Flows Drop and Stakes Rise: Missoula Fishing Report

It’s been another fortunate week West of the Divide, with a dropping flows precipitated by cooling temps–and big fish back on the feed. Overall, our hatches have waned a little, but the Missoula Fishing Report is happy to predict –with more certainty than a weatherman — a ramp-up in bugs this coming week. Everything is prime for another fantastic window of fishing, and we’re here puttin’ the hurt on em.

Blackfoot River Fishing Report:

This river looks primed to give up a beast or two each day. Forget that you could probably catch a basket-full on stonefly nymphs and worms — because of water temps and ideal “two-feet-of-green” visibility — this is the week to drag your steelhead rod out of the closet, tie on your gaudiest streamer and start stripping, dragging, twitching, jigging, etc. Get after the big boys before they start fattening up on salmon-fly nymphs!

Clark Fork River Report:

Tweener. A bit cool for great caddis fishing, but the Blue Wings and remnant March Browns should show this week in the clouds. You might even see some strange species of mayfly that only appears this time of year when the river is usually unfishable. Olive streamers on the slow strip will keep you on your toes before the hatches start, and the “imprint” of the flying skwalla is well-established on these fish, so keep your large dry fly moving.

Bitterroot River Report:

Up high the nymph game is solid but not interstellar. Next warm day should produce a caddis extravaganza.

Missouri River Fishing Report:

On fire underneath near Holter, and dependable to stellar in the middle reaches with Olives and March Browns. Short-leashing will keep you bent, but running the bobber through a pod of risers can give you bad dreams. Stake the boat up like a tarpon guide and wait for a head to show? The guys smoking cigars in anchored skiffs know exactly what they’re doing…