From Montana FWP: Ice fishing is a great (and we’d say, the best) way to get out and spend the day in the winter. But remember, no ice is 100% safe and no fish, no matter how big, is worth your life. Meet FWP’s Stacy Schmidt (crab hunter by night, ice safety technician by day) and her Lewis and Clark Search and Rescue team.
The best options
Bitterroot Lake – The kokanee bite has been on, with limits reported most mornings within a couple of hours. Most of these fish are being caught in about 100 feet of water, and the bites have been coming in about 30-40 feet below the ice. Most of the fish are between 10 and 12 inches. – Chancey and Dave’s Fish Camp, Evergreen
Swan Lake – Lake trout are still being caught on the side of the lake adjacent to the highway in about 60-80 feet of water. Anglers can also pick up a few kokanee in these areas as well. Perch and pike have been showing near the south end of the lake. Rainbow trout can also be harvested near shore in shallower water. – Chancey and Dave’s Fish Camp, Evergreen
Around western Montana
Lake Ashley – Kokanee are still biting. Not as many limits have been reported as in previous weeks, but there is still some good fishing to be had. Larger perch and cut bows have also been on the chew. – Chancey and Dave’s Fish Camp, Evergreen
Canyon Ferry – Rainbows are being caught 10-15 feet deep from silos and around Duck Creek while using pink marshmallows, spawn sacks, or pink or red jigs with worms or maggots. Walleye and perch are being caught from Duck Creek in 35-45 feet of water while using green and silver or white and silver rigs tipped with night crawlers or worms. Stay away from the pressure ridges at the south end of the reservoir. There is over 20 inches of ice from the silos to the ponds, 18-20 inches of ice around Duck Creek, and the north end has 3-5 inches of ice, but it goes away from the shore around Shannon. – FWP, Helena
Church Slough – The pike fishing has been pretty quiet. Some anglers have had some early morning luck, but generally things have been slower. – Chancey and Dave’s Fish Camp, Evergreen
Lake Georgetown – There is great trout fishing in Georgetown. The lake has over 20 inches of ice and about 10 inches of snow cover. Every day can vary, but mornings have been the best time to put a line in the water. – Duane’s IceFishing Rentals, Anaconda
Echo Lake, Bigfork – The whitefish bite has been very good around the main points on the lake. The target depth will depend on the day, but 25-30 feet is usually a good place to start. A few kokanee, bass and pike can also be caught here and there. – Ray Ward, Kalispell
Hauser Reservoir – Some nice rainbows continue to be caught in the Causeway Bridge area and Black Sandy while using various colored machines or ice-tipped flies 6-10 feet below the ice. A few perch are being discovered in Lake Helena while using green or white Hali rigs with worms or crawlers. An occasional flounder can be found from the arm of the road to the black sand while using cut bait near the bottom. 12-18 inches of ice reported. – FWP, Helena
Holter deposit – A few rainbows continue to be picked up in the Mountain Gates while various tipped ice machines are being used with crawlers in shallow water. A few burbot are being caught while using cut bait near the bottom at night. The perch bite continues to be great. Occasionally walleye can be found in Log Gulch, Departure Point, Prairie Dog Town and the BLM boat ramp while using multicolored Hali or glow jigs and maggots near the bottom in 25-45 feet of water. 10-12 inches of ice reported. – FWP, Helena
Regulatory reservoir of the Helena Valley – A few kokanee and perch are being caught while using Hali or Sweedish Pimple type ice machines tipped with red or corn worms in 16-35 feet of water. 14-18 inches of ice reported. – FWP, Helena
Lake Mary Ronan – Perch fishing has been great. Try fishing in about 20 feet of water and be careful of the muddy spots around the lake. – Ray Ward, Kalispell
Whitefish Lake – There is plenty of ice and good reports of whitefish being caught and some lake trout near the town beach area. Lake trout are also biting towards the north end near Swift Creek as well as near the main points on the lake. – Chancey and Dave’s Fish Camp, Evergreen