Great scenery
as a backdrop for
a great day of fishing
with Dan Spence
Ask anyone about the best walleye waters in Montana and Canyon Ferry Lake is right there among them at the top of the list. It's on everyone's short list to produce the Montana's next state record walleye.
In truth, Canyon Ferry is a great water for many things in addition to its big walleyes, good rainbow trout and plump perch.
The lake and its surrounding area offers spectacular scenery, plenty of public and private campgrounds, marina services and very good restaurants, motels and shopping nearby in Helena and Townsend. No wonder it's among the great family vacation destinations in Montana.
It's not by accident that Dan Spence calls these waters home and has set them up as the destination for both his business as a fishing guide and for his taxidermy work. A native of Bozeman, he grew up enjoying the great trout fishing to be had in Montana but switched his sights to walleyes for their great challenge and the satisfaction he gets from fishing this lake for them.
While this has always been among Montana's best fishing lakes, in terms of its walleyes, Canyon Ferry is just hitting its stride and being discovered for the great walleye water that it is. The 30-mile-long lake offers the elusive double-digit walleyes -- those 10-pound plus trophies which are the ultimate goal of all walleye anglers. And it has good numbers of mid-sized and smaller walleyes, great on the end of the fishing line and among the tastiest of fish in the frying pan.
Dan also practices what he preaches in terms of not just taking, but putting back into the resource for both the fish and the fishermen of this area. He's an active member of the Gallatin-Madison Walleyes Unlimited Chapter, he's a member of the Walleyes Unlimited of Montana board of directors and takes an active role in helping to shape the management of the lake by working with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to make it better.
Dan's commitment to Canyon Ferry Lake includes habitat projects like helping to build and place underwater reefs of Christmas trees in the lake for perch spawning and cover for all fish species. It means helping the Gallatin-Madison WU Chapter design, built and place lifejacket loaner stations at the lake so no child or adult needs to go out on the water without one. It means working to get better boat launching and camping facilities for anglers and their families that come to Canyon Ferry.
Want to learn more about Canyon Ferry Lake is and how people can work together to make it even better? Spend a day on the water with Dan Spence. You'll find out all about it. You'll learn how to fish it effectively. You'll catch walleyes. You'll have a great time. Just click through our Web site to learn more.
