Summer turning out to be one to remember
Mike Howe | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 years, 4 months AGO
Folks who have been paying attention over the last couple of months have seen fishing conditions unlike any they have encountered around here for a long time, if ever. Virtually no run-off…unprecedented water temperatures, temperatures that rose like a rocket before it was even the middle of June, were just a couple of things we have had to adjust to. On the other hand, I haven’t spoken to anyone that has complained about the fishing, on the contrary, everyone it seems is catching fish.
Bass action in the valley has been strong and steady and I see no reason to think that will change this month. Weed growth is perhaps the biggest challenge, but those deeper pockets adjacent to thick weeds will hold both large and small mouth bass, especially in mid-day. And sometimes you just have to go into the thick stiff with baits designed to punch down through the weeds and come out clean. Smallmouth are also in those deeper holes adjacent to shallow rocky areas, and spinnerbaits should still catch those fish. Try throwing Rippin’ Raps up on that shallow structure early and late and dragging a big crayfish on a shaky head jig down the drop into deeper water mid-day. Dark natural colors are best. Lastly, drop shot for those smallmouth Bass in and around cover. Just about anything that swims can be caught using a drop shot rig so be prepared!
Trout and salmon anglers trolling in the evening are catching nice fish on almost all our area lakes. I had a blast recently on Little Bitterroot trolling for Salmon, using downriggers set at 25 feet and 35 feet, trolling orange and red DoubleSpin lures by Pete’s Tackle, set about 25 feet behind the ball…
Perch on Lake Mary Ronan are as aggressive as ever in12’-20’ of water. We found them in several places, with several spots well away from other anglers. A fat 18” Rainbow Trout was a nice bonus! Kokanee anglers are still doing well, and those fish will only get fatter and stronger as we move into Fall.
Also, look for good catches of Yellow Perch in Flathead Lake in the Dayton Bay, Elmo Bay and Cromwell Island areas. You MUST have a tribal license to fish those areas.
The Whitefish bite on Flathead Lake is actually starting to happen. You might have to move around a bit to find them, and by all means get out during the week if you can. Target 45-65 feet of water with Rattle Snakies, Petes Whitefish Slayer and similar spoons.
Mike Howe is owner of A-Able Fishing.
ARTICLES BY MIKE HOWE
Are you ready for ice fishing?
I know, it’s not even opening day of hunting season yet, but I have ice fishing on my mind. As a tournament promoter (Perch Assault and Ice Duels), my thoughts turn to ice fishing about mid-summer as permits must be submitted and advertising deadlines loom, so I have an excuse.
Fishing Flathead Lake is best in the fall
In my last column, I wrote about all the reasons to be excited about fall fishing here in the Flathead Valley. Indeed there are a ton of opportunities to fish well into winter here in the valley and one of the best ones is the coming lake trout spawn on Flathead Lake.
A land grab of the aquatic kind
Over a year ago, the Quiet Waters Initiative popped up on the radar as a seemingly benign way to limit motorized boat use and “user conflict” on several waterways in the state. Sponsored by the Montana Chapter of the “Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Group,” this initiative is a covert attempt to stop motorized use in areas owned or controlled by a select group of fly fishing purists, many of whom own, represent or control property that will be directly impacted by this initiative. The most disturbing thing about this is that the Chairman of the Fish and Wildlife commission, Dan Vermillion, is right there in the thick of it with several businesses. Talk about a conflict of interest!