near the shorelines. The Gates of the Mountains has 3 to 6 inches of ice and it’s shrinking fast, a strong wind may take it away. Indian Trail has 4-7 inches of ice and people are using planks to get out from the shrinking shoreline ice. Departure Point has 3-7 inches of ice and can be accessed if you pick your spot carefully.   Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena

Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir:  Kokanee and perch fishing has been great while jigging Hali or Sweedish Pimple type ice jigs tipped with maggots or corn in 20-35 feet of water. Kokanee can be anywhere from 10 feet below the ice to the bottom and perch are right on the bottom. There is 10-12 inches of ice.  Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena

Christopher Hurley | Fisheries Technician

Region 4 | Fisheries Division

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

930 Custer Avenue West

Helena, MT 59620

Office: (406) 495-3272


1 Comment

Dave Sedlock

Dave Sedlock

March 20, 2024 at 1:32 pm

This will be the final ice fishing report sent out for our Helena Area Reservoirs for the season. We will resume our spring and summer open water fishing reports when conditions allow in April.

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 around the Silos near shore in 8-10 feet of water while using white or pink glow hooks or jigs tipped with worms, maggots, or shrimp. Duck Creek is producing rainbows and perch in 35-45 feet of water. Stay away from the pressure ridges on the south end of the reservoir and be careful when accessing the ice as it is getting soft and pulling away from the edges. There is 10-12 inches of ice around the Silos, Duck Creek and Confederate. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena

Hauser: Rainbows are being caught in open water at the Causeway, York Bridge and Riverside while using leech pattern flies, spawn sacks, power bait and marabou jigs. A few Ice anglers are still fishing on Lake Helena and out from Black Sandy, but the ice is going away fast. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena

Holter: Rainbows are being caught in open water at the Gates of the Mountains area from shore and by boat while using night crawlers, spawn sacks, power bait, marabou jigs and leech pattern flies. The Lower end of the Reservoir has unsafe ice that is receding from the shorelines and not many anglers have been heading out onto the ice. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena

Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir: A few kokanee are being caught while jigging Hali or Sweedish Pimple type ice jigs tipped with maggots or corn in 20-35 feet of water. Not many anglers heading out onto the ice anymore. There is around 5-6 inches of ice left and it’s going away fast. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena

Christopher Hurley | Fisheries Technician
Region 4 | Fisheries Division

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

930 Custer Avenue West

Helena, MT 59620

Office: (406) 495-3272

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Walleye Calendar

  1. Dave Sedlock

    This will be the final ice fishing report sent out for our Helena Area Reservoirs for the season. We will…