Fly Fishing Report for Missoula 9/11

Missouri River, September 8

It's been a while since we have put out a post.  There's a bunch to report.
 The Blackfoot River is totally closed, including all of the tribs. There are several words that one might use but the first one that comes to mind (and is family friendly) is NONSENSE. FWP didn't do it when the river was 700 cfs, or 600 cfs, or when the water was actually warm and the fish were actually stressed.  They didn't do it when there were literally hundreds of people floating the river, littering and clogging the water with inner tubes and stupidity. I'm still scratching my head on that one.
 Here's another real gem- FWP is shocking the upper Bitterroot. A few days ago there was a mudslide on the upper West Fork. The water has since been very muddy with visibility to about one foot max. Now I'm no expert, but one might think that between historically low water and very limited visibility there might be  a better time to perform this fish count. Talk about stressed fish!  Accuracy of the tally must not be that big of a deal.
 Clark Fork- Currently absorbing all of the pressure. Try purple hopperry type stuff.  The haze will do it too. There is a bit of color in the lower river so a dropper might help you out.  We nailed a bunch yesterday on a purple hopper with a 12 Czech droped about 30".  The work and P.T. will work too. Upper-wise, look to the same stuff.  We have had good afternooons with a 12/14 ant, tan/purp. hoppers. The usual droppers too.   There is a touch of moss up above town.



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Missoula Montana Area Fly Fishing Report

Our interpretation of a trico

Fly Fishing around Missoula has been pretty darned good. Water temps should improve dramatically with this cool down. Tricos have been thick in certain areas and hoppers are really kicking into high gear. Maybe we'll have a good hopper season after all.

   I was really hoping that the latest "tuber rant" would spark a conversation. Guess not.  The issue still remains at large. When you get good and sick and tired of the unaccountable pounding your resources, let me know. I'll still be stewing in my convictions.

BLACKFOOT RIVER- The dry fly bite is still going strong. There have been a few spruce moths around (nothing like  the last 2 years) and the nocturnal stones are still kicking around.  The water temps have been good. The bite is still croaking around 1. Hoot-owl is in effect so bear that in mind as you plan your day. Elk-hair 14, Bug-meister-10

BITTERROOT RIVER-I think the upper river has an enlarged prostate as the lower river is just a trickle. The fish are jumpy so plan to present well. P.T. will work if you cant get them up on a Purp.Haze 14 or a #10 10 hopper. Hopper patterns should be subtle and slight. Don't tie on a size 6 Dave's and expect great things.

CLARK FORK- The big bug is still great. They are starting to kick at the hopper a bit too.  Think pink.
Look to the choppy h2o for the best fishing. Caddis in the evenings.

GEORGETOWN LAKE-  Damsels are about over. The bugs are still coming off every day but the fishing has slowed a bit. The big sedges are out here and there so try skating a huge goddards. Smallish parachute will work as the callibaetis begin to show up more frequently.  Olive leeches, buggers for you stripper types. The water has been incredibly warm so plan to revive every fish.

Predator

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Montana Fly Fishing and Tubing Report

Perfect.

Fly Fishing in the Missoula, Montana area is still good if you know where to go and when to be there.
BLACKFOOT-The fishing is good early but plan for it to end about 1 p.m. Terrestrials are getting the job done in the heavy water. There is some talk about closures on the river coming up soon. Stressing the fish out, eh? I'll tell you what stresses the fish out: Tubers. Plain and simple. I  just can't understand why FWP doesn't place any resource responsibility on the tubing public. All of the fishermen will be off of the river by 2 p.m., but the tubers will be kicking trout in their heads, dropping beer cans all over the place and spooking trout from one side of the river to the other. And it's o.k. Nonsense. Also, aren't all water craft required to have a pfd/life jacket aboard? Seems like the tubers have forgotten about that. Seems like the wardens have too. Nice.
But wait. There's more... I think all of the tube rental joints in town should have to obtain a commercial use permit from FWP (just like rafting and fishing outfitters) for the Blackfoot, as they are essentially "outfitting" people to use the resource. They make a buck but share none of the       responsibility. The next time you hear someone complain about the impact of commercial use on our river resources, remind them that commercial use makes up a small percentage of use overall. The majority of use is by the public. Take a look at the Clark Fork at Madison Street bridge at 4 p.m. tomorrow afternoon. The assorted stew of tubers, paddle borders, rafters, water-wing wearin' hippies, dogs in life jackets and Cub Scouts on milk carton rafts are not being guided by an outfitter.

Deep down you all know I'm right.

In other fishing news, there are a few other places to fish besides the tuber-infested, warm rivers. Grab you Gazetteteer and hit the high country.  The weather is cooler and the water is cold and there aren't any other people around. The small stream trout will eat just about any dry you want to tie on. And just about any creek you find will hold trout.  Pretty neat, eh? So think outdside of the box and go in search of.

BITTERROOT- Not so much. The trout are all stressed out, what with the bills and overwhelming workload. Plus, wifey is bitchy and the smolts are all hooked on smack.

CLARK FORK- Bring your salad dressing. The upper is low, weedy, warm  and not so good. The lower is warm but there is some fishing early in the day. Soon enough the hoppers will be out and about and we can get back to some consistent fishing.

Predator


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