Simply put, Montana is a very good place to fish for walleyes, sauger and saugeye. In fact, the state lays claim to the world record saugeye, at 15.66 pounds, caught by Myron Kibler and the co-world record sauger, at 8.805 pounds, caught by Gene Moore, both out of Fort Peck Reservoir.
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What is the best time to ice fish for walleye?
Ice Fishing for Walleye at Night Walleye feed most actively during the few hours of dusk and dawn. However, walleye feed more actively at night in comparison to the day. Take advantage of the best 12 hours of walleye fishing by toughing it out and setting up before sunset and fishing through morning.
Can you ice fish Flathead Lake?
Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in the western United States. Although the lake usually doesn’t freeze completely due to its size, most bays freeze enough for excellent ice fishing. Whitefish and lake trout are the most caught, although yellow perch and cutthroat trout are also present.
What size walleye can you keep in Montana?
The 2021 regulations allow anglers to keep up to 20 walleye per day. That would include only one fish over 20 inches in the river or Canyon Ferry, or one over 25 inches in Hauser. Total possession could not exceed twice the daily limit.
Where can I find big walleye ice-fishing?
What depth should I ice fish for walleye?
The depth at which to ice fish for walleye depends on the time of day, and whether it’s early, late, or mid winter. At midwinter they are often found in 30-40 ft. deep water around noon, while towards evening they move into more shallow water of about 10-25 feet to feed on schooling bait fish during the night .
Does Flathead Lake have walleye?
The only walleye in the Flathead are small pockets of fish illegally introduced to area lakes. But despite the fact there may never be state-promoted walleye fishing on the west side of the Continental Divide, the species seems to be growing in popularity.
Are walleye native to Montana?
Walleye are not native to Montana. That’s the conclusion Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks came to after conferring with experts from around the country, conducting extensive literature research and based on the best information available, the agency announced.
Is there walleye in the Yellowstone River?
Yellowstone River, Miles City — The water level is low and the clarity is good. Anglers are catching sauger, walleyes, and some smallmouth bass. Catfish are also biting.
Does whitefish lake freeze over?
There are restriction when using live bait. Treble hooks are legal in Missouri. There are no restrictions for using treble hooks in freshwater. Montana only restricts the use of treble hooks on sections of the Flathead river.
How is the fishing at Flathead Lake Montana?
It is illegal to: Transport live fish and bait fish into Montana.
Are treble hooks illegal in Montana?
Fishing for bass is the most common type of night fishing in Montana. Since bass seldom travel great distances, you should be able to locate them at the same locations they are found during the day. If you have a favorite daytime spot, they should be there at night as well.
Can you use live bait in Montana?
On clear lakes, bait placement can be 6 inches to 20 inches off the bottom, as the fish can better see the bait above them and come up to get it. Monofilament or fluorocarbon leaders are both good (though I’ve found that you have to re-tie more often with fluorocarbon as the knots fatigue more quickly than mono).
Can you fish at night in Montana?
March is my favorite month for ice-fishing. The days are longer, the weather isn’t as cold, and the fish like to get caught in March. Following are some things to keep in mind to catch more fish through the ice until the end of the ice season.
How do you target big walleye ice fishing?
What depth are walleye at in winter?
Throughout a winter’s day, the fish will range in depth from 20 to 50 feet. Walleyes in the tailraces tend to hug the bottom, so you should select lures that reach the river’s floor in a hurry.
What bait is best for walleye?
Live bait can be highly successful for walleye, which usually involves still fishing, drifting, or trolling the bait. A bottom-bouncing rig or slip sinker is effective for drawing the walleye’s attention in clear water. The best choices of live bait include leeches, minnows, and nightcrawlers.
How far should walleye be from the bottom?
Due to its large volume and fetch (distance of water across which wind blows), Flathead Lake requires very cold and calm conditions to freeze entirely. Therefore, most winters it does not freeze over, although some bays and margins have ice cover.
How do you jig for walleye in the winter?
What is the best month to ice fish?
Whitefish Lake is a 800 acre lake located in Sawyer County. It has a maximum depth of 105 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout and Walleye.
Does Flathead Lake in Montana freeze?
Walleye are considered invasive throughout Montana, but most established populations are in lakes and rivers east of the continental divide. FWP Spokesperson Dillon Tabish said walleye can wreak havoc on native populations.
How much is an out of state Montana fishing license?
What is the license cost for a nonresident (out of state)? The Montana fishing license cost for a nonresident for an entire season of fishing is $117.50. There are many different fees that contribute to the total cost of the license.
What kind of fish are in Whitefish Lake?
[1] The lake is a common destination for fisherman and water recreationists. The lake has Northern Pike, Walleye, and Perch as the major game fish. The lake has other fish as well. This lake previously required a warm water fish stamp to fish in Montana.
Are walleye invasive in Montana?
A walleye is sometimes called a pickerel, particularly in English-speaking parts of Canada, but in fact, the walleye and the pickerel are not at all related. However, both are members of the same family, the pike family or Esocidae. Walleyes are freshwater perciform fishes.
What fish are in Lake Frances Montana?
All native fish, including the cutthroat trout, are catch-and-release only. If you catch an invasive Lake Trout in Yellowstone Lake, it must be killed. Knowing which fish live in which bodies of water will help you identify quickly when you reach that exciting “fish-on” moment! 4.