As seen in The Billings Gazette, JOHN LETASKY Of The Gazette Staff

As the dog days of summer unwind, river fishermen are anxiously awaiting the hopper and terrestrial fishing to take off.

Many river fishermen are now finding streams to be clearing and easier to wade as the flows drop and are looking for good dry fly fishing in the weeks ahead.

Lake fishermen are having success on several bodies of water trolling for trout, and walleye fishing is good at Fort Peck Reservoir, Holter Reservoir and Canyon Ferry Reservoir.

With temperatures in the 90s expected this weekend, it also might be a good time to find a shade tree, cast into the river, set up a lawn chair, kick back and relax waiting for the fish to bite. Maybe even attach a bell to the pole in case you happen to wander to the cooler and take your eyes off the pole.

Here’s The Gazette’s weekly fishing report:

Ackley Lake: Lots of guys are out trolling with cowbells and Wedding Rings tipped with a crawler. A Salmo Hornet crankbait is working. — Don’s, Lewistown.

Bighorn Lake, Barry’s Landing: Try jigging with leeches for walleyes. Crappie are also biting. — Pryor Creek Bait Co., Laurel.

Bighorn Lake, Ok-A-Beh: Fishing is picking up and anglers are catching more walleyes. Try jigging with a worm. Trout are biting in the Black Canyon area on crankbaits. A Panther Martin would be a good lure. Smallmouth bass are biting. Try a crayfish imitation for smallmouth. — OK-A-Beh Marina, Fort Smith.

Bighorn River: The flows were down to 3,530 cfs on Tuesday and this should be the last drop of the summer. Dry fly action is coming on, with yellow Sallies taking trout. PMDs are also working. Right before sundown there is a pretty decent black caddis hatch. Hopper action is still slow, but is getting there. — Bighorn Fly and Tackle.

Boulder River: The cfs was 900 on Tuesday and has come down and cleared. The upper river above Natural Bridge is very clear and fishing well. Fish olive and yellow stimulators with red Copper Johns, prince nymphs and hare’s ears as droppers. — Rainbow Run Fly Shop.

Boysen Reservoir, Wyo.: Worm harnesses and bottom bouncing with a half crawler in 9-20 feet is taking walleyes. Crappie are being caught the same way. For trout, use a 3/8- ounce white-headed jig with a flake chartreuse tail. — Boysen Lake Marina.

Buffalo Bill Reservoir, Wyo.: Anglers are trolling spoons for rainbows and lake trout. Kamlooper spoons are working the best. The lake is clear and in good shape. Statewide in Wyoming, boat anglers need to buy an invasive species sticker for their boat before fishing. The license can be bought at any Wyoming license vendor. — Rocky Mountain Discount Sports, Cody.

Canyon Ferry Reservoir: Rainbow fishing remains consistent from shore using worms and marshmallows. The best action has been at the north end of the Silos and Chinamen’s Bay.  A few rainbows are being picked up trolling perch-colored Rapalas in areas around Hole-in-the-Wall and Cemetery Island. — Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Helena.

Cooney Reservoir:A lot of people are heading there to fish. Evening fishing seems to be the best for walleyes. Try worm harnesses with bottom bouncers. The trout being caught are smaller. — Pryor Creek Bait Co., Laurel.

Deadmans Basin: They are catching some fish, but it’s not going crazy. — Super D, Ryegate.

Fort Peck Reservoir, Big Dry Arm: Fishing has been pretty good with a lot of small walleyes being caught.  People are fishing between 15 and 20 feet using worms and leeches with bottom bouncers. Lake trout are being caught in 120 feet. We haven’t heard any reports on salmon being caught yet. — Rock Creek Marina.

Fort Peck Reservoir, dam area: The walleye bite has really turned on in Bear and Duck Creek. Or try Sage Creek, the Pines, Gilbert Creek or Crooked Creek. The walleyes are in 10-20 feet of water. Most methods are working with the preferred bait being crawlers and leeches. The lake trout are 120-130 feet deep.  — Lakeridge, Fort Peck.

Fort Peck Reservoir, Fourchette Bay: The annual Fall Classic has been moved from the dam area to Fourchette this year and will be held Aug. 7-8. Divisions are available for families, a two-person team, adult-child and mixed couples. The entry fee is $50 for families and $250 for the remaining divisions. The entry deadline is Aug. 6. For information, call Dave Snyder at 406-366-9055. — Don’s, Lewistown.

Fort Peck Reservoir, Hell Creek: Overall, fishing was good with a couple slower days with some storm fronts. Walleyes are still fairly shallow in the 4- to 11-foot range with a few starting to move deeper. Try pulling crawler harnesses or pitching crankbaits. Northern pike are turning on. It is hit-and-miss to find them, but when you do there is a good bite.  — Hell Creek Marina.

Gallatin River: It is fishing well and is dropping and clearing and settling into the really good summer fishing. It has anywhere from 3- to 5-feet of visibility and fish are looking up and eating dry flies. — Montana Troutfitters, Bozeman.

Hauser Reservoir: Rainbow fishing remains fair between York Bridge and Black Sandy while trolling cowbells with a worm. A few rainbows were picked up from shore using Power Bait or worms. The walleye bite slowed a bit, but bottom bouncers with worms and jigging is still picking up a few fish. — FWP, Helena.

Holter Reservoir: Rainbow fishing is good while trolling cowbells tipped with a crawler around the dam, Log Gulch and Departure Point. Rainbows are being caught in the early morning in 15- to 20-feet of water. Walleye fishing is very good with most action happening around Cottonwood Creek and Split Rock along clay banks in the lower lake and shallow bays. — FWP, Helena.

Keyhole Reservoir, Wyo.: Walleye fishing is picking up on the west end. Try minnows. Crappies are biting on worms by the dam. — Keyhole Marina.

Madison River: The lower river isn’t being fished as the temperatures coming over the dam are in the 70s. On the upper river fishing is spotty as the fish have a salmon fly hangover. Look for fishing to improve once hopper season starts. — Montana Troutfitters, Bozeman.

Martinsdale Reservoir: Anglers are doing really well on 1.5- to 2-pound rainbows. A few are running up to 5 pounds. Use a small cowbell tipped with a crawler. Fishing from the shore was slow compared to being out in a boat. — Pryor Creek Bait Co., Laurel.

Missouri River, below Holter: The river has dropped to where one can wade it. There are good hatches of PMDs and caddis. — Montana Troutfitters, Bozeman.

Nelson Reservoir: Anglers are taking 14- to 16-inch walleyes. The bigger fish are few and far between. Try bottom bouncing with crawlers. The northern pike being caught are smaller, too. — Westside Sports, Malta.

Spring Creek: Fishing is pretty good and the water is clear. Yellow Sallies (size 16-18), elk-hair caddis (16-18) and some smaller hoppers should take fish. — Don’s, Lewistown.

Stillwater River: It was running at 1,870 cfs below Absarokee Tuesday and is clearing. Above Absarokee it is very clear and fishing well. PMDs, caddis (size 16) and olive and yellow stimulators with droppers that include red Copper Johns, lightning bugs and biot nymphs are working well. — Rainbow Run Fly Shop.

Tongue River Reservoir: Fishing is OK, but the warm weather caused the fish to go a little deeper. Walleyes are running 8-10 feet, with crappie down 15-16 feet. Use bright-colored jig heads with leeches for walleyes. Crawlers are taking some walleyes, too. Some 3-4 pound walleyes have been landed. — Tongue River Marina.

Yellowstone River, Huntley: Anglers are catching catfish on minnows or rotten shrimp. Some anglers caught a few trout at the Diversion Dam. At Petrolia Lake, northerns are biting on chartreuse rubber swim baits; or try minnows. — Minnow Bucket, Huntley.

Yellowstone River, Livingston: Higher on the river toward Gardiner the better the dry fly fishing. Toward Livingston it is better for nymphing. Some time in the next week or so, riverwide there should be better dry fly fishing. — Montana Troutfitters, Bozeman.