Fishing Report 09-19-2018

406-756-BAIT (2248) | 756BAIT.com

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

​Lake Koocanusa:
Good Salmon fishing around Rexford try trolling with wedding rings 30 to 40' for jigging use Haileys 30 to 40'.  For the big Rainbows in the early morning troll with Berkley Flicker shad, large spoons and flies.  Kokanee snagging is on. Tobacco River and Grave Creek, the salmon are moving in big numbers.    Kootenai Falls downstream from the Swinging Bridge, Not showing much action yet.

Flathead Lake:
Whitefish bite is moving north.  Try Woods Bay south east side, Shelter, and Cedar Island, Elmo and the Narrows. Use Pete's Tackle Whitefish slayer or Zimmer’s R-d-Zastor in 3/8 to1/2and 3/4oz. Look in 30 to 40 ‘. Lake trout mixed in with white fish.  Trolling with cut plugs, silver spoons and moonshines. Jigging with tube jigs and cut bait. Perch fishing good in Big Arm, Elmo, west side of Polson and Bay Somers Bay.

Noxon Reservoir:
Good Bass, Walleye and Pike, look at the edge of 20' weed beds.
 
Swan Lake:
Salmon trolling 40 to 60'   use dodgers and small spoons.  Rainbows trolling the shore line in the early morning and evenings, use spinners.  Pike fishing on the weed beds and the river mouth on the south end of the lake.
 
Loon Lake:
(TLC) Good Bass fishing with plastics and crankbaits.  Perch and Crappie near weed beds and wind falls.
Rainbows trout are active again with the cooler water temperatures.
 
Beaver Lake:
Rainbow troll in the early morning with spinners and spoons.  Fly fish with Wooly buggers using sinking line.
 
Island Lake:
Perch are biting good on small jigs use Pete's tackle. Pike are biting on everything. 

Lake Mary Ronan:
Good perch fishing around the north end near the rope swing and the hump. Jigging seems to be doing the best.  Trolling for trout around the shore line in the early morning.
 
Smith Lake:
Lots of small Pike    try spinner baits, and Johnson Silver minnow weed-less. For Perch use small jigs and bait. Check regs for size and quantity.
 
Echo Lake:
Bass are down deep 15 to 25', try jigs.   Perch fishing around the deeper weed beds. Pike around the weed beds in the PM with tube jigs and spinner baits.  Kokanee jigging in 30 to 45'. 
 
Beaver Lake: 
Trolling for kokanee from 25 to 45’ producing 10 to 13' fish and some nice rainbows.
 
Thompson Lakes:
Perch fishing has been good, small jigs and Pete's tackle, 10 to 20'. Salmon fishing has been slow.  Trout fishing around the shore line trolling in the morning and in the middle of the lake in the PM.
 
Bitterroot Lake:
Salmon trolling 30 to 50’ in the early morning.  Wedding rings and cow bells.   Lots of Bass fishing around the rocky shore line and drop-offs. Trout trolling with large spoons. Small mouth Bass have been active on rocky drop points.
 
Ashley Lake:
Salmon down deep try trolling or jigging in the early morning. Perch fishing in the deeper weed beds. Small mouth Bass have been active on rocky drop points.

Flathead River:
USGS Columbia Falls:  Discharge 3670 fps.      Water temp. 51 to 55
North fork   the upper run is getting a little bony but fishing good with dry flies and nymphs.  Stimulators, hoppers, ants, caddis, may fly patterns.
 
Flathead River Slough:
Church and Fennon good Pike in the early morning and some Bass. Try deep weed beds for pike with large jerk baits and shallow diving crank baits for bass, square bills, and Texas rigging.

Thompson River:
USGS: Discharge 169 fps
Water flow is getting low for fishing. Small dry flies, and terrestrial (hoppers, ants, use caddis for moths). For streamer fly fishing use muddler minnows. Browns and Rainbows are moving up from the Clark Fork.