Spring brings lots of fishing fun

It's springtime in Northwest Montana, so there are many choices for a fishing and hunting adventure this weekend.

For the fisherman, all of our lakes are open for fishing. Even if you don't have a boat or float tube, at this time of the year rainbow trout fishing can be really good for bank fishermen.

During early spring, when the water is cool, big rainbows like to cruise lake shorelines. Bank fishermen can experience good fishing by tossing out a hook baited with a worm or night crawler. A small split shot may be needed to get the worm down in the water column. A small marshmallow on the hook will help keep the worm off the actual bottom. At this time of the year, rainbows will be feeding near the bottom, but not on the very bottom.

Spring bank fishing for rainbows is a good way to take the kids fishing. If the fishing is slow, kids will still have a great time exploring the shoreline. Bring along an extra pair of dry socks and pants for the kids. Kids find it almost impossible to stay out of the water.

Fishermen have been successful fishing off the delta of Flathead Lake. I know of two young guys that boated a couple dozen eating-size lake trout on Saturday morning. They fished in 120-130 feet of water, using lead-headed jigs, small white plastic tubes and some bait.

Most of our lakes are open for fishing on a year-round basis. Most streams do not open for fishing until the third Saturday in May. Remember those are the general rules. There are many exceptions to these general rules for fishing.

The Flathead River is one of the local exceptions to the general stream fishing rule because it is open to whitefish and lake trout fishing all year, and catch-and-release fishing for other game fish from Dec.1 to the general stream trout opener in May. Remember that cutthroat trout fishing is always catch and release. Fishing regulations are really not that confusing. You simply must remember to take along your fishing regulations booklet and read the regulations for the specific body of water you plan to fish that day.

For hunters, you have a choice of turkey hunting or black bear hunting this weekend. The general spring black bear season opened April 15 and runs until either May 15 or May 31, depending on your specific hunting district. Spring turkey season generally runs from April 9 to May 15. Again, there are exceptions to these general rules, so be sure to check the hunting regulations for your specific hunting district.

Before you go hunting or fishing this weekend, don't forget to submit your applications for Montana's big three big-game animals - moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goats. Those applications are due May 2 by 5 p.m.

While you are at Fish, Wildlife and Parks headquarters getting your licenses and regulations, ask them for a copy of their new recreation access map for the greater Flathead Valley.

This access map is printed at a relatively large scale of 1/2 inch per mile. It covers an area from Canada on the north to the reservation line on the south-about midway down Flathead Lake. From east to west in covers the valley from West Glacier to McGregor Lake.

This map shows all the public land such as Forest Service, Montana School Trust, state, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park land. It also shows corporate timber lands such as Plum Creek and F.H. Stoltze ownership. Those lands are usually open to public recreation use.

This map also shows all public stream and lake access sites and the primary road access routes to public lands. This map is a must have map for anyone recreating around the Flathead. And the good news is that this map is free! Enjoy this weekend in Flathead's great out-of-doors.