Late April fishing sites abound in the Flathead
Some suggested fishing holes for April
If you’re looking to get the kinks out of your fishing rod, here’s three spots that should provide good late April fishing action.
• East Bay, Flathead Lake. According to Dick Zimmer, self-proclaimed “Mac Man” from Pablo, perch fishing in East Bay has been from “good” to “fantastic.” Optimum water temperature for hungry perch is approaching 50 degrees and fish are caught in water up to 5 feet deep.
Zimmer recommends a piece of nightcrawler on a snelled hook when the water is clear. In off-color water, try a yellow or pink jig or fly baited with perch meat.
Zimmer suggests that anglers with boats 18-foot or larger consider launching at Blue Bay because the Polson ramp isn’t steep enough to launch in low water.
• Smith Lake, west of Kalispell. Pike, pike, pike. And last fall, the pike were big enough to fillet. Two things are required to catch pike in early spring — patience and bait.
Of course, there’s always an off-chance you might snag a “slough-shark” in the nose with one of those big spinner-baits you throw in summer, but cold water really lessens a pike’s enthusiasm to chase a fleeing prey.
Impale a frozen smelt or herring on a pike-hook, suspend it just short of water depth under a big bobber, then lob it out as far as you can cast.
And wait, and wait, and wait. When Mr. Pike starts towing your bobber, wait some more, until the bobber stops. Count to five, then cross its eyes.
• Shore fly casting for spawner-wannabees, Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Mission Lake was hot two weeks ago. When Duck Lake opens, larger rainbows cruise the shoreline in a vain attempt to reproduce.
These reproductive motions won’t add fish because the lakes lack the essential gravels and groundwater percolation needed to sustain eggs to hatching. The females will lay their eggs which are quickly gobbled up by suckers and other fishes, including trout.
Everybody has their favorite fly for spawners. The real trick is to position the fly right in front of the fish. No boat needed. These fish are close to shore, and much more easily sight-fished when winds are low.