The best options
Lake Blanchard: If you are getting ready to fry up some tasty panis fish, this is the place. Crapies and perch have been on the chew. This body of water is pretty shallow all around, so you’ll want to target the weed edges with a worm-tipped tungsten jig. – Ray Ward, Kalispell
Lake McGregor: Some good sized rainbows have been caught recently, with one fish pushing 10lbs. Tie on a small jig, a wolly bugger jig or a twist tail with a wax worm. Rainbow trout are usually located along the coast. You will also find lake trout in about 60-80 feet of water. For lakers, try a tube jig with some cut bait. – Chancey and Dave’s Fish Camp, Evergreen
Around western Montana
Bitterroot Lake: The kokanee bite continues to pick up. Find a spot about 120 feet deep and cast a line in the water about 30 feet down. Big swedes and glow jigs have worked best. – Ray Ward, Kalispell
Canyon Ferry Depot: Rainbow, perch and walleye are being caught in 15-20 feet of water from silos. Rainbows are being caught on silver and pink or red jigs with maggots or maggots. Walleye and perch are being caught 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. The area from Duck Creek to Confederate has generally slow fishing. 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. – FWP, Helena
Echo Lake, Bigfork: Anglers are having success hauling whitefish, lakers and perch. The depth of access has been about 20 feet. – Ray Ward, Kalispell
Lake Georgetown: There is still more than 20 inches of ice with a foot of snowpack. Anglers are having success targeting rainbow trout and kokanee, especially during the morning hours. – Duane’s IceFishing Rentals, Anaconda
Hauser Reservoir: Some nice rainbows continue to be caught near the Causeway and Black Sandy area while using green or silver bugs or ice flies with worms or crawlers in 6-10 feet of water. An occasional flounder is being found in the Causeway Arm while using cut bait near the bottom. The Causeway area has 10-18 inches of ice and Lake Helena has 16-20 inches of ice. – FWP, Helena
Holter deposit: Bass fishing has been great from the BLM boat ramp, Prairie Dog Town, Log Gulch, Departure Point and most of the lower end of the reservoir while using Swedish Pimples, Halis or other rigs and worms near the bottom in 20-45. feet of water Some nice rainbows continue to be caught in the Mountain Gates while using various tipped ice machines with crawlers in shallow water. A few burbot are being caught while using cut bait near the bottom at night. Twelve to 16 inches of ice has been reported. – FWP, Helena
Helena Valley Regulatory Reservoir: Kokanee action has picked up recently while using pink or green ice machines, Halis or dodgers tipped with red worms or corn in 20-45 feet of water. A few perch are being found while using smaller rigs and worms near the bottom. Sixteen to 20 inches of ice has been reported. – FWP, Helena
Swan Lake: Lake trout are 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
Whitefish Lake: Anglers are still catching good numbers of whitefish and lake trout near the state park. About 8-10 inches of ice has been reported, but it’s always a good idea to be careful when crossing a large lake. – Chancey and Dave’s Fish Camp, Evergreen