2010 Fishing Reports | |||
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Remember no matter what anyone tells you we can only tell you what the fishing was like yesterday; not what it's going to be tomorrow! Last
minute cancellations
*** Check the River Levels ***
Continuing warm temps are providing two things. Lot's of goldens all week, and lowering of water. While the first is a definite plus, the second makes things a little worrisome for later in the season. Right now, we are calling for low to mid 90's most the week, with things scheduled to cool down toward the end of this week. Let's hope they hit it right, as we can use a cool down. Saw our first fire this week. It's up in the Skalkaho
range and far from the rivers right now. Also have been seeing more
and more hoppers skirting the fields and rivers. A good windy day
should produce some action for those With still ample stoneflies and a decent number of
mayflies the outlook is still decent fishing for most of the week.
If things do not start to cool a little however, we might be looking
at some restrictions as the summer goes
Western Montana Fishing Report Overall, a pretty good week of fishing. While we did have an off day... Despite good hatches... Overall, it fished all week. With spinner falls in the morning, and stone flies from around 2 till 5, things looked pretty good all week. With luck, these stones will last another week or two, and by then the hoppers should be fairly thick. If you don't mind a little heat, Western Montana is fishing well. Click here for booking information
Western Montana Fishing Report Bugs, lots of bugs most days. Goldens, pmd's, drakes,
sallies, and a few drakes scattered in kept fish looking up most
the week. Yet, while the hatches did their best to keep things active,
that old bright sun seemed equally intent upon slowing things down.
Therefore, in the yin and yang of fishing, it seems we had to have
a couple equally slow days... And we did. A couple days, despite
good to excellent bug activity, the sun won out and the We've got a couple days of cooler weather predicted, then another heat up. Who knows how the hatches will go, but they should be pretty decent for a few more weeks. About the best thing to do is get on the water and find out for yourself... And, if you're lucky, that old yin and yang might swing the way you want for a day or two and you'll experience a couple of those 'National Geographic' moments of your own. Click here
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'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times'.
I vaguely recall hearing that statement once or twice in my life.
I think it was Dickens that made the original statement (though
it might have been Lincoln or a dozen Anyway, we had a couple of our better days this week, and one of the worst days fishing... At least for numbers... As most of us can recall. Chasing salmon flies and golden stones up the West Fork one day in particular last week yielded a paltry half dozen fish between as many boats. Of course, the other 40 boats on the same stretch of river did none better. Is this a condition of weather conditions, or more a statement on how many boats can, or should, fish smaller waters? Perhaps it's finally time to start regulating some of the use on these rivers. A tough but necessary question I think we need to ask. Anyway, following this disaster, we managed several
great days on different waters. The main stem of the Root, as well
as both the Clark and Foot, are beginning to fish. This is relieving
the pressure on the Fork and once Sallies, drakes, pmd's, and the smaller goldens make up the majority of the hatches during the daytime, and caddis fill the hours just before dark. With all the rivers now dropping into shape it's definitely time to get out west and wet a line. May your fly always match the hatch. Click here for booking information
Western Montana Fishing Report It was definitely a mixed bag fishing this week. While
most days produced some good to excellent fishing on the forks of
the Root, there were also a couple days when one of the guys was
heard to say, 'on a scale of 1 to 10, While all the rivers are continuing to drop, both the Blackfoot and Clark Forks are still running pretty dark, and the Root is just starting to drop into shape for dry fly fishing. Most the salmon flies seem to be done, with just a few scattered remnants to remind us of the chaos that transpired a mere week or two ago. Water levels remain high in most our streams and the outlook... At least for the immediate future... appears to be for some decent fishing in the coming weeks. Click here for booking information
Western Montana Fishing Report Ok, I know, I'm late again. So what can I say? I'll
do better in the future? Anyway, things are starting to pick up here... On
an intermittent scale. Though the salmon flies and goldens continue
to pop on most of our rivers, as well as pmd's and a few green drakes
already, at least so far, strange Because of this weather pattern, it has been difficult to stay on top of the hatch as well as some years. In these conditions, the hatch seems to start, then things shut down while everything seems to await a drying and warming cycle. While it is still far too early to determine if this
is an indication of what the summer holds for western Montana, it
is beginning to look like it might be a cool, damp summer. While
this might make the fishing a little difficult Good fishing, and may your fly always match the hatch.
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Western Montana Fishing Report Ok, I know I've been a little lack on the report thing. But, in my defense, it's been high water, and not a whole lot to report on... So I let it slid a little. No such luck anymore. Salmon flies are out and about, rivers are beginning to drop, and it's time to not only get those reports out, but get on the water. While all the rivers are up, and a couple of them
are really not quite fishable yet, there is definitely water out
there to float... And fish. The big thing this time of the year,
if you're going to venture onto the water by yourself is, 'be careful'.
That water is moving a lot faster than most of you are used to.
It pays to watch a lot further downstream, and begin those maneuvers
well upstream of normal. Take corners on the inside seams, and Good luck, be safe, and may your fly always match the hatch.
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Western Montana fishing report Sorry about missing a couple reports. Strange thing
happens when the water comes up around here... We kind of space
things out. Anyway, since last report, had a pretty good week until
the weekend, when the rivers began to Click here for booking information Western Montana Fishing Report Another good week of fishing here in western Montana. Thanks in large part to our cooler than normal weather, our snow has remained (what little there is of it) up on the mountains... Leaving our streams and rivers in excellent fishing condition. Add to our lower than normal flows an abundance of caddis and smaller stoneflies, and you have the makings for great fishing. With warmer weather expected toward the end of the week, I'd look for this snow to start moving a little and possibly milking our waters up by the end of the week. We'll see. May your fly always match the hatch.
Western Montana Fishing Report
Believe it or not, it was a pretty good week of fishing
here in Western Montana. Those high, off colored waters that we
were experiencing toward the end of last week gave way to lower,
clear water that saw fish arising again Though most our systems are about done with skwala, the 'mothers day caddis' seems more than willing to take it's place. One day last week, I saw caddis that the best way to describe was of 'National Geographic' proportions. There seems to be something about swarms of caddis flitting along the banks of a river with the sun reflecting off their wings and snow capped peaks in the background that one must witness for themselves... As words just don't seem capable of describing. With another week of cool weather predicted... If we don't get too much rain early in the week... I'd expect another decent week of fishing in Western Montana. Click here for booking information
Western Montana Fishing Report Ok, it's finally starting to feel like spring out there. Last week we saw our first real precursor to run off. The rivers all spiked (quite good) around here with flows quadrupling in a couple days. Of course, like all good spring periods, about as quickly as it began, it started to recede. Temperatures that shot up toward that 80 degree mark early in the week, had returned to something approaching normalcy by the end of the week, and the effects of early week rain had subsided and the rivers dropped into shape by Saturday. With hatches of skwala, nemora, march browns, grey
drakes, bwo's, midge, and caddis all taking place early in the week,
one merely had to reach into their fly box, and almost any pattern
would elicit some sort of reaction I'd look for some pretty decent fishing this week
(at least early in the week), then we'll have to wait and see what
the weatherman brings us. If we get back to those 70's again, I'd
look for things to start blowing up again, Enjoy your time on the water; float safe; and may your fly always match the hatch. Click here
for booking information
Western Montana Fishing Report Until yesterday, it had been a good week of fishing.
With mayflies, stones, and caddis all flittering about, floating
along current lines, and tucked up against the banks, a fisherman's
opportunities were ample. Unfortunately... With temps forecast in the mid to upper 70's for the
next couple days... Then cooling back down into the 50's by mid-week...
I expect the rivers to continue to rise until probably around Thursday
or Friday. Once they Enjoy the sunshine, and may your fly always match the hatch. Click here for booking information
Western Montana Fishing Report Ok, where to start. Overall, it was a good week for
fishing here... Except for one day when the wind actually felt like
you were fishing the Madison, with gusts to 50 and 60. Otherwise
it was pretty good fishing all week. The Hatches remain good to excellent. With Skwala, Nemora,
Capnia, Midge, BWO's, Grey Drakes, and March Browns all showing
on the water at one time or another... On the right days a fisherman
can find rising fish from around Activity levels remain high on the weekends, with the best opportunities for uninterrupted fishing happening on week days. With warm weather predicted for the middle to end of the week, we might start to see these water levels rise a little. Speaking of rising levels, we had a good week for
snowpack here in the Valley. We jumped almost 10% this week alone.
With more snow and moisture predicted for the next two days... It's
a long way from normal, but it's Till next week, May Your Fly Always Match the Hatch Click here for booking information
Western Montana Fishing Report Cooler temps reduced the window of opportunity and the best fishing seemed to occur from mid to late afternoon. Add to that chill a healthy portion of wind, and fishing was definitely slower this week than last. The good news is over the course of the week, we did get some moisture, and the mountains got some snow. Not a lot was recorded, but at this juncture, we will not refuse anything nature decides to bestow upon us. River levels remain low, but most sections are now floatable without requiring too much dragging. Hatches are continuing to progress nicely. There are
still adequate numbers of skawla on the rivers, as well as more
and more March Browns, nemora and capnia. Blue winged olives grace
the table on the lower, slower waters, With an unstable weather pattern predicted for most
of the coming week, look for the fishing to be best the day after,
or before, the big changes. If you're heading over, bring plenty
of skwala patterns (big and ugly seemed to May Your Fly Always Match the Hatch Click here for booking information
Western Montana Fishing Report
Ok, so I'm going down the river yesterday and it dawns on me, I forgot to send a report in this week. Now, that it's April Fools Day, I almost hesitate to send one... As it might be taken as Tom Foolery. But, here goes. From last we spoke, fishing remained good to excellent until yesterday... And one afternoon when we rounded a corner and came upon a huge project in the river that had muddied up the rest of the float. Weather remained warm (50"s to low 60's) and hatches have been progressing in orderly fashion. But, yesterday, temps got quite cold over night (low 20's), the daytime high barely made mid 40's, and the best I got for a water temp was below 40 for the day. Needless to say, though me managed to eak out a few fish (one nice fatty cutbow a little over 18) you sure didn't want to miss to many of those opportunities. Water levels have risin a little over the last week or so. Almost all stretches are floatable with very little dragging required anymore. Color remains good, and hatches continue. Right now still adequate numbers of skwala around, and short hatches of March Browns, Blue Wings and midge. Add to that a dusting of nemora and capnia and it's still a pretty diverse plate for the discriminating trout. Sorry for the delay in sending this. May you fly always match the hatch. Click here for booking information
Western Montana Fishing Report Where to start? Low water? Warm weather? Great fishing? Or, bugs still just trickling off? I guess I'll just try to tackle them all at once. Despite unseasonable temperatures, water levels still
remain low and visibility is almost too good. Cool... Approaching
cold... Nights seem to have been the magic ingredient to this point
in the season... Which probably While this low water really highlights holding water it also places a premium on presentation and stealth. In most cases stick to that skwala pattern for your best overall results if top fishing. For those of you that prefer mayfly action over stoneflies, we shouldn't be too far away. May Your Fly Always Match the Hatch Click here for booking information
Western Montana Fishing Report Consistent air temps that hovered between upper 40's
and low 60's kept things pretty consistent on the fishing front
also. I got out twice... Maybe thrice... Last week and managed to
turn several fish each time out. The best The river remains low and full of folks most days. Add to that combination some bright sun, and you might be able to guess my next comment. While a premium is still placed on presenting that fly in a fishing manner... Thereby restricting the amount of line a person can manage across subtle currents... Longer casts (placing your fly at a greater distance) are rewarded more often in these conditions. Remember, in low water conditions fish tend to form
large pods... Making them more nervous; they'll actually start darting
about just to pester each other as they are forced to co-habit within
normal comfort zones (much like If drift fishing, fish further downstream and concentrate
on those slow seams; fishing the slowest part of that seam (nine
out of ten times this means the bank edge of that seam). If wading,
be a little more silent as you And, for Christina, those fish seem to be biting earlier this week! May Your Fly Always Match the Hatch Click here for booking information
Western Montana Fishing Report
Couple things this week. Unseasonably warm weather sparked the beginnings of a Skwala hatch. By Wed. of this week decent top water action took place on something other than midge patterns. Not only did the fish respond to my skwala patterns, they also found time to enjoy a few naturals that managed to find their way onto the water. The other part to this story is the weather stayed warm right thru the weekend. Those 60 degree days seemed to be a signal for anyone in the tri-state area that owned... Or had access to... A raft or drift boat to get on the water. Fortunately, now that the weather is returning to more seasonable norms and those weekend warriors have gotten their once a year trip under their belt, it should result in better fishing and less pressure. Other than that, not a lot to report except we are
going to try something this year for floaters. We are initiating
a site that will help boaters have a safer trip by reporting obstacles
to floating. Bear with us, this project Click here for booking information
Western Montana Fishing Report Ok, it's that time of year again. It's finally time to put away the shotguns and snow shoes, and get out the fly rods and waders. Well, at least it's pretty close. The biggest thing to report so far is the lack of water. Snow packs are about as low as I can remember, and the outlook is bleak for much improvement. According to the weather folks we're caught in a El Nina (or El Nino and for the life of me I can't keep them straight), which means dry weather in our neck of the woods. There is hope the pattern may change by late May... And help the back end of the season... We'll just have to wait and see. As for the present, Skwala nymphs are lining up along the banks and they could pop any day. Temps this week are suppose to stay right around 50, which could get some bugs on the water. There are midge and a few blue wings during the day to tease a dry fly fisherman, but most activity is still sub-surface if you want to tag many trout. Though I wouldn't necessarily rush over this week... Though the weather should be nice and if you like streamer or nymph fishing it's fishing great... Depending on what this week produces, I'd definitely consider making the journey shortly.
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