Montana Fly Fishing Report July 11th

Bob with a nice fish

CLARK FORK- Fly Fishing on the Clark Fork River has been good but plan to have a late lunch at the take-out.  The bite has been purely on dries. If you can't get 'em to eat your favorite foamie try a small-ish parachute. There are some PMDs around and the fish can get on them.
ATTENTION: The fish need to be revived! The H20 is bloody warm and the fish need a little extra love when being released.
BITTERROOT RIVER- The upper river is boaty but the fishing is good. Rogue Golden #10 should do the trick from about 1-3:30.  Before that, a P.T. dropper will bet them in the trenches. After that, go swimming! The water is colder on the 'Root but take care when releasing them thar fish.
   The middle river is fishing well for better fish. Try a #14 para adams or para PMD. It looks like a mayfly. Trout eat mayflies. Do the math.  A big bug will work if you put it in the right places. P.T. dropper in 14 will take fish early in the day. Look to the wood. You can dig them out of the fallen trees when the sun gets high.
BLACKFOOT RIVER- The water is prime. There are a few sallies and goldens left. Hell, I even saw a salmonfly splat on the water yesterday.  Big foam, prince dropper, smaller yellow stimi("Stimis, yeah that's the ticket. Stimis!), PMD spinners if you want to catch minnows. I saw a couple of boats with nymph rigs on. I think you all know how we feel about that. If you are coming to Missoula in July to fly fish with a "fly fishing" guide and he ties a nymph rig on your line, you need to be asking yourself some serious questions.
GEORGETOWN LAKE- Damsels. What more do you need to know. Tie one on the end of your line, cast it into the lake and catch a fish. I'm sure there will be a few boats up there with nymph rigs on.
MISSOURI- O.K. You can safely nymph here. We won't make fun of you. Try 16 and 18 czechs (beadless can be good) dropped off something a little bigger. The flow is LOW so 5x is required. Puple Crush 18 can be a good bet too. The lower river is weedy and the water is warm. It's probably best to stay in the first ten miles. PMDs and caddis offer the best bets for dry fly fishing. Drop a sparkle pupa off the back of any caddis dry. You know, it's the Missouri. "...easy like sunday morning."
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