Rain Gear and Happy Trout: Missoula Fishing Report

Last week’s clients brought great vibes, heavy rains, and cool temps to Missoula. They also brought a lot of big and healthy fish to net. And they deserved it: I’ve never seen a more cheerful bunch of dudes at 6am in the hotel parking lot! The Blackfoot is swinging with spruce moths, the lower Clark Fork has cooled and it’s nocturnal stonefly bite is stellar, and the Bitterroot has been solid in the cooler weather.

More Detail About Missoula Fishing, Weather, and Water Conditions

ONE: We’ve had both dropping air and water temps for going on a week.

TWO: The coming week, with the projected highs in the 70s, and the lows in the 50s, will go a long way towards keeping us in the safe zone deep into July and into August.

THREE: The days are getting shorter, too, which means the sun stays off the river for longer periods of time each day as the nights get longer and cooler.

Our Predictions for the Rest of Summer and Early Fall

In previous drought years (early 2000’s), we started to see the first hint of fall fishing conditions just after the 10th of August. We happen to think, like the spruce moths, this turn will come a little earlier this year. All of this is to say, if the weather holds, we seem to have made it out of the woods.

When Will FWP Lift Hoot Owl Closures?

Probably not right away. There’s usually a lag time within these offices even when water temps are well within the safe range, as they are now. It also doesn’t mean that anglers shouldn’t keep taking extra careful care for the trout — play ’em quick and keep ’em wet!