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: Kokanee fishing has been good on both the north and south ends of the lake. A good place to start would be in 100 feet of water. Look for the most bites in that magical 40-foot range below the ice. Big swedes or Hali jigs with shiny hooks have been best used in the early mornings. Make sure you know the Kokanee regulations on the Bitterroot before you go out. – Chancey and Dave’s Fish Camp, Evergreen
Holter deposit: Perch action continues to be great from the BLM boat ramp, Log Gulch, and the outlet while using Swedish beads, Halis or other flashy lures and worms near the bottom in 25-45 feet water Some nice rainbows are being caught in the Mountain Gates while using various troll tip ice machines in shallow water. A few burbot are being caught while using cut bait near the bottom at night. The Gates of the Mountains have 10 to 12 inches of ice and the rest of Holter has about 15 inches of ice. – FWP, Helena
Around western Montana
Lake Ashley: Smaller kokanee are still biting, with somewhat common limits, especially during the early morning hours. Tie on a Swedish pimple, Hali jig or similar and start fishing in about 100 feet of water. Most of the bites have been on fish crossing the water column about 40 feet below the surface. There have also been some perch coming off Ashley while bottom fishing in about 40 feet of water. – Chancey and Dave’s Fish Camp, Evergreen
Canyon Ferry Depot: Rainbows are being caught 15 feet deep from silos and around Duck Creek while using silver and pink or red jigs with worms or maggots. Walleye and perch are being caught between Duck Creek and Confederate in 35-45 feet of water while using pink, red or yellow Hali jigs or spoons with red hooks tipped with night crawlers, perch eyes or worms An occasional marupa is caught along with perch and walleye on the bottom. 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
Flathead Lake: Lakers have been on the chew near the west coast around the state park as you head towards the mouth. Drop a big, whole dead fish on the bottom or cast a jig with 50-100 cut bait, and you’ll have a good shot at those lake trout. There may be a few pike, but overall the pike fishing has slowed down quite a bit across the board. – Chancey and Dave’s Fish Camp, Evergreen
Lake Georgetown: Even before the recent storm. Georgetown had more than 20 inches of ice and 14 inches of snow cover. It has been borderline style rainbow trout fishing with rainbows and salmon cruising 4 to 12 feet below the ice. The lake trout bite in Silver Lake was completely shut down. – Duane’s Ice Fishing Rentals
Hauser Reservoir: A few perch are being discovered in Lake Helena while using white and pink Hali rigs with worms or crawlers. Most rainbows continue to be caught in the Causeway Bridge and Black Sandy area while using different colored rigs or ice flies tipped with a drag 6-8 feet below the ice. The occasional flounder are being found from the road arm to the black sand while using cut bait near the bottom. 16-18 inches of ice reported. – FWP, Helena
Helena Valley Regulatory Reservoir: A few kokanee and perch are being caught while using Hali or Swedish Pimple type ice rigs tipped with red or corn worms in 16-45 feet of water. 16-18 inches of ice reported. – FWP, Helena
Lake Mary Ronan: If you are looking for fish to fillet for the pan, look no further. The perch bite has been very reliable with most fish averaging about half a pound. Throughout the day, anglers will pull a standout or two that push a pound or more. Find a spot in about 35-40 feet of water and give it a try. You can also catch a kokanee. If you catch a pike, FWP asks that anglers kill and report it. – Chancey and Dave’s Fish Camp, Evergreen
Whitefish Lake: The lake trout bite has been improving. Whitefish continue to show up in large numbers towards the state park side as well. 40 below the ice has been the magic depth most days. There is a lot of ice. – Ray Ward, Kalispell