Hauser Lake is a 3,200 acre reservoir on the Missouri River created by Hauser Dam. The lake yields rainbow and brown trout, walleye and perch. It is an extremely popular take-off point for weekend boating, fishing, and water skiing. There are scenic public campgrounds on Hauser Lake, White Sandy (BLM), Devil's Elbow (BLM), Riverside (BOR) and a few yards further Black Sandy State Park (MFWP).
Hauser Reservoir
Special Notices & Closures
Fishing Report for the week of 04/22/2024
Rainbows are being caught around the boat ramp at York Bridge, the Causeway Bridge, and Black Sandy while using spawn sacks, power bait, egg patterns, wooly buggers, and leech patterns. A few rainbows are being picked up below Canyon Ferry Dam while using plain nightcrawler and marshmallows or marabou jigs. A few walleye are being caught on Lake Helena while trolling crankbaits or bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses.
| Size: | 3200.13 acres |
| Elevation: | 3647.36 ft |
| Directions: | Causeway - 7 miles north of Helena on I-15 at mile marker 200, then 5 miles east on Hwy 453. York Bridge - East of Helena on York Road (Secondary 280) 13 miles. |
| Status of the Fishery: | Hauser Reservoir, including Lake Helena, is home to some unique fishing opportunities in the Helena Area. Annually, yellow perch, walleye, and rainbow trout, all spring spawners, draw anglers to the river below Canyon Ferry Dam and Lake Helena. In the river below Canyon Ferry Dam, shoreline anglers do well on the east shore near Riverside Campground (Bureau of Reclamation) and on the west shore, via Eagle Bay Drive, for both rainbow trout and walleye from approximately late March through June. Boat anglers have access below Canyon Ferry Dam via the boat ramp at Riverside Campground and have excellent opportunities for rainbow trout and walleye in the spring from the dam to Spokane Creek Bay. In Lake Helena, its shallow, turbid water allow it to warm quickly in the spring, which draws yellow perch and walleye up from the Causeway Arm of Hauser Reservoir to spawn. Peak spring angling opportunities occur from late March through late May or until increased vegetation growth prevents angling success. Shoreline anglers have success in the spring on Lake Helena at the Causeway Fishing Access Site (FAS) and boat access is limited to the Lake Helena FAS (FAS) boat ramp. Be aware that Lake Helena is very shallow (less than 10 feet deep) and a no-wake restriction is in place most of the year to protect waterfowl production. |
| Township/Range/Section: | 11N 2W 14 |
| Latitude/Longitude: | 46.70698 -111.81725 |
| FWP Region: | Region 4 |
| County: | Lewis & Clark |
| Fishing District: | Central |
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| Waterbody | Section | Field Form Type | Date | Purpose | Species |
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To see this data, first select one or more rows from the Collection Info tab.
For Comparative analysis all Length Units are millimeters : all Weights are grams
| Species | Count | Avg | StdDev | Min | Max | AvgWgt | StdDevWgt | MinWeight | S/L | Sects | Surveys | Waterbody |
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To see this data, first select one or more rows from the Collection Info tab.
For Comparative analysis all Length Units are millimeters : all Weights are grams
| Waterbody | Section | Species | Count | AveLength | StdDevLength | MinLength | MaxLength | AveWeight | StdDevWeight | MinWeight | MaxWeight |
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To see this data, first select one or more rows from the Collection Info tab.
For Comparative analysis all Length Units are millimeters : all Weights are grams
| Waterbody | Year | Section | Species | Count | AveLength | StdDevLength | MinLength | MaxLength | AveWeight | StdDevWeight | MinWeight | MaxWeight |
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To see this data, first select one or more rows from the Collection Info tab.
This is a preview, all fields will be visible by selecting a download option. For Comparative analysis all Length Units are millimeters : all Weights are grams.
| Year | Species Abbrv | Length | Weight | M/C | Count | Sex | Mort | Hook Scar | Disease | Scales | Otolith | Fin Clip | Tag | Comment | Genetics | Age | Stomach | Intercept | Slope | Gear | Equipment | Trip | Date | Pass/Run | Water | Section | Lat/Down | Lon/Down | Lat/Up | Lon/Up | Agency | Start Depth | End Depth |
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| Year | Angler Days | Std. Error |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 40332 | 5716 |
| 2020 | 32765 | 5418 |
| 2019 | 38081 | 5321 |
| 2017 | 36948 | 8116 |
| 2015 | 43053 | 5514 |
View the latest Montana Fishing Regulations.
No Gauging Stations found.
This waterbody has a fish consumption advisory. Please see the link for guidelines.
Fish Consumption Guidelines (PDF)
