Fort Peck, no boat?

[R.K.]

I think I’ve covered it with the title. I don’t have a boat currently, but would love up go up in May/June timeframe to do some fishing for northern and walleye.

Is this doable from shore? Or are there any reasonable boat rentals up there?

If I don’t hear a better plan, I’m thinking of throwing up the tent at Hell Creek, walking the bank with either boots or waders to find structure, then throwing minnows and frozen smelt, and a mix of soft and hard baits.

 

[Rack Daniels]

We were just talking about this. The drive from Bozeman with the wife and kids was miserable and I quit going after 2 years… it’s been another few years and we’ve cut the distance in half by moving to Billings. Hoping to get out there this year and find better luck avoiding the high winds and fishing from shore.
If you don’t already know, get your bait and ice prior to arrival at the lake
Also, if’n you feel inclined; It would be cool to know what baits are working and what is not, in what kind of area… rocks? Weeds? Drop-off/Thermocline?
Good luck and see ya around!!!

 

[cgasner1]

If the weather permits I’d drop into devil creek before driving all the way to hell creek if your gonna fish for the shore. I quit spring fishing when they dropped the water and I couldn’t put on at crooked creek anymore

 

[bigsky2]

Definitely doable. When the water is cold, I’ve seen the people from shore do just as well as most of the people that are in boats.

 

[Pagosa]

Pm sent

 

[Pagosa]

Pm sent. There are no boat rentals besides pontoon or something really small that you don't want to take out there

 

[Big Fin]

Hell Creek Marina at one time had boat rentals. Not sure if they still do. I had to tow one of their boats back in a prairie tempest. I'd stick within the Hell Creek bay area if you rented one.

Like others said, the further upriver you go, the better the shore fishing. Also, it is better in May than in June, with June better than July. Almost always some pike and smallmouth can be found in the shallows near shore. As water warms, walleyes go deeper, with occasional shallow water appearances when the wind is howling into that shore.

That said, the lack of mobility via shore fishing makes it a hit-or-miss proposition. PM sent with some other ideas.