From Missoula, travel approximately 50 miles east on I-90 before taking exit 153 for MT-1 toward Drummond/Phillipsburg. Bonneville Power Administration Project No. “One of the biggest causes of low dissolved oxygen levels in winter is too large of a drawdown,” he explains. But one thing has remained the same: Georgetown continues to produce top-notch trout and kokanee salmon fishing for anglers of all abilities. Fall however provides some excellent fishing for large brook trout. Lake. Native species Stonecat, Noturus flavus; Non-native, exotic species Black bullhead, Ameiurus melas; Yellow bullhead, Ameiurus natalis; Drum. A detailed fishing report for the Georgetown Lake will make the difference between a good fishing here and a bad one. Rainbow trout can be taken all summer long, particularly during the strong caddisfly hatch the lake has during July and August. At Georgetown Lake Kokanee salmon is the most sought after species, followed by rainbow trout. Ice Fishing Montana's Georgetown Lake - Duration: 8:56. With this management approach, the lake ends up with the best of both worlds—two different fisheries for people who want fish for the freezer and another one for those wanting the brook trout of a lifetime.”. The average size trout is much larger than you’d find in many other reservoirs. He adds that FWP manages Georgetown Lake’s rainbows as a harvest fishery. Is that in store for Georgetown Lake, a scenic mountain paradise and one Blue, channel, and flathead catfish are present in the reservoir. most abundant species in Georgetown Lake. Georgetown Lake Fishing Reports Recently shared catches and fishing spots. All Rights Reserved. “At the hookup, there’s a big, explosive run. Georgetown Lake is a reservoir located just 17.3 miles from Anaconda, in Granite County, in the state of Montana, United States, near Echo Lake (historical), MT. Today Georgetown’s Forty-three percent of the land around the lake is public making the lake and the surrounding hills home to a diversity of wildlife. On winter weekends, portable ice fishing huts, makeshift shanties, and anglers braving the cold and wind dot the lake’s eastern side just off Montana Highway 1. 8:56. For now, Georgetown is able to produce this remarkable combination. Sep, 08, 2019 - Georgetown Lake. Conditions At-a-glance. Georgetown Lake, Anaconda, Montana. “If the lake were drawn down just another 1.5 feet, that would take away 50 percent of the habitable water for these fish.”. primary purpose is to store water for In many lakes, the excess nitrogen and phosphorus can make water murky, grow thick mats of vegetation, and result in fewer fish. department is considering dropping the limit to one brook trout per day or using some other more restrictive regulation in a further attempt to maintain or increase trophy-sized fish in the lake. ! In addition to But it often occurs in winter, when ice blocks sunshine and wind action ends. “I don’t know of any easily accessible lake in Montana where you can catch brook trout that big,” Liermann says. In the right amounts, aquatic vegetation is great for fish, says Liermann. Copyright © 2003-2017 Montana Outdoors. Stafford suspects that the smaller size may be due to lower densities of zooplankton, the salmon’s preferred food. Moose, elk, white tail and mule deer are abundant residents. Conor Russell. 1; 21; Details; Oct 21, 2018 Shawn Gearinger 0. What’s more, recent FWP population surveys found that Georgetown continues to support abundant and healthy fish populations, though the average size of its kokanee has declined. My last day is Sunday at 5pm for this icefishing season till December! He says that for years anglers were allowed a daily limit of ten fish or 10 pounds of fish, which resulted in high harvests that reduced the average size of rainbow trout to just 10 inches long. Brown Trout with a Rapala ulm6 . Woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep.. talked myself into going fishing for a half day. The shallow 2,088-acre lake is extraordinarily prolific, producing some of the best trout and kokanee salmon fishing in the state and attracting more angling pressure per acre than any reservoir in Montana. of Montana’s most productive and popular sport fisheries? “I’ve never seen anything like it.”. Liermann says the But the real attraction is rainbow trout in the 16"- 26" range. The trout and salmon draw anglers “It goes right up the food chain.”. A smaller species than the rainbow, brook trout in most lakes rarely reach 14 inches. UPDATE 3/5/2019: MFWP crew gill netted Georgetown Reservoir in September 2018. He’s seen it change through the years, with more anglers and, especially, more shoreline houses. Game birds include blue and Franklin’s grouse, Hungarian partridge, mallard, teal, merganser, and other ducks and geese. Our Philipsburg location, Flint Creek Outdoors, is open 7 days a week, 7:30a-5p. There are also badgers, porcupines, pine martins, skunks, muskrat, mink, weasels, ermine, rabbits, ground squirrels, gophers and a great variety of mice, moles and voles. Georgetown Lake Fishing. They also investigated the composition and concentrations of the water’s phytoplankton and zooplankton—tiny plants and animals suspended in the water column. of his former students. Whether it can continue doing so may depend largely on how many people build homes on the scenic lake’s shoreline and whether those who use its water for a wide range of purposes can continue to work cooperatively. “People love this lake as a place where they can come up and catch rainbows and kokanee and take them home,” Liermann says. Dodging winterkill But after vegetation dies, microbes consume it, using up the water’s dissolved oxygen with their activity. Independent Record outdoor writer Tom Kuglin with a brook trout caught through the ice at Georgetown Lake. Because the lake is relatively shallow, ice forms and fishing generally begins earlier than many of the other Montana lakes. That may have been too liberal. Its quality fly fishing, combined with its scenic and convenient location near West Yellowstone, make Hebgen Lake a popular destination for both local and visiting anglers. Flooding the flats Oct 20, 2018 - Georgetown Lake. FWP and graduate student researchers had previously accumulated extensive water quality data before the lake was heavily developed. Among the countless variety of other birds are blue heron, loons, various woodpeckers and sand cranes. “The only drawback is that when you let people keep that many, there’s going to be a limit on how large the average fish size can get.”, Luebeck, the Anaconda angler, says he mainly pursues rainbows, fly-fishing from a boat. In winter, Georgetown Lake is used for ice fishing and snowmobiling. hydropower and downstream irrigation, as well as sustain a popular recreation lake for boating, swimming, and fishing. Birds of prey are numerous with any number of hawk species including red tail, cooper, rough legged, Northern goshawk; bald and golden eagles and the occasional falcon. The potential for wind, combined with the lakes large size, makes m… Biologists observed 500+ adult dead fish. Otherwise, Rock Creek is a good option nearby, though. Hector Razo. DECISION NOTICE Georgetown Lake Brook Trout Population Enhancement Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks 3201 Spurgin Road Missoula, MT 59804 (406) 542-5500 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT The brook trout population has declined to record lows and is a unique and sought after part of the Georgetown Lake fishery. Since then, says Liermann, the lake’s rainbows have grown to average about 14 inches. We apologize for any inconvenience. But the additions have been more than offset by increased nutrient uptake by aquatic vegetation and the loss of nutrients when bottom water is released from the dam’s base in winter. You don’t need to travel to Labrador to see fish like this – they live … Georgetown Lake Fishing. Georgetown Lake’s rainbow trout, brook trout, and kokanee salmon fisheries remain productive. Anglers from throughout western and central Montana come to Georgetown to put the non-native fish in their coolers. State fish stocking records date to the 1920s, according to Brad Liermann, the local biologist for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Good morning from Georgetown Lake +23, 8-13 sw, and +24” of ice!!! Birds of prey are numerous with any number of hawk species including red tail, cooper, rough legged, Northern goshawk; bald and golden eagles and the occasional falcon. Stop in and talk to Josh for … Within less than a decade, numbers had increased tenfold. Hatching in early July, delicate bright blue and black barred damsel flies are the target of the lake’s big rainbows. Georgetown Lake FISH SURVEY AND MANAGEMENT DATA Paul Winkle, Aquatic Biologist, Denver paul.winkle@state.co.us / 303-291-7232 … We have a friendly, casual Lounge with excellent bar staff. Too much nitrogen and phosphorus in a lake can boost the growth of aquatic plants. Canoeing and boating are also popular activities. “My kids You need an 8-pound-test tippet to handle those fish and muscle them up and out of the weeds.”. Among the predators, black bears are a common sight and residents are cautioned not to leave garbage cans, bird feeders and pet food where bears can get to them. Anglers travel great distances to drill holes through the ice here. Georgetown Lake is Montana’s premier flatwater fishery. Georgetown Lake: Georgetown lake is one of Southwest Montana's most scenic lakes. Rainbow trout, brook trout, lake trout, bass, carp, etc. Big Sky Outdoors - Ice fishing with the guys from Snappy's - Duration: 23:42. Georgetown Lake is considered a Blue Ribbon fishery and holds trophy-sized rainbow and brook trout. The Lake has four public boat ramps. Georgetown Flats was the location of a placer mining camp operated by George Cameron from 1867. Pretty trout! Great catch! But that could change, says Pat Saffel, FWP regional fisheries manager in Missoula. OUR TIPS OF THE WEEK: Get the ice hut out. In Georgetown they can top 20 inches. Angling. Also keeping Georgetown healthy are two tributaries that provide fresh water to the lake as well as extensive groundwater that boosts dissolved oxygen in some spots. Hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers will find no shortage of trails within a few miles of the campground. The project was funded through the Granite County Conservation District with a grant from the state Natural Resource Damage Program. Georgetown Lake also holds a healthy, self-sustaining population of kokanee salmon, another popular food fish. Status of the Fishery: 5/16/2018--A partial fish kill was reported and observed. Lake Georgetown also supports a low-density white crappie population. Fish, Wildlife and Parks are investigating why dead fish washed up on the shores of Georgetown Lake over the weekend. “[Septic system] nutrients may not be in the water, but they are in the lake system as vegetation. For more information, contact: Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest 420 Barrett St. Dillon, MT 59725-3572 Ph: (406)-683 … Georgetown Lake has four public boat ramps. We suspect the cause for the decline to be drought and whirling disease. Native species Freshwater drum, Aplodinotus grunniens; Smelt. Also in the area, though more rare, are wolves, mountain lions, lynx and probably an occasional migrating grizzly. Liermann says that liberal limits during the late 20th century, and perhaps whirling disease in recent years, caused brook trout numbers to decline. With 25 miles of shoreline that winds along bays, inlets, and points, Georgetown Non native, exotic species Rainbow smelt, Osmerus mordax; Gars 1; Details; Aug, 06, 2017 CHUCK LOFTIS 0. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality contributed too. Liermann says rainbows of 15 to 20 inches are common, with an occasional fish reaching 22 inches, or about 5 pounds. During the fall is the best time to fish for the large brook trout that are found in Georgetown Lake. Liermann says rainbows of 15 to 20 inches are common, with an occasional fish reaching 22 inches, or about 5 pounds. References My cousin and I enjoying a great night out on the lake after work! Stuart Mill Bay, located in the southeast corner of the lake, is a shallow cove rimmed with low bushes and wetlands; perfect damselfly habitat. But in recent years, area residents have feared that Georgetown’s great fishing might be threatened. “That could indicate a shift in how the Georgetown Lake is technically a reservoir, originally created in the late 19th century by impounding North Fork Flint Creek in a meadow known as Georgetown Flats. The department stocks roughly 200,000 rainbows per year, and the fish grow fat in the shallow, … Though much of the shoreline is private, visitors can find several U.S. Forest Service, FWP, and other camp­grounds to set up a tent or park an RV. Fortunately no major fish kills have occurred over the last three decades. Continue 37 miles south on MT-1 and then turn right onto Georgetown Lake Road. have caught 20-inch rainbows right off the beach,” says Luebeck. “These are heavy fish that tend to put on more mass than river fish, because they don’t have to fight current all day,” he says. Georgetown Lake is a 2,818-acre reservoir in Deer Lodge and Granite Counties, Montana. Yes, we said 26" rainbows. In 1901, Flint Creek Dam was enlarged by the Montana Water, Electric Power, and Mining Company to produce electricity for nearby mining operations. The research scientist found that, contrary to expectations, nutrient concentrations in Georgetown Lake’s water have actually declined, leading to less phytoplankton and clearer water than in years past. oxygen levels, Stafford and his crew measured nitrogen and phosphorous. Anyone have a bead on the location of any springs? “Winter­kill,” common to ponds in eastern Montana, can result in large numbers of fish suffocating from too little dissolved oxygen. Pautzke Bait 5,085 views. Luebeck recalls a day two summers ago when his son’s friend pulled in a brookie that weighed over 6 pounds. Libby, MT: Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Annual Report prepared for U.S. Department of Energy Bonneville Power Administration. Stafford’s project also called for mapping, from an airplane, the lake’s abundant beds of whitestem pondweed and comparing the coverage to maps from 1975 and 1981 that were created by a Montana State University graduate student. BEST TECHNIQUES: Ice fishing. nutrients in the lake are being used, with more now in the form of aquatic vegetation and less in the form of phytoplankton,” says the research scientist. Georgetown Lake is located 18 miles west of Anaconda, MT, off MT Hwy 1. Georgetown Lake Montana is built by Because water is released from the dam’s base, some nitrogen and phosphorus is regularly flushed out of the lake system. There are also badgers, porcupines, pine martins, skunks, muskrat, mink, weasels, ermine, rabbits, ground squirrels, gophers and a great variety of mice, moles and voles. Gary N. Aug, 22, 2017 - Georgetown Lake. Let's face it, there's a lot we can learn and share from one another like what bait or lure is generating the best results. Georgetown consistently ranks in the top 10 most-fished waters in Montana. summer and winter. Georgetown Lake is a popular recreation area for boating, fishing, camping and windsurfing. By 1886, most of the residents of the Georgetown camp had abandoned the flats. Tempest Technologies. As a shallow lake sitting high at 6,400 feet, Georgetown is sheathed in ice from mid-November to May. Details: Rainbow Trout. 2006-008-00, Contract Nos. In winter, the abundant vegetation dies, which can cause fish die-offs due to oxygen depletion. is framed by the Pintler, Sapphire, and Flint Creek Mountains contained within the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The 2009 results show that rainbow trout (stocked) comprised the larg-est percentage (76%) of the spe-cies present, followed by brown trout (23%) and a few longnose suckers. “When a lake produces lots of plant growth, that produces lots of aquatic invertebrates, which in turn produce lots of fish,” he explains. “We want people to be able to take fish home, so we let them keep five rainbows,” Liermann says. Dec 25, 2016 - Georgetown Lake. In 2004, FWP instituted catch-and-release-only regulations on the colorful eastern United States native and began supplementing the population with hatchery fish. It is a large; 3,000 acre, high; over 6,000 feet, mountain lake. 48555 and 53910. Though Stafford didn’t evaluate the amount of nutrients added by the household wastewater facilities, he speculates that more phosphorus and nitrogen is entering the lake. “It was a world-class brook trout,” he says. Being such a large lake, along with its location on a high plateau near Yellowstone National Park, creates windy conditions at times. “Georgetown’s bottom withdrawal may also be a factor in the paradox of declining nutrients in the face of increasing housing development,” Stafford says. At Georgetown Lake Kokanee salmon is the most sought after species, followed by rainbow trout. “We took various measurements over two years and compared them with the past data.”. He adds that FWP manages Georgetown Lake’s rainbows as a harvest fishery. The Lake is at an elevation of 6,337 just west of the Anaconda Range, 15 minutes west of the town of Anaconda and 15 minutes south east of Philipsburg. 9 likes. 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