Montana Fish Report

Streams and rivers are now closed to trout fishing until next spring. Trout fishing in Tenmile, Eel and Saunders lakes is open all year. Boat anglers have had some success trolling spinners tipped with night crawlers for rainbow trout. Some of these trout are in the 15- to 19-inch range.

Largemouth bass anglers will need to slow down there presentations as the water temperatures drop. Most bass will be found in deeper water near structure or weed edges.

Anglers have reported the fishing for yellow perch has slowed down. There are lots of small yellow perch so anglers will have to sort to find larger perch.

The wild coho salmon season on Tenmile Lakes remains open through Dec. 31. Anglers have been catching a few wild coho this past month trolling spinners and crankbaits. Anglers are allowed to harvest 1 wild adult coho per day (and 1 wild coho jack per day) and 5 wild adult coho per season. The 5 wild coho salmon are in aggregate with Siltcoos and Tahkenitch lakes.

Steelhead anglers have reported catching a couple hatchery steelhead at Spinreel Park on Tenmile Creek. Eel Creek is closed to fishing until Jan. 1.