IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Montana => Ice Fishing Montana => Topic started by: Lsranger406 on Dec 13, 2017, 06:45 PM
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So just want to ask if many people out there fish small woods ponds during hard water season? I live in Clinton just outside of Missoula. I side by side ride past a pond or two all summer long that at times you can see fish jumping. I guess my question is how would you go about figuring it out to ice fish? I have access into a private pond this weekend. See fish in the creek all the time going to the pond. What is everyone's suggestions on how they would go about fishing it? I've got a helix set up to map the pond and figure out depths. Not scared to drill a hole and start fishing. I know the fish are gonna be small Brook trout. What would you do?
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try to deduce where the structure is, drill and move until you find them..
Check an aerial view too.
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(https://s17.postimg.cc/x2yz5u1zv/Screenshot_20171213-184415.png) (https://postimg.cc/image/x2yz5u1zv/)
This is the pond. What do you think? Looks shallow. Also looks like may be one deeper spot in pond
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holy cow thats tiny and ive driven by it many times.
Id just drill holes in the middle as that looks the deepest and spread out from there. There's no place for them to really hide:)
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Yeah, I agree with missoulafish. Punch a hole in the middle, and drop something shiny down there. Let us know what happens, and be safe!
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ive often wondered if the small ponds along I-90 heading east have anything in them. I was checking out google earth and there is actually quite a few old railroad ponds hidden just off the freeway.
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True story! I think some of them have a hard time freezing up...
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I know these two freeze up. They are both just off the bearmouth exit. What do you guys think. Are they worth wasting a day and seeing if there is fish in them?
(https://s18.postimg.cc/6jvz3jxqt/Screenshot_20171214-162148.png) (https://postimg.cc/image/6jvz3jxqt/)
(https://s18.postimg.cc/nx69iedmd/Screenshot_20171214-162216.png) (https://postimg.cc/image/nx69iedmd/)
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I don't know about those two, but there is a good sized pond just south of the Bearmouth Area exit that has bass in it. I'm told there are bluegill as well. I haven't fished it in about twenty years, but I think it's the one I remember. I've heard that the railroad tried to keep people off it, though. Don't know if that is true, but the worst they could do is ask you to leave.
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Missoulafish clean you inbox. Been trying to pm you for an hour
Anyways ya I've heard rumors about all them ponds. Guess I'm just gonna have to start drilling holes. Like said before what they gonna do tell me to leave
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ok space now..lol
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What about the pond directly at the rest stop?
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That's one I've always wondered to. Also what about all the little backwaters along the the Clark fork in Bonner. They freeze solid. Might catch a few pike. Use to be full of them before the dam was removed. I know alot of the pike went down river but might get lucky.
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That pond at the rest area has a bunch of little pumpkinseed sunfish about three inches long. I feed 'me hoppers in the summer.
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I've had great days on the pond in Lolo and have always wondered about the action around Bonner. I'd punch a hole or two any day.
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Dont underestimate them,there are a couple tiny "ponds" around here full of perch and the occasional hog walleye.
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Dont underestimate them,there are a couple tiny "ponds" around here full of perch and the occasional hog walleye.
what small pond around Missoula has perch or walleye. I'm gonna call bs on the walleye. I can see perch but not a walleye. If there is let's go try for them
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Mcjigger, If the railroad pond you are talking about is the one I am thinking about, I don't think it ever freezes.
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Here in Wyoming, I try to hit overlooked waters like the ones you guys are talking about. Something about it is a great challenge for me. I don’t care about the size of fish, just wanting the challenge of finding answers to my musings of what lies below the ice. Looking forward to seeing your results!
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what small pond around Missoula has perch or walleye. I'm gonna call bs on the walleye. I can see perch but not a walleye. If there is let's go try for them
who said Missoula?
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Did I say around Missoula?Read my post
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Did I say around Missoula?Read my post
I read it. You are good. Keep us posted on the Walleye near Helena. ;D :tipup:
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Hopefully Ill have something useful to report by Friday...
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Mcjigger, If the railroad pond you are talking about is the one I am thinking about, I don't think it ever freezes.
Thanks wyo! Saved me a trip.
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Mcjigger, If the railroad pond you are talking about is the one I am thinking about, I don't think it ever freezes.
Yeah that one and a few others have warm spring seeps
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Anyone been ballsy enough to fish the quarry pond east of Reserve Street just before you go over the bridge? I've caught pike and believe it or not a smallmouth out of there. If you're brave enough to walk through the bum camp..
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Did I say around Missoula?Read my post
my bad. Jumped the gun. Your good.
So been to one pond in the middle of the woods and caught these. Got 11 first day and six the second.
(https://s9.postimg.cc/i4fe5jpt7/IMG_20171216_120807968.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/i4fe5jpt7/)
(https://s9.postimg.cc/h257n4wqz/IMG_20171216_110734129.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/h257n4wqz/)
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Anyone been ballsy enough to fish the quarry pond east of Reserve Street just before you go over the bridge? I've caught pike and believe it or not a smallmouth out of there. If you're brave enough to walk through the bum camp..
I had no idea that anything was in there... Can you legally access it?
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I've had some great ice fishing success on small ponds. I'd suggest being cautious on some of these ponds especially if there's a couple warm days because of the influx of water making the edges soft. Fell through a couple times doing that also. Let us hear how you do if you get on them.
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I had no idea that anything was in there... Can you legally access it?
Been wondering the same thing
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I dont know of its legal or not to park along the freeway but could always try. I also know a few people that live back along the river might be able to access through their property. I will have to ask.
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I started poking around on Montana Cadastral. It looks like the strip of land directly east of Reserve street, between the street and the quarry, is owned by the state. If you had somebody drop you off, I don't see any real legal issues with crossing that state land to get to the water. The entire pond is being shown as owned by a Venture West LLC out of Polson. That is the only part that would make me nervous. I suppose this is another scenario where the worst that could happen is somebody might kick you off. Thoughts?
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It’s technically a mining site and is private.
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I'm thinkn more about those Bonner back waters. Didn't explain that in last post. Think they might be worth getting onto. I'm gonna drive the freeway this weekend and check all the little railroad ponds going towards Drummond.
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Right on Missoulafish,,, It IS a MSHA Mine site and TOTALLY OFF LIMITS.....
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Rumor has it that when that quarry is mined out the city has first option to purchase and there is already a plan to turn it into a park. Hard to believe it's entirely off limits since there is a bum camp there year round.
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Rumor has it that when that quarry is mined out the city has first option to purchase and there is already a plan to turn it into a park. Hard to believe it's entirely off limits since there is a bum camp there year round.
That would be awesome! By the way Titan666,I sent you a PM. Have a great day!
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Rumor has it that when that quarry is mined out the city has first option to purchase and there is already a plan to turn it into a park. Hard to believe it's entirely off limits since there is a bum camp there year round.
If the city allows vagrants to live there Id fish it,just take a cardboard box with you and claim your squating if they harass you.
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So you're telling me that all I need to do is look all disheveled and bummish?
I'm wayyy ahead of you!
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I'm thinkn more about those Bonner back waters. Didn't explain that in last post. Think they might be worth getting onto. I'm gonna drive the freeway this weekend and check all the little railroad ponds going towards Drummond.
careful...I know it would be fun to check out a lot of these... I know of a few that have good fishing....but the ones I fish have springs..forced by physics from the height of the tracks.. they do get overflow...but what keeps the fish alive in some is the percolating spring and oxygen..on some of these rr track ponds it is not uncommon to see ice depth fall off the face of the earth the closer you get to the spring...not saying don't do it..just be careful..especially in fresh snow..especially if its a thermal.. lots of thermal water in the state..it doesn't need to be a hot spring to be a warm thermal...just my two cents
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You are right CCC,, well just to the west of those RR ponds is Nimrod,, Its a thermal pool...
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Good looking out ccc.
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Found a couple more lake/ponds I'm wondering if anyone has been on. Tuppers I think its called. Its in between seeley and placid lake. Go through dog town in seeley and take the cut across road through the woods towards placid lake. The other is hidden lake in between the 9 and 10 mile marker on the placid lake road headed towards jocko lakes. Oh and echo lake. I guess its behind placid. Anyone out there know if there is fish? I've got transportation into all of them and a place to stay in seeley.
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Id try them all,I know there are ponds scattered around that valley loaded with jumbo perch and bass that dont get fished much.Dont be afraid to ask permission to get to the ones on private either,you might be surprised. :tipup: