Tucked away in the northeast corner of Montana is a body of water that is often overlooked by those not in the know. A 4,000-acre reservoir stocked with 100,000 walleye every year, and teeming with well-fed northern pike, yet anglers drive by oblivious as they head to the famed waters of Fort Peck Reservoir.
It's an understandable oversight. After all, Fort Peck is the destination for anyone traveling to this part of the state. It's a long drive from everywhere – why would you want to stop an hour short of Glasgow and miss out on the amazing fishing Fort Peck has to offer?
During my first three years of living in Montana, I made the 5-hour drive to Glasgow and went right by Nelson Reservoir, thinking how I could fish there and lose a day on Fort Peck? Then I started to do a little research and realized that this (much) smaller body of water was held in high regard by those in the know. Nelson Reservoir was viewed as an alternative option when the winds were blowing hard and keeping anglers off Fort Peck.
Nelson Reservoir was created from the Milk River in 1914 when the dam was constructed, and enlarged in 1921, providing off-stream irrigation. The reservoir has 30 miles of shoreline at full pool, with a maximum depth of 47 feet and fills to 4,320 acres. There is a free campground, first come, first served, pit toilets, and a concrete boat ramp with a small dock. A word of caution regarding this launch. It has to be one of the shallowest-angled ramps I have ever used. I had to back all the way into the water to eventually launch my 16-foot jon boat. If you have a larger boat, you will definitely benefit from having someone's help by driving the boat off your trailer!
Motoring out at the crack of dawn, I enjoyed a golden red, orange, and yellow sunrise, with a few scattered clouds catching and reflecting the morning rays over the calm lake. I have the Garmin Boating App on my phone, which I think is a must for anyone fishing in lakes and reservoirs. Sure enough, I had a depth map on my phone and had already selected a few likely-looking locations to try.
Montana is a two-rod state for lakes and reservoirs, and I always take advantage of the chance to put out a second line. My target for the day was walleye. I rigged both rods up with Mack's Lure setups, a green/yellow walleye pop on one rod, and a silver smile blade on the other. 2-ounce bottom walkers got my gear comfortably down to the 20-30 foot deep starting range. After feeling the bottom-walker bounce the bottom, I reeled up a couple feet and set the rods in rod holders. One rod had a nightcrawler for bait, and the other had a leech (which I must say; I have found just about out-fish nightcrawlers!).
My jon boat has a 50 HP jet to move it, and a Minn Kota Power Drive on the bow. I jokingly call
this jon boat my "old man" boat because I specifically wanted a 16-foot boat I could use on both the Missouri River and smaller lakes, and it had to be light enough that I could handle it as I got older. So far, it's worked out perfectly, and I really enjoy fishing in it. It's also a blast to be running a river on a jet boat again! It's a Lowe Aura L1648M from Elephant Boys in Spokane, and I was very pleased with the set-up and service.
Starting at 1.2 mph, I set the course and sat back to wait and see what might be around. My dog, Duke, looked at me and settled in for a nap. Duke is a great pheasant dog, but when it comes to fishing, he is more interested in naps and treats than fish. I decided to run bottom-bouncers, picking out a couple of 2.5 oz. On one rod I ran a Mack's Lure Wally-Pop in green/yellow with a smile blade, and on the other a set of orange and yellow beads with a smile blade. One rig had a nightcrawler on a slow death hook, and the other a leech on a single hook. I'm really growing to like leeches as bait. They are tough and stay on the hook well, stretch out nicely while trolling, and have a nice motion to them in the water. In addition, being shorter than a night crawler, I have been getting more consistent hook-ups. Finally, the perch are less interested in them, so I get fewer perch nipping my bait.
It didn't take too long before my rod doubled over and the line started pulling out of the reel. Grabbing the rod out of the rod holder, I felt the solid weight of a good fish. The line was peeling off the reel. "This is a nice fish, Duke!" Duke looked up from his nap, as if to say, "Hey, I'm sleeping here." I think this is one nice walleye when it takes a run and clears the water, revealing a very strong Northern Pike! OK, game on! I proceeded to work the freshwater barracuda to the boat and scooped him into the net – yes! For my personal best, I measured the fish in the net, and it hit 30". Not a monster by pike standards but a lot of fun to catch. After reviving the toothy beast, I released him back to the water. Although I understand pike is good to eat, I'm only keeping walleye on this trip. In any case, it's a great way to start the morning. The excitement over, Duke goes back to his bed, a little more awake and interested in what's going on.
I methodically work different depths and land a nice 21" keeper walleye. But the pike just keep biting, getting in the way of my walleye fish fry. Every time either rod doubles back, I'm hoping it's a nice walleye, and every time it turns out to be another nice pike!
I do end up with three keeper walleye, more than enough for my fish fry, but wow, what a day for catching pike! I end up with easily over a dozen caught and more lost. The pike are healthy 28-33" specimens.
There are Nelson Reservoirs all over the Pacific NW. Lakes and reservoirs that are overlooked and driven past en route to more well-known, popular destinations. The moral of this story is: don't overlook that lake you drive past; it might just be your next great adventure.
