Bitterroot River Fly Fishing Report-Missoula, Montana

   Three of our guides fished the Bitterroot River yesterday. They called me mid-morning to tell me that the fly fishing was good and to share that they had just put the net on an honest 20" 'bow. It sounds like the day was spotty but they continued to land good fish all day. 

Best Fly: #12 Fromunda, which is one of RFO's creations.  It's basically a stone nymph. The fish seemed to be spread out a bit more than they were a week ago, and were looking to eat some bigger offerings.  A couple of nice fish ate a smaller gray streamer fish deep. It sounds like there really weren't too many bugs and certainly no skwala adults.

   I'd imagine that the Bitterroot will get pounded this weekend given the quality weather that is predicted.  I don't get why guys will launch a boat behind 5 others when the river is this low. It makes no freakin' sense. Best of luck to all of the #3, #4 and #5 boats. You're gonna need it. 

www.flyfishmissoula.com

www.missoulaflyfishing.com

Missoula Fly Fishing, Cold hands and too many cigars!

We fished the Bitterroot River yesterday. I think we all need to remember that it is way early in the skwala season. So here's the straight poop:
   We did catch a number of very nice trout. Were there Skwalas? Nope. We saw some smaller stones and the midge hatch was strong. The fish were up midging in the right spots, but they were tricky. There was a reasonable streamer bite but which was surprising considering that the h2o was really cold. This dingbat broke off a dandy on the hookset, but I eventually settled in and nailed some nice ones.
   We took plenty of trout on larger stone nymphs. The whities seem to have thinned out.  I think that fish have begun to spread out a little bit. We took fish in spots that were barren a week ago.  TJ was behind us somewhere, trapped in that amazing rainstorm. I hope he made it through.

When the sun popped out it was downright pleasant. This shot was taken just before all hell broke loose. Fly fishing in Montana is always dicey in the spring, but the pay-offs are worth it.

To my fishing partners from yesterday: Don't let me smoke that many cigars again. I awoke to a stuffy nose and a sore throat.

A nice Bitterroot River rainbow.  Missoula is the place to be.

www.flyfishmissoula.com

Skwalas on the Bitterroot River. (just kidding)

First Montana Fly Fishing Experience!
 
    J.M.'s first cast ever yielded this 20" brown trout on the Bitterroot river on Mar. 2nd. Unbelievable.  Same story as earlier this week; some capnia, midges and no skwalas.  There have been a handful of the big bugs spotted, but hardly enough to make a trout get goofy for them. Our best fly yesterday was a #10 skwala nymph that I tie.  It was a great way to kick off the 2013 guiding season.

   I heard tell of a two-footer that was caught on the Bitterroot River yesterday.  NO CAMERA=NO PROOF!  It came from a very reputable source so I believe it.  The weather was perfect for those big browns to be out and about.
But the river is REALLY low . As soon as we get a bump in flows it should
                                      really get cranking.  We have a few spots left for March. I think the fishing will solid beginning by about the 12th.  www.flyfishmissoula.com