Missoula Fly Fishing Report
Bitterroot River

Missoula Fishing Report 8/26

by MAngler

Fly Fishing Report Brought To You By Our Missoula Fly Fishing Guides And Fly Shop Staff.

Enjoy and Good Luck!

Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot river has benefited from cool daytime temps, colder and longer nights, and recent rain. Fishing has improved a lot and hoot owl has been lifted, meaning you can now fish all day long. As the nights get longer, the fishing will continue to improve for the rest of august and into September. Hopper fishing has been the most consistent but there has been some great Trico hatches in the morning and on cloudy rainy days the Hecuba Mayfly has been great. September should be great this year on the Bitterroot and the rest of our local streams.

Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips for each hatch

Bitterroot Streamflow

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot has been fishing good lately with the cooler temps and should continue to produce plenty of fish for the rest of the season. Hopper fishing has been the go to and dropper fishing during the mid day lull will keep you busy. The cooler water temps brings some great streamer fishing this time of year. Trico’s are around but the trico is one of the least important hatches on the Blackfoot as the big fish just don’t show a lot of attention to them like the pods on the Clark Fork and Bitterroot do. Ant’s and beetles have also been good and always a good fly to have in your box this time of year for all of our rivers.

Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Blackfoot Streamflow

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork hoot owl restrictions have been lifted and you are now able to fish all day long. Like the Bitterroot, the Clark Fork has really improved lately with the colder night time temps and rain we’ve received lately. And with longer nights ahead, fishing in September should be great as always. The Trico fishing has been awesome during the spinner fall mid morning and hopper fishing picks up the slack when the spinner fall slows down. Be prepared for good Hecuba hatches on the lower river during cloudy rainy days. The upper to the lower stretches have all been fishing good lately and should be good from here on out with water conditions looking solid.

Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Clark Fork Streamflow

Rock Creek

Rock Creek continues to fish good and like the other rivers in the area, has improved a lot with the needed cooler temps and rain. Streamer fishing has been great and will only get better as fall approaches. Dry fly fishing with hoppers, Ants and Beetles is the main game on Rock Creek right now. There are hatches of Tricos, but like the Blackfoot, this is just not an important hatch on the Creek usually. We’re excited for a great September and October on Rock Creek and the rest of our local streams with this much needed and surprising cool down we’ve seen lately.

Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Rock Creek Streamflow

August Hatches

Click any photo below to find out more information on each individual hatch. Includes life cycle, best fly patterns, helpful tips and where to find these hatches in your Western Montana fly fishing adventure.

Best Hecuba Fly Patterns
Best Golden Stone Fly Patterns
Best Hopper Patterns
Best Spruce Moth Patterns
Best Ant and Beetle Patterns
Best Trico Patterns

Missoula Fly Fishing Report
Bitterroot River

Missoula Fishing Report 7/23

by MAngler

Fly Fishing Report Brought To You By Our Missoula Fly Fishing Guides And Fly Shop Staff.

Enjoy and Good Luck!

Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot river is under Hoot Owl restrictions from the west and east fork of the Bitterroot confluence to the confluence with the Clark Fork. No fishing between 2pm and midnight on that section. Get on the water early and stop fishing by 2pm.

If you’re on the water early enough, you might run into a Rusty Spinner fall. The Hi-Vis Rusty Spinner or standard Rusty Spinner are both effective. They’ll also work during the PMD hatch, as well as dusk. Make sure you have a couple if you head to the Bitterroot.

This will surprise no one- the Purple Haze is a consistent producer along the length of the river. Make sure you have a couple for searching. And while searching have some terrestrials as well. The Ant Acid Black/Purple, Stubby Chubby Tan and Jake’s No Sink Ant are working well on the surface. Get serious and drop an Ant Raid off the back of a small foamy. The sunken ant is often overlooked by anglers, but not by trout.

The hoppers are starting to appear just as the Goldens are falling off. Make sure to have some smaller Tan Hoppers, like a Morrish or Henneberry. Both will cover hoppers and a golden. Bring your yellow sallies as well. They hang on a bit longer on the Bitterroot. The PMD’s are still bringing fish to the surface as well. The Last Chance Cripple, Brooks Sprout and the Missing Link will move some of the fussier fish. A longer tippet will be of benefit.

Stick your trico box in the bag. They haven’t established yet, but sporadic clouds have been seen. The heat is bringing that hatch on, and you don’t want to get caught with rising fish and no tiny bugs.

The evening hatch of Pale Evening Duns and Tan caddis is still occurring, but the hotter the day, the later the hatch will occur. If you’re chasing those bugs, be ready to be on the water till afterwork. If you do hatch match till after dark, fish a mouse home, because you just never know.

When you head subsurface, make sure you’re deep. 3-5 foot fluorocarbon droppers will put your nymph where it needs to be. Nothing is standing out in the standard nymphs, but the Firetstarter has been more effective than its color would suggest. The Yellow Spot Pheasant Tail and Bullet Quill have been successful.

Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips for each hatch

Bitterroot Streamflow

Blackfoot River

Despite the heat, the Blackfoot River has been holding it’s own. Some of the sections are getting a bit bony for floating, but the wade fishing is starting to get very good. With the heat, the lower sections are unfishable in the afternoon, due to recreational floaters. If you want to float Johnsrud to Weigh, or Weigh to Spray, be on the water early and off by noon. You’ll have some floaters, but not the insanity of a hot summer day.

Early mornings have been strong with streamers, and remains that way till the sun climbs over the canyon. A small articulated Baby Gonga or Swim Coach are small enough to not spook fish in low water but mobile enough to get action. If you have a slow sink tip, use it, but it’s not necessary.

Or you can work the nocturnal stone hatch. A big Pat’s Rubberlegs or a TJ Hooker will get it done sub-surface, while the Sweetwater Hopper or Fluttering Stone will bring them to the top.

The Goldens are petering out but the hoppers are starting. Put on a small Golden like an ODB, Evan’s baby Stone Tan or a Morrish Hopper for a fly that does double duty. The PMD’s are still about, but bring your A game and some cripples, because the trout have been eating these for about a month and know what they want. Presentation is critical.

Presentation is less critical with the Spruce Moths, which are starting to move. The Parachute Spruce or the Spruce Almighty are good in the slower water, while a Tan Micro Chubby floats in faster water where fish are holding in the heat.

The nymphing has been good up here as well, with the Duracell and Orange Spot Pheasant Tail standing out for performance. It’s more about getting the fly to the fish, especially as the heat of the day comes on, so add some more depth to your dropper for better results.

The Pale Evening Duns are still out, as are the Tan Caddis. However, the evening rise is defined by the heat- the hotter the day, the later and shorter the hatch. Be ready to be on water after sundown on the hot days.

Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Blackfoot Streamflow

Clark Fork River

There is Hoot Owl restrictions on the Clark Fork River from the confluence with the Flathead River to the confluence of Warm Springs Creek and Silver Bow Creek. This means you can fish to 2pm. Get on early and off by 2pm. There are also a few mouths of tributaries that are closed listed here .

Clark Fork has been fishing extremely well in the last week, and we expect that to hold for a while. It’s worth rising and shining to be out by dawn, especially on the lower sections. You expect the streamer fishing to be good at that time, and it is, but the nocturnal stones will pull big fish up to the surface. A Sweetwater Hopper with the back legs cut off or a Flutteriung Stone are very good imitation of the big nocturnal bugs.

If you see steady risers early, put on a Rusty Spinner. They can fall in the early morning, so be ready.

The PMD’s will still show up, but they are definitely waning. Have a Brook’s Sprout, Last Chance Cripple or a Sparkle Dun for the pods that are still forming. A little longer tippet will pay dividends for presentation to fish that have been eating these bugs for about 3 weeks. A double dry with a Rusty Spinner as the dropper greatly increases your odds.

The golden Stones are on their last legs, but the hoppers are just starting, so a “tweener” fly like a Henry’s Fork Golden, Morrish Hopper Tan or an ODB Stone will look like both a hopper and a stone fly. Make sure to have some Yellow Sallies as well. They’re still out, and can be quite effective as the a double dry dropper.

When you go subsurface, make sure you go sub! A Pat’s Rubberlegs or TJ Hooker about 7-8 feet from the indicator always works on the lower section. Not always a joy to cast, but proven. Smaller droppers also work, and again, get them deep. Work the faster water where the oxygen content is higher.

As the heat of the day comes on, start thinking about pike on the lower section. As the trout seek shelter from the heat, the pike are just finding their comfort zone. Choose the fly according to your rod weight, and have a wire bite tippet. If you have a dedicated streamer rod (7-8 wt), a big Cote Whitefish Fly or FireTiger is a strong choice. On lighter rods, a gray articulated streamer like a Boogey Man or Dungeon will get pike’s attention.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Clark Fork Streamflow

Rock Creek

Rock Creek is in full summer mode right now, with the last few golden stones still being eaten, but we’re pretty sure some are being taken as hoppers. The Henry’s Fork Golden in size 10-14, a Tan Henneberry Hopper and Plan B Golden are working equally well. You can still find some PMD’s and Pale Evening Duns, and of course the Tan Caddis is producing throughout the day.

Get your game face on for the PMD’s and PED’s. The fish have been eating them for a while- they what they want and how it needs to be presented. A little longer tippet with a Missing Link, Film Critic or Brooks Sprout has been effective, but be ready for a few refusals as well. Make sure to have a couple of Rusty Spinners for the refusals- it’s often exactly what they’re looking for. A great combo has been your choice of dry with a Sunken Rusty Spinner on about an 8” dropper. Covers all your bases.

The Tan Caddis is till working as a searching pattern- either Standard or X-Caddis, as well as in the evening. You can work that in the faster water for surprising action.

Atractors and terrestrials are starting to move fish as well. The Ant Acid, Jake’s No Sink Ant and the Tan Micro Chubby are taking fish from classic terrestrial hiding water. Work the grassy banks and under branches. Take your Purple Haze and Brindle Chutes as well. While not a “hot” fly, they are steady flies.

When you go subsurfaces make sure you’re getting deep enough. Size 12 to 16 Perdigons are never wrong- pick the pattern you’re comfortable with and use it. MAKE SURE to get deep enough. In the heat, the fish go deep and hang there, so get your fly to the trout- they may nt travel to you. Streamers through the deep centers will move more fish than you think- as always, the Sparkle Minnow Sculpin is a top producer.

As the heat rises during the day, the fish move into the riffles for more oxygen. When you hook a fish in 90 degree heat, fight it hard and fast, ands stay as close to where you hooked it as possible. Minimal net and photo time- get the fish back into the cooler, oxygenated water. Be ready to lose a fly or two to strong fish fighting- putting the rout back healthy is worth a fly.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Rock Creek Streamflow

July Hatches

Click any photo below to find out more information on each individual hatch. Includes life cycle, best fly patterns, helpful tips and where to find these hatches in your Western Montana fly fishing adventure.

Best PMD Patterns
Best Golden Stone Fly Patterns
Best Hopper Patterns
Best Spruce Moth Patterns
Best Ant and Beetle Patterns
Best Trico Patterns

Missoula Fly Fishing Report
Bitterroot River

Missoula Fishing Report 7/9

by MAngler

Fly Fishing Report Brought To You By Our Missoula Fly Fishing Guides And Fly Shop Staff.

Enjoy and Good Luck!

Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot river has been fishing good from top to bottom. Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies and PMD’s have been the bugs of choice. Dry fly fishing with Golend Stones on the upper stretches has been great. Morning Fishing with PMD dries has been good from the top stretches to the bottom. Cold water coming from the West fork is keeping the fishing steady all day long on the upper stretches, while the lower is getting a little warmer and slowing down in the afternoon hours. Not a bad idea to switch to the pike rig in the afternoon on the lower section as there’s been some big ones eating lately. We’ve been throwing mostly single dries, but the dropper game has been strong too.

Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips for each hatch

Bitterroot Streamflow

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot river is fishing good on dries, droppers and streamers. Water temps are warming up in the afternoon, so get out early and go check out one of our great breweries in the afternoon! Fishing the late evening as it cools down is a decent choice with Caddis dries. Morning hatches consist of Sallies, PMD’s and Golden stones. We’ve been fishing mostly single dries up here as the dry fly fishing has been good enough not to have to toss on a dropper. Streamer fishing in the morning has been consistent and some nice fish are moving on them.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Blackfoot Streamflow

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork river has been fairly consistent early mornings and late evenings. There’s a mid day lull with the high sun and fishing slows down. Morning dry fly fishing with PMD’s and Golden stones will keep you in business, and Caddis and PED’s in the late evening. Dropper fishing has been consistent throughout the day. Late afternoon water temps are getting a little warm on the Clark Fork, so be quick on the landing and releasing of fish.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Clark Fork Streamflow

Rock Creek

Rock Creek continues to fish great with cooler water than the bigger rivers. We’re still catching lots of fish on Golden Stones throughout the day and PMD and Yellow Sallies have been good as well. Streamer fishing is a great option this time of year on rock creek as well. Dropper fishing will keep you busy all day long but dry fly has been consistent enough to where you typically don’t need to go subsurface if you don’t want to.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Rock Creek Streamflow

July Hatches

Click any photo below to find out more information on each individual hatch. Includes life cycle, best fly patterns, helpful tips and where to find these hatches in your Western Montana fly fishing adventure.

Best PMD Patterns
Best Golden Stone Fly Patterns
Best Hopper Patterns

Missoula Fly Fishing Lessons
Fly Fishing Hot Topics

Krieger v. Kreh Fly Casting Techniques

by MAngler

There are two schools of fly casting instruction that dominate fly fishing. One method is espoused by Mel Krieger and Joan Wulff. The other is espoused by Lefty Kreh and others. They are quite different in some respects, and very similar in others. It pays to note that world Fly Casting champion Steve Rajeff uses the Krieger/Wulff method of casting.

In the Krieger method of casting, the rod remains close to vertical through the entire cast, only dropping as the cast is delivered. It maintains the 10-2 casting stroke as most efficient. The elbow is mostly stationary during the cast, with only the forearm and wrist moving to propel the fly line. The wrist hinges to deliver energy to the rod, and the concepts of line control remain the same. The line must be extended behind you before starting forward- the line must be extended in front of you before starting a back cast.

The Kreh method of casting differs in these ways. The rod is held at an angle to the body, and the elbow is not stationary. The upper arm, forearm and wrist are all involved in the cast, with a longer motion through the body. During the elongated casting stroke, the wrist hinges from 10-2.

At the Missoulian Angler, we have employees who are proponents of both casting styles. It’s a matter of style, not substance. Each employee has their reasons for using the particular method, and most casts are a combination of both styles. We feel it’s important to know both styles, and then pick and choose the parts you like and work for you!

Most beginners will be shown the Krieger/Wulff method of casting. It has less moving parts (elbow stationary) and is quickly grasped by beginners. The main difficulty lies in the fact you can’t watch the line on your back cast, and you’re doing it all on feel. The Kreh method is not taught as often, due to the relative complexity of the cast. With a moving elbow, more places are introduced where the cast can have problems. Krieger for simplicity, Kreh for comfort.

Wondering how this relates to your casting instruction? If you click here to go to How To Cast If You Spinfish, you’re going to find the method shown is the Krieger/Wulff school of casting. If you click here to go to How To Cast A rod If You’ve Never Held One Before, you will find the Kreh school of casting. We think at some point, you should click on both links, and learn as much about casting as you can!

Missoula Fly Fishing Report
Bitterroot River

Missoula Fishing Report 7/2

by MAngler

Fly Fishing Report Brought To You By Our Missoula Fly Fishing Guides And Fly Shop Staff.

Enjoy and Good Luck!

Overview

Missoula rivers continue to drop and fishing good. The high sun during midday is making it a little tougher and it pays to fish mornings and evenings. Still a few salmonflies kicking around on a few streams, but the Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies and PMD’s will be your main focus with Green Drakes in the clouds.

Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot river had a recent event on the East Fork that made for murky conditions throughout the system from the confluence of the West and East fork on down. The river should be clearing up soon and coming back into play. The Golden Stones and PMD’s have been out in good numbers and dry fly fishing has been good. Focus on those two bugs in the sun and more Green Drake’s in the clouds. We’ve been mostly throwing single dries but have been fishing dries in the afternoon high sun lull. Streamer fishing has also been a good option.

Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips for each hatch

Bitterroot Streamflow

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot river is a great option with the sunnier weather we’ve been seeing. Good numbers of Golden Stones, PMD’s, Green Drakes in the clouds and a few Salmonflies still around on the upper stretches , but not many. Dry fly fishing has been consistent in the morning and evenings. Midday has been a little slower and often takes a dropper to keep you in action. Streamer fishing has been great in the morning. Focus on dries or streamers in the morning and dry dropper rigs in during midday.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Blackfoot Streamflow

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork river has been fairly consistent as of late. Golden Stones, PMD’s, Yellow Sallies and Green drakes are all on the menu. The murky water that we talked about on the Bitterroot is causing some clarity issues on the Clark fork river below town. The PMD dry fly fishing has been great during the morning and switching to a Golden Stone/nymph dropper midday will keep you busy. Evening Caddis is starting to get good and streamer fishing in the morning has been productive.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Clark Fork Streamflow

Rock Creek

Rock Creek is a great option and coming into good wading flows. Yelllow Sallies, Golden Stones and PMD’s are your best options and Green Drakes when the clouds roll in. Streamer fishing has been consistent. Fishing has been decent throughout the day like most of our tributaries. We’ve been throwing single dries mostly, but don’t hesitate to throw a nymph dropper on if fishing is slow.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Rock Creek Streamflow

July Hatches

Click any photo below to find out more information on each individual hatch. Includes life cycle, best fly patterns, helpful tips and where to find these hatches in your Western Montana fly fishing adventure.

Best PMD Patterns
Best Golden Stone Fly Patterns
Best Green Drake Patterns

Missoula Fly Fishing Report
Bitterroot River

Missoula Fishing Report 6/20

by MAngler

Fly Fishing Report Brought To You By Our Missoula Fly Fishing Guides And Fly Shop Staff.

Enjoy and Good Luck!

Overview

Overall our rivers have been fishing decent for the most part. A few rainstorms passed and water fluctuated a bit and caused much of the Blackfoot to be unfishable for a few days here and there due to Monture creek pumping mud into the system. For the most part, fishing has been really good the last week or two. Salmon Flies, Golden Stones and Green Drakes have all been on the menu and should continue to produce for you for the next week or so at least.

Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot river is fishing decent, better on the upper stretches than the middle or lower but we are starting to see some good Green Drake and Golden Hatches throughout the system and Salmon Flies on the upper stretches. Have a handful of your favorite Green Drake patterns in the cloudy weather and some of your favorite Golden Stone patterns in the sunny weather. Nymphing has remained consistent and a great time to fish streamers on the Bitterroot. The Bitterroot river should improve over the next few weeks as we should start to see an increase in hatches throughout the system.

Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips for each hatch

Bitterroot Streamflow

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot river is arguably your best option. The dry fly fishing has been really good over the last few weeks and should continue to see good dry fly action on Salmon, Goldens and Green Drakes for the following weeks. Monture creek has been pushing some mud into the system after heavy rain but the river has cleared up fairly quick after those rain events. Over the last couple weeks, only a couple days were unfishable below monture. Our days on the Blackfoot have been spent throwing Salmon dries in the sun and Green Drakes, nymphs or Streamers in the bad weather. Weather forecast is looking good and fishing should be great up here for the following weeks.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Blackfoot Streamflow

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork river is starting to come into play. From the top to the bottom, fishing is improving and hatches of Salmon Flies, Golden Stone, Green Drakes and few PMD’s are starting to show up. Clarity is still not great but starting to turn green and fish are beginning to eat the dry fly. Streamer fishing has also picked up on the Clark Fork and of course nymphing will keep you busy.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Clark Fork Streamflow

Rock Creek

Rock Creek is of course the MVP for the month of June! Salmon Flies, Golden Stones and Green Drakes have been going strong and fishing has been great. Salmon Flies are starting to slow down and pushing to the upper reaches while the Golden Stones follow and the Green Drakes in the clouds have been producing well. Streamer fishing continues to be good with smaller streamers like Kreelex, Sculpzilla and single Dirty Hippie. Nymphing continues to be a numbers game. Expect More Golden Strones, Green Drakes and PMD’s in the coming weeks.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Rock Creek Streamflow

Missoula June Summer Hatches

Click any photo below to find out more information on each individual hatch. Includes life cycle, best fly patterns, helpful tips and where to find these hatches in your Western Montana fly fishing adventure.

Best Salmon Fly Patterns
Best Golden Stone Fly Patterns
Best Green Drake Patterns