Missoula Fly Fishing Report

Missoula Fishing Report 4/20

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 benefitting from the cooler weather, dropping and clearing with each day. The cooler weather is going to be with us for a bit which will keep the river fishing well. The Skwalas are moving fish on the surface, with the Plan B Gray/Olive and the Mill Creek Skwala working very well along the length of the river. Sub-surface, the 20 Incher and TJ Hooker are moving fish.
It feels like the Bitterroot is about 2-3 weeks late, and the Western March Browns have yet to truly establish. More are being seen every day, and pods of risers are starting to be found. The Parachute Hare’s Ear, Purple Haze and the Split Flag Adams have been taking the fish showing on the surface. The nymphing has been really good, with a PT Jig, Hare’s Ear Jig and the Caramel Jig working all day long. Don’t forget the Worm.
The streamer fishing has been good in the morning, with Tan and Olive bugs working better than others. Smaller streamers have been working better than the big dogs, with the Overcoat taking more than it’s share of fish. The dedicated streamer anglers have been taking fish all day long, but it’s tough passing up the risers.

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

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot river is a tale of two rivers right now. Below Monture Creek, the water is very off color, with almost no visibility. Above Monture, the river isn’t gin clear, but it’s definitely fishable. Bring your indicators and streamers- the dry fly fishing up here is almost non-existent. Pick your big and little nymphs, and get them deep. The Blackfoot is still very cold, so the fish are in their Winter holding lies. Low and slow with nymphs and streamers is the way to go. Not our first choice for fishing, buty if you’re willing to do the work, you can take some fish.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork river is off color, pretty much along the length. It’s still fishable, especially above the Blackfoot confluence. The middle section has very limited visibility due to the Blackfoot, but by the time you get to the lower section, the visibility gets decent enough to fish.
Dry fly fishing has been spotty at best, but with the cooler temps forecast for the next 10 days, we should see the river clear a bit, and the dry fly fishing will improve. If you take a dry to the Clark Fork, expect to work for your rises.
The streamer fishing has been fairly good on the upper and lower stretches, taking advantage of the limited visibility. The Baby Gonga and the Boogie Man have been taking fish. The common denominator is a bulky head, allowing the fish to find the streamer in off color water. If you’ve got the dedicated streamer rod with sink tips, now is a good time to put it to work.
The nymphers have been working the edges with bigger nymphs like the TJ Hooker, Pat’s Rubber Legs or a Double Bead Stone. Keep the nymph as deep as possible, and put a tiny bit of action on the indicator to help the fish locate the fly. It’s a visibility issue on the Clark Fork, so be ready with high water tactics.

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

Rock Creek

Another tale of two rivers, Rock Creek. Rock Creek Road is still not in good shape from mile 12 to the upper section. The upper section is fishing well, with March Browns and Skwalas bringing fish to the surface. The Rasta Skwala is working really well, followed by the Mill Creek Skwala. For the WMB’s, the Parachute Adams has been very consistent. Don’t sleep on the nymphing. The San Juan Worm is getting it done with regularity- not really a surprise. A Double Bead Stone Peacock or the 20 Incher are working for Skwala nymphs, or use a Duracell and Pheasant Tail Jig for the WMB nymph.
The lower river is a little off color, but not enough to slow down the fishing. Streamers have been producing very well on the lower section. The deeper holes are a perfect streamer green- take advantage. There’s a lot of water in the lower section, making dry fly fishing a bit of a challenge. High floating Skwalas like the Plan B or the True Wing Skwala worked along the edges have taken fish, but not at pace. The WMB’s also need to be close to the bank. Look for slower water along the edge, and expect to work for your rises.
The nymphing on the lower section has been excellent. It’s almost a pick’em situation. Take your favorites and make sure to get them deep. The Euro nymphers have been cleaning up, and we’re hearing about anglers drop shotting to get the depth. It’s about the depth- get your flies to the bottom and the fish are eating well.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Spring 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.

Missoula Fly Fishing Report

Missoula Fly Fishing Report 4/11

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 seen an influx of water over the last few days with the warmer weather. Still, even through the rising water, we’ve had some great reports coming in from the guides through Easter Sunday. Fewer good reports on Monday as the weather hit 80 degrees, but still decent fishing. If the weather predictions hold true, we should see more great fishing with more water in the system which is what we needed as flows were very low. Expect Skwala’s, March Brown’s, Nemoura’s and BWO’s to be on the menu.

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

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot river fly fishing has been much tougher than the rest of the rivers in the last few days with cold water temps and a major push of water from the warm weather. Streamer fishing has been decent through the push of water but nothing to write home about. Look for the river to stabilize and fishing will get better. Streamers and nymphing will be the main tactic on the Blackfoot this spring.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Clark Fork River

The water in the Clark Fork river running off color with the warm weather. Fishing on the Clark Fork was good up until Saturday. The Clark Fork always takes the longest to come back around and clear up. There will be better options to fish in the coming days.

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

Rock Creek

Rock Creek continued to fish decent through the bump in flows and should keep producing good fishing for weeks to come if the weather holds true. There’s been decent Skwala dry fly fishing, a few March Brown’s and BWO’s out and about. Dry fly fishing will be better in the afternoon, so focus on nymphs and streamers in the morning.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Spring 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.

Missoula Fishing Report

Missoula Fishing Report

Missoula Fishing Report

The water around Missoula is big right now. The Graphs are showing a downward trend. What does that mean? Your guess is as good as mine. Hopefully it means that we can fish in the next few days. More rain and heat is not exactly the right recipe for Missoula fishing. 

 

For now get out and explore some local lakes or make a road trip over to the Missouri. Lots of bugs over there. Good dry fly fishing when the clouds are out and the fish decide to eat. 

 

Now is a great time to tie flies. If you are anything like us you procrastinated your winter tying and there are still a few empty slots in your fly boxes. High water is a good time to strengthen the fly force. Tie now. DO IT.

 

-The MAngler

Missoula Fishing Report

Mid Summer Fishing Report 7.23

It seems we have quickly switched from high water to high summer. Our big bugs are gone and the fish have started to eat hoppers on all of our local rivers. The Hoppers are clicking around on the grass banks and the trout are chowing on them in the rivers.

The Clark Fork- The upper river is starting to see a little bit of moss. The good news is that the dry fly fishing has been fantastic when you hit it right. They are eating hoppers. Purple, Yellow, Tan, and Pink. Morrish, Pavs, More or less, and The Yeti have all been putting fish in the net. The lower river has been fishing very well when the clouds show up. But the lack of clouds can make the lower river feel like a ghost town.

The Bitterroot- The upper river, around and above Hamilton has been fishing very well. Mayfly and stone fly attractor patterns are bringing fish up. The hoppers are starting to play a bigger role. The mid and lower rivers have been good to spotty. If we get clouds go to the Root. If it’s bright and sunny you also have better options than the mid and lower Bitterroot. Upper river is where it’s at right now.

The Creek- Rock Creek is in its typical summer swing. The fish are looking up and willing to eat a dry fly. Again, just like everywhere else, if we get cloud cover the fishing will be better. But The creek fishes well regardless. A great wade fishing option right now.

The Blackfoot- The Blackfoot has been fantastic. Great dry fly fishing early to mid day. Around mid day things start to slow down. They have been eating the hopper like mad. Purple and Pink seem to be what they want the most. Moths soon.

Great dry fly fishing in the Missoula Area right now. We have a boat load of bugs in the shop. Stop by for what you need before you get on the water.

-The MAngler

…Because You Fish

Hoot Owl Hours

We are fishing early if you like it or not now. FWP has placed Hoot Owl Restrictions on The Clark Fork and Bitterroot Rivers. That means rods up at 2 pm.

We know it’s a bummer and can be a pain, but it’s for the best interest for the fish that we all love. This summer heat is hard on them and we can do our part to help out. So check the regs before you head out to make sure you are following the rules.

This link has all of the restrictions and reopenings as they come up. Check it before you get on the water.

http://fwp.mt.gov/news/drought/waterClosure.html

-The Mangler.