Where to Fish Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir


Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir is located in central Montana, adjoining the city of Helena, Montana, and 3.5 miles west of Canyon Ferry Dam on the Missouri River. The principal purposes of the unit are irrigation and municipal water for the city of Helena. Features of the development are a tunnel dam and regulating reservoir, canal, pumping plant, and other facilities. Created by the Helena Valley Dam the reservoir, with 518 surface acres and 6 miles of shoreline, offers fair fishing for kokanee salmon. Picnic shelters available. This is a day use area which offers fishing and boating access. Boats are restricted to electric motors only, no-wake restriction during open water periods, no OHV's or ATV's are allowed on the ice, and dogs are now allowed on the ice.

Size: 553.05 acres
Elevation: 3798.24 ft
Directions: 8 miles northeast of Helena on York Road.
Status of the Fishery: Kokanee salmon can be found year-round. Most winter anglers seek out a depth of 25-45 feet of water. Winter angler have success using Swedish Pimple’s or Hali Jigs tipped with maggots fishing at about 20 feet of water. Summer anglers use flashers or dodgers to target kokanee at depths ranging from 15 to 25 feet of water. This 500-acre body of water is located on the eastern edge of the Helena Valley just off York Road and anglers access the the waterbody at the lone boat ramp on the reservoir. Safe ice depths are typically present annually from January to late February.
Township/Range/Section: 10N 2W 9
Latitude/Longitude: 46.63957 -111.87014
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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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
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
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
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
Year Angler Days Std. Error
2017 4475 2129
2015 5991 1545
View the latest Montana Fishing Regulations.