Other Waters for Fly Fishing – Land of the Giants on the Missouri River

OTHER WATERS

Canyon Ferry Reservoir - The largest of the Helena area Missouri River reservoirs, Canyon Ferry is also one of the most fished lakes in the state. Spring (April through Beginning of June) when the lake is drawn down is the best time for fly fishing this lake as the large (20”+) rainbows cruise the shoreline for “spawning.” Simple flies like Woolly Buggers and Leeches worked slowly from shore or in a float tube or pontoon boat will fool these hot fish. As the weather warms up and the lake fills up the wave runner and party boat hatch kicks in thick. In the summer the fish move to deeper water and then it’s best left to those with spinning or trolling gear. Besides, you wouldn’t want to snag a jet skier in the ear on your back cast with a #4 Conehead Woolly bugger, would you?

Bean Lake -About an hour drive from our Helena store and only a half hour from Craig, Bean Lake is situated in dramatic landscape. Literally at the base of the Rocky Mountain Front, this lake is prolific and can produce some monster trout. The fishing regulations were changed in 2000 to manage the lake more for a trophy trout fishery then a put and take. There are some big fish here but the 7+ year drought has not helped it out any. When we get a couple of years of normal water, look out – there could be some 8 to 10-pounders caught! Scuds (by the bazillions!), damsels, leeches, Calibaetis mayflies, traveling sedges and a myriad of other little morsels allow these rainbows to grow big and fat in a short period of time. A great float tube or pontoon boat lake although you can use a small motor boat on Bean. Give this one a try from ice out until Fall.

Park Lake -Located just minutes from Helena, Park Lake is a fun place to drop in a float tube or pontoon boat. The fishing can be excellent for eager Grayling and Cutthroat Trout. In the summer, most of the fishing will be done with simple dry flies (Parachute Adams, Goddard Caddis, Humpies, etc.) although nymphs and woolly buggers will catch the “bigger” fish in the lake. I say “bigger” in quotations because a 14” fish is big for this lake. This is 3 and 4 weight water. There is good camping, hiking and hunting near the lake and in the surrounding National Forrest. If you go to Park Lake in mid-Summer it’s most likely not going to be a solitude experience. It’s a popular weekend retreat for the Helena area folks, but most of those people fish the lake from shore (which is very difficult to do because of the trees) so bring your float tube or pontoon boat and have some fun. This is one of the few places you can catch some feisty Grayling.

Below are photos and information on fly fishing waters that are not the Missouri below Holter Dam, the Blackfoot or the Smith Rivers. Please check out the information on the “Land of the Giants” section of the Missouri above Upper Holter reservoir for a special, jet boat Guided Trip option for some truly huge trout.

Holter Lake (and The Land of the Giants) - Kind of two lakes in one - Upper Holter and Lower Holter -connected together by the area known as the “Gates of The Mountains.” Named so by the Corps of Discovery (Lewis & Clark) when they traveled through this massive, meandering canyon and it appeared as though the canyon walls were opening and closing as they wound their way up river like gigantic gates. There is a wonderful, interpretive boat tour through this section of the river that is a perfect side trip to do when you are visiting the Missouri for a few days. Lower Holter can be good fly fishing but mainly in the Spring from shore or a float tube or kick boat, as the rainbows are cruising the shoreline (similar to Canyon Ferry -see below) and before the boat traffic gets going for the season.

Unlike Canyon Ferry, the water level in Holter Lake does not fluctuate very much because of how they manage Hauser and Holter Dams. They are “run of river” dams - so whatever they let out of Canyon Ferry, is what they let out of Hauser and Holter. Upper Holter Lake is also the launch location for the area of the Missouri River now known as “The Land of the Giants” (LOG). Why? Because the trout, both rainbows and browns, live most of the year in the larger, fertile reservoir, eating voraciously, getting fat and strong and then run up to the shallower, river section above Upper Holter up to Hauser Dam where you’ve got a shot at catching trout in the 20” to 30” range on flies! We have a couple of our Outfitters who are also Coast Guard approved Captains that are licensed to run jet boat Guide trips to this unique fishery.

These trips are limited so if you are interested in a Guided Trip to LOG, please contact us as early as possible in the year so we can fit you in with one of the Captains. It’s a fly fishing experience you will never forget! (Bring your camera, ‘cause your buddies won’t believe you caught a super fat, 28” trout on the Missouri!) E-Mail Us

Capt. Jason with a healthy LOG rainbow!