Montana Fly Fishing is about over!

Kevin D. finally caught a good one!

Thank you to all of our clients who fished with us in 2016.

See you soon!

In spite of the low water levels on the Blackfoot, Clark Fork and Bitterroot, 2016 proved to be a great season for our anglers and our guides. We began our trips on February 6 and will be finishing our guided trips next week, on November15th! 

As I write this, our 2017 schedule is beginning to fill up. So if you've been waiting to lock in some dates, it might be  a good time to that.

Here are the reports for the last few weeks:

Missouri River: Midges and some baetis. Frankly, the weather has been way too nice for the dry fly fishing to be killer.  If you go to the Mo' look to the zebra in 18 and 20, sow bug in 18, small green machines... If you have trouble stop in at the Trout Shop. If it actually gets cloudy and cold we should see some righteous dry fly fishing.

Bitterroot River: The flows are up due to the rains from a few weeks back. That, and the fact that the ranchers are net pulling every single drop out of the river anymore. 

I don't think you'll be waiting in line on the ramp. Small buggers, purple haze 16,18 to the few risers that you'll see. If you just can't stop nymphing try the good ol' P.T. n 18, Zebra in 16,18 and the SJ worm.  But, please, just STOP CHASING A BOBBER DOWN THE RIVER. How is it that thingamabobber fishing is the new default? 

Blackfoot River: Cold! Need more info than that?

Clark Fork River: There should still be some baetis around. Buggers in brown and black should be working, as should smaller princes and p.t.s. If you are willing to walk a bit, find a soft piece of water, foam hole, etc. and you'll be able to pick off a few risers in the afternoons. 

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Missoula Montana Fly Fishing

Here's the scoop on the fly fishing rivers of western Montana: they are shot! You might see a slight drop in flows at the Darby station or on the Blackfoot. With the snow and rain that fell recently, it will surely blow out this week. As soon as the Clark Fork and Bitterroot come back in, the fishing will be stellar. For now, tie some flies, plant your garden, take a nap.

Missouri River brownie from this week.

Or, you can go to the world-famous Missouri River; where the men are men and the bobbers float high and proud. As always, the pink thingamabobber is our top choice. The fish feel more comfortable with pink vs. orange or yellow.  Seriously though, the Mo' is fishing well.  There are oodles of BWOs even in the sun. You'll find some nice fish rising mixed in with the smaller fish. Nymph-wise, it's the usuals-hot bead sows, green machine, rainbow czech, zebra, etc. The water bumped a bit in the last 24 hours, but it is still pretty darned low.  We had great success with smaller white/olive streamers this week. Fish them a bit slower, and with longer pauses. Them trouts are cold. For the dries, 16 BWO cripples, 14 and 16 para-adams, skwala,  and Griffith's gnats if you're a masochist. 

More on the Missouri river? HERE!

Missoula Montana Fly Fishing Report-2/4/16

Well, it looks like we've muddled through most of another winter. This week has been outrageously pleasant; like terrifyingly pleasant. Remember last year about this same time?  Let's hope that we get a little more snow in the high country and some colder night-time temps.  I cannot handle another summer with needlessly prolonged river closures and smoke. 

We had a trip this past week. It's always so fun to get out when nobody is around, for that won't be the case in about 6 weeks.   The fishing was what I would call "good". 

This week will be the week to go make a few casts on any of the Missoula area rivers, what with the 50 degree temps that are predicted. 

Rock Creek: Flows are just about right for some wade fishing fun. Look to the deep, slow stuff. The old San Juan, p.t. and small Pat's rubber legs should turn some heads. Rigs about four feet long will do the trick, and keep 'em light, as in, go easy on the lead. You'll be limited to everything below about mile 10. The road is icy and sketchy.  Call Deb at Trout Bums-406-825-6146. She'll have the most current scoop.We really have had success lately using the pink bobber.  Now, I know this is a bone of contention amongst a lot of these new local guides-some say yellow, orange, and some even say white. These guys should know- they go through a lot of them each year.  But, if you want to catch more trout, use the pink ones. 

Bitterroot River: So we guided the Bitterroot last week. The good fishing window was from about 1-4:30. I must say that I was impressed with how agreeable the trout were.  Water temp was a nipply 35 degrees, so it goes with saying that there were no fish up. I did see a handful of midges, and we managed a fish or two on the mighty zebra#18. Our best bug was a wire worm with a standard SJ dropped off of that.  The whole rig was 4 feet long. As previously mentioned, our bobber was pink. I have heard, and it makes perfect sense,  that the Grizzly Hackle has the most extensive selection of Thingamabobbers in town. 

Missouri River: The fishing has been good on all of  the standard stuff. Czechs, amex s, zebras, etc...

You can pull smaller streamers through the frog water and pick up nice fish, too. It was about 3 years ago in mid-february that we had several skwala eats between Wolf Creek and Craig. Stop in the Trout Shop or Wolf Creek Angler for bugs and chit-chat. Definitely check the wind forecast before you pull out of the driveway. 

                                  Lastly, I must share this picture of a popular local outfitter:

Dreams of sugar-plums...

-Predator

www.flyfishmissoula.com