North West Montana fishing report

[mjhowe]

Greetings all,

For those of you lucky enough to be in Glacier Country over the next few weeks, the fishing is great right now. All the local rivers and streams are fishing great right now.

Bull trout fishing right now in Hungry Horse Resevoir is going to he hot where the South Fork dumps into the Res, and also at the mouths of some of the larger creeks. Get your tag at license dealers or FWP offices.

Lake trout on Flathead are falling shallow and deep. Charters are catching with down riggers in 200', and longlining flatfish...I just last week caught 8 nice fish, all needing to be measured for slot. I kept 4 28" fish, released two slot fish, and released 2 that were too close for comfort! By myself in 2 hours! The day before I caught 3 fish and never got one in the boat...One broke me off taking the flatfish with him, another spitting before I could get the net under him and the 3rd about halfway to the boat. From the mouth to Finley point, the catching has been one of the best in years, with more and bigger fish.

Perch fishing in Elmo bay has been good, I spent a morning and an evening and its more of a morning thing. Caught about 4 perch in 2 hours, most 9-12 inches. Filleted and fried in bacon grease...? priceless...fish 9-11 feet of water and keep your presentation simple...and big. Look to catch a squawfish or two and a laker or whitefish or 2.

Lastly, the beginning of the Lake Superior Whitefish run is already starting in Elmo and Big Arm Bays. This is some of the fastest action and funnest fishing there is. You can keep 100, but its the action that matters. Green Rattle Snakies, Rattle D-Zasters, even green lead head jigs, tipped with a bit of meat or maggot is all you really need. Again, keep it simple. A 5# Lake Whitefish on 4# test and a lite spinning rod is giggles and grins folks! Smoked, or pickled, they are unbelievable! The only other way to cook is this....

Soak any wood plank in plain water overnight.

Place dressed fish on plank and grill until fish is half the size you started with.

Remove from heat, throw Whitefish in the trash and eat the plank!

We are in the middle of a 3 week hot/dry run and the fire danger rises hourly. If your coming up...better get with it...the woods could be closed by August 1st...

[macgruber]

u must've pulled that whitefish recipe from a mt whitefish cooking book..... cuz our lake superior versions are still mighty tasty grilled -- i didn't believe it till i tried it last year, but they are members of the char family (lakers and brookies) and thus have somewhat similar meat..... granted it's no brookie, but i think i'd almost take it over lake trout..... (esp. smoked-- both are good smoked, but the whitefish is a little milder)

[mjhowe]

Yeah, I know...it's just like anything else...the preservation, preparation and presentation makes the meal...whatever the fare!

Most people wont take the time to do it right...!

Its all tasty