MT lake fishing

[Southern Elk]

This is my first post in the fishing section although I have looked at many nice pictures that you guys have posted. I have some questions that I hope some of you locals can help me with. We bought a few acres of land down around Ennis and hope to build a cabin on it one day. (Actually I hope to move out there if I can convince the wife) In the mean time its tents and the occasional hotel for me while I hunt and fish. We are coming out to do some scouting in June and I would like to fish some of the local lakes. I'm not much of a fly fisherman, so I was thinking about trying to catch a few on my spinning reel.

Can any of you give me some pointers on what baits to use, methods/techniques to fish or anything else that you think would be useful for a newbie to know? If you know of any articles or videos to link, that would be appreciated too. I'd even order a book if you have any recommendations. I guess I will be fishing from the bank, since I don't own a boat, unless I could rent one.

 

[Big Sky]

Here's some videos that should be right down your alley.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDfvhgN9UB17q5EAyOHKB-Q

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQi4NF5SQ7MwoyZ_Y03lBkw/videos

 

[Southern Elk]

Thank you. I will take a look.

 

[Straight Arrow]

The fly fishing elites will likely frown upon this reply, but I have had many fun and exciting fishing trips hiking and fishing through the Beartrap Canyon downstream on the Madison from the dam. I always fished with spinning gear and sometimes bait (night crawlers). 'Always caught a lot of fish and really enjoyed the river. After a few miles, you are pretty much alone and the river is full of great water and nice browns and rainbows. It's well worth the hike.

But I don't recommend attempting to fish from a kayak or any other boat in that canyon.

 

[Yellowstoner]

Hebgen Lake can be great from the banks, as can Quake Lake. Worm rig with a split shot and a bobber has done me well the few times I've spin-fished there.

 

[Nameless Range]

The Tobacco Roots to the northwest of Ennis have some excellent fishing. In some of em you could catch a fish with an old shoe on a piece of rope.

For advice you could ask the guys at Shedhorn Sports in Ennis. They are legit.

I've got a cabin south of Ennis and have spent a fair amount of time fishing Wade and Cliff Lakes. The fishing is better on Wade but the scenery and solitude is good on Cliff with the rainbow and occasional cutthroat fishing being fair. Spinners or even hook n worm from shore work. Some of the biggest trout I've caught were in Quake lake.

My little brother caught this fish in the early 90's in one of Madison County's lakes. I couldn't say about the bait - he caught it with his bare hands. Which I know is illegal, but hopefully the statute of limitations has passed for the happiest 6 year old I've ever seen.

Cutthroat - 30 inches and over ten pounds.

 

[Nameless Range]

Here's that fish as it is today

 

[Nunyacreek]

Classic photo. The shore fishing and lake fishing we take for granted is literally world class. Leave the spinnerbaits at home but almost anything else should work fine.

 

[Southern Elk]

Great info guys! Thanks!