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.

 

[R.K.]

Gave Hell Creek a call today, they decided it wasn’t worth the trouble to rent fishing boats anymore. Liability, monetary, etc. So no rentals up that way, to their knowledge. All they have is pontoon boats, maybe.

Thanks for all the replies, I’ll be checking PMs shortly. Seems that May is starting to be busy like October with outdoor scheduling conflicts. Definitely plan to miss the holiday up there, though.

Biggest draw for me at Hell Creek is proximity and the showers. God knows I need one after fishing, especially if it’s northerns.

 

[Dan-06]

Yes, Clint at hell creek has rentals. Plus Ben Powell is a great guide.

 

[Hem]

I go every year in May ...I do a fair amount of walking.
I think there can be good shore fishing at Hell creek.

 

[Walkathon]

^^ @Hem Nice! I'll bet that was a wild ride!

 

[Hem]

^^ @Hem Nice! I'll bet that was a wild ride!

Yes.
It's a brief passion each year, finding pike in the Spring. Damn water levels at Peck change from year to year. So every year its a new game.
I love the predator aspect of pike, and catching them on a fly is pretty dang cool.

 

[R.K.]

Yes.
It's a brief passion each year, finding pike in the Spring. Damn water levels at Peck change from year to year. So every year its a new game.
I love the predator aspect of pike, and catching them on a fly is pretty dang cool.

I guess I’ll have to tie up a couple pike flies and drag out the 8wt if I go.

 

[Hem]

I guess I’ll have to tie up a couple pike flies and drag out the 8wt if I go.

When I get home from work I'll send you a pic of " money" fly.

 

[Dan-06]

I would love to see the money fly also. I use a couple different ones myself. Catching them on a fly is so much fun.

 

[bigsky2]

Throwing big streamers at Peck is a lot of fun. I was up there walleye fishing a couple of years ago and wasn't having much luck, so I decided I'd bust out the fly rod and try for pike and bass. Started casting streamers in to the bank and immediately I started catching walleyes. Apparently they were on the feed in the shallows and I was fishing too deep when I was pulling crawler rigs in 10-15'.

 

[Hem]

I guess I’ll have to tie up a couple pike flies and drag out the 8wt if I go.

For the last ten years, or so, I make my annual trip to Peck for pike. Usually combine it with a little turkey hunting.
In the beginning years I tried alot of different pike flies. Eventually, through trial and error, two flies proved themselves time and again. This black bunny fly accounts for more pike hands down. Its called Barry's Pike Fly.
Typically I use a 10 wght rod with a Rio Outbound Short floating line. Leader is about 4' of 40lb flouro, with a 18" -24" of 20lb flouro length tied in with an Albright knot. On the end of the 20lb I fasten an "O" ring. Attached to the ring is about 6" of wire. I have a bunch of Tyger wire which is versatile for knots.
Unfortunately that company was a covid casualty.
Ive explored most of the Dry Arm. Caught pike at McGuire, Nelson, Rock creek, also further North to Duck creek. Shore fishing with fly can be tough...but in my experience the key is to find areas that have weed. In May it might not be fully developed, but its there. Drop offs a big plus. I walk pretty far looking for these spots, and disregard very sandy/ mud zones. Structure great too, but sometimes hard to find. The killer is wind, not because of casting difficulty but how it affects water quality. If the water is fouled up and has zero clarity dont waste your time. Last year the first day was great, but the wind picked up significantly and shut things down. I often watch the wind forecast prior to the trip. Sometimes you can strategically fish bays that are protected and not affected by the turbulence in the main body of the lake.
Often, the weather is unpredictable.
Long winded, but just trying to share Intel. Its so much gdamn fun.

Even more fun if you see cruising pike and coax them to chase your fly.
Anyway, every year the lake level is different...spots dont carry over from year to year.
Hope this helps.