Late August is making anglers work a little harder. River temps are warm by midday, so the trout bite is best at first light with hoppers, ants, and small nymphs in the deeper runs. The Yellowstone and Madison are still giving up nice browns if you stick to the shady banks.
Walleye fishing on Fort Peck and Tongue River Reservoir has been steady, with bottom bouncers tipped with crawlers producing best. Canyon Ferry is also kicking out walleye in deeper water near the dam. On smaller prairie lakes, look shallow in the mornings for perch and crappie.
For the adventurous crowd, alpine lakes are still fishing well — cutthroat and brookies are cruising the shorelines and hitting small spinners and woollies. Late summer means fewer bugs, so a little extra patience pays off.
