Fishing Report - 10/17/2017

​406-756-BAIT (2248) | 756BAIT.com

Flathead River
The Whitefish are starting to move into the river pretty good. Try from Old Steel Bridge up to Columbia Falls bridge. Look for holes 10’-20’ deep. Try Pete’s Tackle Craws & Tubes. Also, Gitzits work well or just use 1/8oz or 1/4oz lead heads with green twister tails. Also hearing good reports for Rainbow and Cutthroat fishing in the river. 

Flathead Lake
Excellent Lake Trout fishing along the West Shore. Try 60’-80’ deep water trolling large spoons along any shoreline North or South of West Shore State Park.

Hungry Horse Reservoir
Excellent Cutthroat fishing. Trolling small Thomas lures in gold or nickel. The Mountain Whitefish are showing up in bays and creeks. Also hearing reports of them in the South Fork above the reservoir.

Upper Thompson Lake
Upper Thompson is doing well with some nice Perch. Look for them to be in 25’-30’ of water and hitting on Northland Forage Minnows or Hali Jigs.

Island Lake
Good Perch still hitting. Not much has changed from last week.  - Really good numbers of Perch, 7”-10”, using worms under a float or casting small jigs with a few maggots.

Bitterroot Lake
The Rainbows are starting to hit when trolling large flies on planner boards or you could also try Rapalas. Also hearing reports of a few Salmon trolling on the South End down about 30’-40’.

McGregor Lake
Lake trout fishing is the ticket here. Look off Mae Point in about 80’ of water in the early mornings. Best option is to jig with small tubes & cut bait. Rainbows are also biting in the early morning. Mostly trolling small Rapalas or Flatfish.

Echo Lake
Still a little bit of Bass action going. Look in Abbot & Peterson for Smallmouth and some good Perch.

Beaver Chain Lakes
Doing well for Rainbows. Try plain bait fishing – Powerbait, Worm, or Marshmallow. For Murray and Beaver lakes try trolling Flicker Shad or small Rapalas.

Koocanusa
Getting reports of Rainbows in the 2lb-10lb range. Mostly trolling flies off planner boards. Windy days seem to be producing better results.

Lake Mary Ronan
Good Perch fishing. Try Camp Tuffit area in 25’-30’ water range or far South West Bay in 20’-25’ of water. Hali, Northland Forage Minnow tipped with perch meat or worms.
​
Snappy’s FREE Whitefish contest is starting October 14th. Weekly winners all through October and November. Sign Up @ Snappy’s Fishing Counter.