Blanchard Lake (Seeley/Swan)

[Linginator]

I was looking for a previous post on this lake but couldn't seem to find one so I thought a new topic wouldn't hurt. 

Anybody been on this "wide spot on the Clearwater" recently.  I've never tried it but read a post a while back that it used to hold good numbers of pike and perch. 

Any recent reports would be appreciated.  I know from driving by it a few times on the way to Harper's, the ice is sketchy at best.

Got that itch to find a new pike/perch hole...

[Zoo Angler]

I wanted to fish it the last two seasons but as you said the ice is bad...Half of the slough usually has water soaked snow on it. I don't really feel like walking onto ice like that... I only saw one person on it in two years of fishing that chain of lakes

[griz247]

It's a fun lake to fish in open water but tough through the ice. The best places to fish are hard to get to on the ice to say the least. The water flow is very strange and makes 50-60% of the lake very shetchy when frozen. I decided after last year to make this a summer destination. I would like to know more about Elbow Lake upstream from Blanchard.

[joshy3006]

i to would like to know about elbow lake , mainly access to it.
thanks

[Mt.Bucket]

No access, private property..

[Linginator]

Correct on Elbow.  Need to know someone for access.

[joshy3006]

bummer

[fishin247]

Is it posted? If its not posted you are allowed to trespass to fish if its not posted.

[fish to live]

it dose not have to be posted any more< its your own fault if u don't have permission and u get caught its all on u


Ps. Respect the Private property and well have permission

[diertae]

I was curious about the trespass law, so i looked it up.
Montana's trespass law states that a member of the public has the privilege to enter private land only:

   1. with the explicit permission of the landowner or his agent, or
   2. when the landowner has failed to post a no-trespassing notice

The recreationist must obtain permission from the landowner before entering posted lands. Montana hunters must always obtain permission to access private land. Recreationists are urged to obtain complete rules about this law from any FWP office.

Believe me I was under the impression that it was all a permission only rule. buuuut turns out it leaves being honest and upstanding to fisherman. Whats that say about hunters?

[i c]

says its biased bs is what it says..we own both sides of the river near a section of the interstate it is posted and you wouldnt believe how many times the fence is cut tied together.brackets taken off by fishermen illegally accessing the river..and once or twice a year they cut it good enough that the cows get out and get on the train tracks.fisherman arent any better than hunters..people are people and there will always be some that ruin it for everybody else.

[diertae]

Oh i have to agree, we have more problems with hunters trespassing than fisherman, mostly because i am constantly publicly complaining about the "terrible fishing in these cricks".  a little disinformation never hurt anyones secret spots. hunters just cant pass up that big buck or bull if they can spot them from the highway.

[fishin247]

As far as hunting goes, you can't trespass period to hunt. You can only trespass to fish or walk, but you can't trespass to hunt period. If a property is posted or has an orange square on the post, it is considered posted.

[diertae]

see previous post on this thread
its the regs on it.

[Nerka]

Elbow lake supposedly has or soon will have public access.  Probably best to consult with FWP on the specifics, but here are a few Missoulian links from Nov 10, 2010, and Jan 1, 2011 on the subject.

http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_a104bd00-ec8d-11df-b462-001cc4c03286.html
http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_920663a8-1618-11e0-ac83-001cc4c03286.html

[griz247]

Fwp bought/swapped a piece of land which will give access to elbow lake....where exactly I don't know. Hope to find out soon.

[griz247]

I received an email from fwp today. The land they swapped for is basically highway land to be used for a project in 2012. The land does touch the Clearwater river but the last 100 yards or so is extremely steep. He did let me know that there is DNRC land that will take you to Elbow lake but the last 50-60 yards is very steep also. So, bottom line is there is access, just crappy access.

[Zoo Angler]

The ice here is fishable with a little bit of water on top... Didn't mark a fish so I went over to harpers