Read the full article at the Helena Independent Record.

Anglers are just starting to use hoppers on some of Montana’s rivers and streams, although the bite is just coming on and not close to full-blown yet.

That’s a good sign of upcoming days filled with fun fishing as summer hits high gear.

For lake fishermen, Tongue River Reservoir, Bighorn Lake and Fort Peck Reservoir are good places to spend an afternoon or two.

With temperatures soaring, remember to stay hydrated on your fishing trips, wear a hat and sunglasses and use sunscreen.

Here’s the weekly fishing report:

Bighorn Lake: Walleye fishing is a little slow, but picking up. Troll in the Slide Area with Rapalas in 15-20 feet of water. Or try trolling right along the cliff edges in 15-20 feet of water. A lot of small bass are being caught pitching crankbaits into the coves under the driftwood. Anywhere where the streams are coming in, anglers are doing well with browns and rainbows pitching perch-colored Rapalas or emerald shiner imitations. — OK-A-Beh Marina, Fort Smith.

Bighorn River: The river was at 5,200 cfs on Tuesday. Dry fly action has come on in the past few days. Yellow sallies are working in sizes 14-16. PMDs are taking fish in sizes 16-18. PMD cripples are also working. Nymphing is working well, too. San Juan worms or wire worms in red or orange in sizes 4-6 will work. After that drop off 18 inches of 4x tippet and run firebead sowbugs in sizes 18-20 in either tan or pink. A soft-hackle Ray Charles in tan or gray sizes 14-16 will work. Hoppers are just starting to come on. Fish a size 14 in tan or cream and use a Rainy’s Grand Hopper. — Bighorn Fly and Tackle.

Boulder River: The river’s flow is a little high down low, but can be wade fished up high. Stimulators, irresistibles and rubber legged hare’s ears nymphs are working. — Rainbow Run Fly Shop.

Canyon Ferry Reservoir: A few rainbows are being picked up trolling perch-colored Rapalas around Hole-in-the-Wall, Duck Creek and Cemetery Island. Bank fishermen are having success fishing with worms and marshmallows throughout the reservoir. Walleye fishing picked up over the past week throughout the reservoir. Pulling bottom bouncers with worms or leeches and trolling cranks produced the best bite. Most anglers are concentrating on 12-20 feet of water for walleyes, but jigging produced some fish in deeper water on the north end. A few perch are also being caught while fishing for walleye. Water temperatures remained steady between the high 60s and low 70s and the reservoir remains at approximately 1 foot above full pool. — Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Helena.

Fort Peck Reservoir, dam area: Fishing in the Governor’s Cup wasn’t too bad. Try the Haxby Point, Bear Creek, Skunk Creek, Gilbert Creek and the Pines areas. Walleyes are running all sizes, but anglers are landing more of the medium eating-sized fish than in previous years. Lake trout are off of Haxby Point and York Island 110 feet down over 140 feet of water. Try flashers and squids or Evil Eye Flutter Spoons. Smallmouth bass are biting well, too. — Lakeridge, Fort Peck.

Gallatin River: It is fishing awesome in the canyon and valley. Use an attractor pattern and dropper and brown rubber-legs and prince nymphs. Also try little lightning bugs. — Montana Troutfitters, Bozeman.

Hauser Reservoir: Rainbow fishing has been fair between York Bridge and Black Sandy while trolling cowbells with a worm. Shore action for rainbows has been slow. Good walleye action has been reported in the Causeway while using bottom bouncers and worms in 15 feet of water. Shore anglers are picking up walleye at the Causeway Bridge on jigs with a leech in the late evenings. — FWP, Helena.

Holter Reservoir: Rainbow fishing is good in the early morning in 15 to 20 feet of water while trolling cowbells tipped with a crawler around Split Rock and just above the dam. Walleye fishing is very good with most action around Cottonwood Creek, Split Rock and shallow bays. The best bet is using chartreuse jigs or bottom bouncers in 12 to 15 feet of water in the late evenings. A few perch are being caught. — FWP, Helena.

Madison River: The water temperature on the lower river is 68 degrees over the dam. There is a lot of moss. Dry fly action in the evening is good, but we are staying off as it is too warm. The upper river is fishing OK in the evenings with small lightning bugs, caddis, PMDs and small attractors. — Montana Troutfitters, Bozeman.

Missouri River, below Holter: It is fishing OK. There aren’t as many fish in there as the spawning is over. — Montana Troutfitters, Bozeman.

Tongue River Reservoir: A 14.5-pound northern was caught Sunday on the north end. People are doing well on the south end for walleyes with jigs and leeches. Orange, chartreuse, yellow, pink or white are all good colors. Smallmouth are being caught with jigs and a leech or a Rapala. Crappie are still biting, but not as many are being caught. Try jigs and crawlers or jigs and minnows. — Tongue River Marina.

Yellowstone River, Huntley: Anglers are taking catfish on minnows or crawlers. Smallmouth are also biting on minnows or crawlers. Try the Captain Clark area for catfish and the Gritty Stone area for bass. — Minnow Bucket, Huntley.

Yellowstone River, Livingston: Stay off the river between Carter’s Bridge and Highway 89 as the river volume is too high and it is dangerous. From Carter’s south to Gardiner is good and the flows are OK. From Springdale to Big Timber, fishing is OK. — Montana Troutfitters, Bozeman.