Web Absence – April Fishing Report

Please forgive the lack of posts of late, but starting in late March we got into a nice rhythm of being on the water every day, and the fish have rewarded us for our failed web presence. It’s been awesome to get the regulars back in the boat, and to introduce some new peeps to the rites of spring fishing in western Montana.

The past several weeks have been a little colder and wetter than average, but we’ve managed quite well. The consistent dry fly fishing, propane boat heater, hot soup, and big brown trout definitely take the edge off the chill.

What to Expect in the coming Weeks

We still have lots of snow in the high country, even mid-elevations — when it melts, or gets rained on, the guide has some fun factoring what to do. Which stretches of water will the bump in flows alter first? How long will the rise last? Will a warm, buggy day outweigh spiking water in the trout’s minds?  These are all questions we ponder while the rest of the world enjoys coffee and reads the morning paper.

At some point this spring, our rising rivers will force us to head over the Pass to fish the Missouri where the tailwater offers stellar options when our rivers are blown. In addition to the consistent nymphing, there will be rising fish to be had on that great river at some point, and we’ll likely see some of the biggest browns of the year come to dry flies.

That said, Missoula will give up some of its best fishing, too, over the next month or so, as occasional windows of dropping flows and rising water temps create a magical equation. The risky, flexible angler will be rewarded.

Give us a call if we can answer any questions for you!