September 21,2023
Fishermen:
The City Docks will not have Lake Trout for a month. Sausage setups will not work until then. Fish with a perch setup or a Wana B right off the docks not throwing them out.
The good kokanee and whitefish fishing are coming to an end but other fish are becoming more active.
I and my fishing partner, Jim Rains, was out on Sept 2, Just west of the North Point coming out of the Big Arm bot landing where I caught over 40 Keeper perch and one keeper Smallie.
Our WANA B setup with a leadered inline hook, baited with perch meat was deadly. Other places where the perch seem to be running a little bigger than most of the lake are south and west of Dream Island and in front of the rock hazard on the east end of the Narrows. 34 feet has been the magic depth in all three of the se places.
Perch fishing as well as catching an occasional rainbow continues at Lake Mary Ronan. As water temperatures drop, the fishing should only get better.
The East Bay of the Polson Bay should have much more activity for perch, small mouth and pike. The water below the Armed Forces Memorial Bridge especially around and below the Dog Park area has been productive for perch, small mouth, and bait fish. The bait fish here are especially active just before and into dark.
One of the best ways to target big smallies in the river is to drop a bait upstream and let it drift under the boat.
Of the local reservoirs Pablo has had the most notoriety. Low water levels have concentrated the Bass, crappie and perch in there. If they fill it up, that will probably effect the ice fishing in a negative way.
Mack Day Tournament is seeing fewer anglers but that means your chances of winning prizes goes up.
Early on, the best fishing is often deep but as their spawning season approaches they begin to stage in anywhere from 120 to 180 feet, Rocky Point, blacks Point, Bird Island, White Swan Point and the East side of Wild Horse Island are all places south of the Reservation line where they stage and then eventually spawn.
Orth of the line the painted Rocks, Douglas Island areas hold spawning fish. They will be biting.
The forecast is for a wet, early and cold fall and early winter. Hopefully that means ice.
Three bodies of water are generally the first to ice over; East Bay, Turtle lake and Crow Reservoir. If you hit them right they can be great fishing. For a more detailed information give me a call on my personal cell which is 4062500241 or call Zimmer Tackle at 406-675-0068
Good Fishing
The Macman