2006 Fishing Reports

Western Montana Fishing Report
Final Edition, 2006

Like the year, the final weeks finished in a mixed bag. One day we'd have clouds and a little chill in the air. The next day would be sunny and bright... as most folks would say, 'a wonderful fall day'. Though those sunny days were wonderful, they really did slow the fishing down. Still, despite the ups and downs of the weather, the low water, and whatever else was thrown at us, we managed to catch some nice fish almost every day.

Several fish in the twenty inch plus category were landed these last few weeks. Some on three weights with sized 20 or smaller dry flies. The largest fish landed was in the twenty three inch class, and was an extremely thick cutbow.

This season really finished with mixed emotions. As always, we kind of looked forward to the time when we could just lay around a little, and get out of bed when we pleased. We also knew we'd miss the folks who come and fish with us... those talks on the porch, adventures on the river, and genuine friendships that have grown over the years. But, the end of this season also brought an additional concern. Pat was diagnosed with cancer, and she will begin a fight against this disease. Right now all we know is she is in for a tough fight and she is entering it thinking about all the joy she has found in people throughout the years. Maybe, while you're sitting down to breakfast one day, think a thought for her. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt.

Until next spring.

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Western Montana Fishing Report
Sept. 25 thru Oct. 2, 2006

A pretty good week of fishing went on last week. Though we did not have the cloud cover as the previous week, there were enough trico's to keep things interesting during the morning hours. Most days fishing slowed down once the trico's left the scene... 1:30, twoish. Just enough bwo's stayed around after the tric's to allow us to pick off the occasional decent fish later in the day.

Beautiful fall colors coupled with an Indian summer made a day on the river seem almost sinful. Deer were our constant companions, but the geese are flying higher right now... the opening of waterfowl season was this weekend. Those golden leaves that adorn the cottonwoods this time of year do prove a slight frustration to a fisherman when a good breeze breaks them from their homes and litters them along the river.

Cooler, cloudy weather is predicted for this week, and we expect a larger hatch of blue wings; but those cooler weather temps might also precipitate a lessening of the trico hatch. Both the Clark Fork and Bitterroot are fishing
well, but that Blackfoot proved a little finicky last week.

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Western Montana Fishing Report
Sept. 18 thru Sept. 25, 2006

It was an excellent week of dry fly fishing here in Western Montana. Blue Winged Olives, Trico's, and Mahogany's made up the majority of the hatch. October caddis and fall drakes, though sparse, did turn an occasional fish.

The overcast, wet weather we had most the week definitely helped fishing conditions. With bright conditions forecast this week, we expect a slight drop in mayfly activity... thus a decrease in fishable water. Despite the
conditions, we think it should fish fairly decent all week with Trico's making up the majority of the hatch and a few Mahogany's helping out mid-day.

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Western Montana Fishing Report
Sept. 11 thru Sept. 18, 2006

Well, it finally happened. That hot weather changed to something a little more fall like, the fires are dying and the bugs have made an appearance.

Blue Winged Olives, Mahogany and fall drakes are once again floating down our streams... sometimes so thick they look like debris on the water. The wonderful thing about that... beyond the mere beauty of the flies... is the fish that have been lying low, huddling away from the intensity of the sun, are once again rising to the surface. Pods of these large rainbows, cuts and browns are once more feeding with reckless abandon.

We have been concentrating on the Clark Fork and Bitterroot, as they seem to have the best mayfly action... though we hope to get on the Blackfoot some time this week. Small tippet and long leaders seem to produce the best, though expect to break a few of them off unless you set a lot softer than I do. We're still picking up a good number of smaller fish (8-13 inches), but we're also finding a lot of those 14 to 20 inch fish. One day last week, under a cloudy sky and rainy conditions, one of our clients... who has spent many a day chasing trout... made the comment that he experienced his best day ever fly fishing for trout.

With the outlook for the next several days being cool cloudy conditions, we expect the dry fly action to remain good to excellent on those smaller flies. The leaves are starting to turn, winter is approaching, and soon it will be time to set those fly rods aside and pick up your gun or a good book. Get out and enjoy the last few weeks of excellent dry fly action prior to the snow.

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Western Montana Fishing Report
Sept 4 thru Sept. 11, 2006

I'm not sure I'd say it was any greater a week than last. It's still bright out there, but the days seem to have lost some of their intensity. We're not seeing a lot of the mayflies yet. There are still trico's till around 12 or
one o'clock. But after that, very little emergence. We're still looking for those mahoganies and blue winged olives to make their appearance.

Fishing this week was anywhere from slow to steady. It seemed to depend on what the weather was that particular day, and which front was moving through. Most the fish we were bringing up were younger ones in the 6 to 13 inch class. Larger fish this week were in the 17 to 18 inch class. One day it seemed like it was smaller fish, the next it was the larger ones. Lower water, and slower movement of the water has reduced the effectiveness of dead drifting a hopper. For much action on these bigger bugs, they need to be moved... to more reflect the actions of a natural. Or, they are only effective in the heavier water... which is greatly reduced this season.

Purple hazes, and fall drake patterns are still fairly effective for prospect fishing. All our streams are fishable, the weather for any but the most ardent of outdoorsmen is beautiful, and crowds are thinning.

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Western Montana Fishing Report
August 28 thru Sept. 3, 2006

Though things started out well... cloud cover, cooler, and plenty of rising fish... things kind of went down hill as the week went on. Our temps again rose up into the 90 degree range, and finding fish, at least on the Root, got tough. We were able to find plenty of the smaller guys taking the trico's... and a few good ones... but as the tric's thinned out, so did the top water action.

I had a report from the Clark Fork today that it fished pretty well through out the day on smaller mayflies... tric's and bwo's. In all likelihood, we'll be heading that way this week and check it out for ourselves.

We're hoping that things start turning more fall-like out here, and that we get a little rain. Though we are hopeful that the reason these fires are continuing to burn out here is in an attempt to control global warming...
we're getting a little tired out here of our role in this situation.

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Western Montana Fishing Report
August 7 thru 21, 2006:

Well, we're back. I'm not really sure I should be giving a fishing report again this week... as I feel more competent to give a humpback whale report since I've seen more of them in the last week than I have trout... but here goes.

It sounds like things are getting back, at least a little, to normal. Water temps. are beginning to drop, and it looks like FWP is going to resend it's mandatory closure this Friday. This should mean the fish on the Clark Fork, Blackfoot, and lower Bitterroot will be ready to hit a fly... since no-one has been able to fish to them in over two weeks. There have been rumors of trico's starting to make an appearance. If so that should bode well for the dry fly action.

On another front, Pat and I had a great time doing almost nothing for a week. It was wonderful to watch someone else waiting on her for a change, while she sat back and relaxed. The whale watching we did was awesome, and the weather was great for our trip. Still, though we both had a great time... we're glad to be back.

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Western Montana Fishing Report
July 31 thru Aug. 7, 2006:

Last week was a pretty tough week for fishing. About our best luck came wade fishing in the upper creeks. Continuing warm weather, coupled with bright skies just seems to keep those bigger fish hunkered down in the deepest, coolest pools around. We're still looking for a break in the heat... and then hopefully things will get back to normal.

For your information, right now there are closures on almost all our waters due to the warm water. Of course, the state was about two weeks late implementing these closures. Hopefully, they will not be two weeks late lifting them. As of last Monday, the Bitterroot is closed to fishing after noon from Corvalis downstream. The entire Blackfoot is closed after noon. The Clark Fork is likewise closed from noon till midnight. We'll keep you posted on these closures.

On another front, Pat and I are about to embark on our first cruise. Yes, you heard that right... A CRUISE. It is our 35th. wedding celebration, coupled with her 55th. birthday. It was her choice, we're heading to Alaska, and I'm going with the goal of having a good time. We will leave this Thursday, and return sometime around the 20th. So next week there will be no fishing report. Talk to you upon our return.

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Western Montana Fishing Report:
July 24 thru 31, 2006

Another week of hot weather. I hope you folks are getting about as tired of hearing that as I am saying it. Anyway, it's finally brought some fires to the area. Bob's house is actually only a few hundred yards from a pretty big fire up in the forests above Victor. So far, we think his home and those of his neighbors are safe. Perhaps a little cooler weather this week, along with a better dew content, a lessening of winds, some efforts by the firefighters... and if we're really lucky some rain... and we'll get through another fire season relatively unscathed.

As for fishing, we've continued early morning fishing, and it has worked pretty well. Mayfly patterns early in the morning with a hopper tossed later or early, seems to keep quite a few fish coming to the fly. Although many of those fish are in the 12 to 16 inch class, with fewer fish in the 17 to 19 inch class being landed, it at least demonstrates a healthy population of trout.

Water temperatures are again starting to drop back down, so we anticipate fishing more during the usual hours. It will be kind of fun to move downstream and try some hopper fishing for a change. Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope this cooler weather hangs around for awhile.

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Western Montana Fishing Report
Last two weeks:

Hot, hot, and hotter. That pretty much sums up what are weather has been over here for the last couple weeks. Over these two weeks, 90 degree temps have given way to 100's. Yet, despite it all, it is still fishing what I'd call decent.

We have shifted our fishing to early morning, with a goal of getting off the water around 1 or 2 o'clock in the afternoon. This serves two purposes. First, it is a little easier on the fish... as water temps. usually are approaching 70 by 3 o'clock... second, it's also easier on the fishermen... not having to fish during the hot part of the day.

Mid sized mayfly patterns seem to work best early in the morning, then around 10 we shift to a hopper. Though bigger fish are a lot tougher to come by, we can usually manage to hook up on several in the 14 to 16 inch class, and with luck most days hook into one or two in the 18 inch class.

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NOTE:
The web guy has gone fishing for two weeks,
so there will not be a report posted until July 25.
~ Sorry for any inconvenience ~
(That's what I get for having a fishing fanatic as a web guy.)

 

Western Montana Fishing Report
May 26 thru June 8, 2006

Small golden stones and plenty of mayflies have kept the fishing good over here... despite the extreme heat we've been suffering. Temp's in the 90's almost every day have kept me wondering how long these fish will keep looking up. But despite my suspicions, they just keep taking those flies.

What we're hoping for... with this heat... is that this will be another one of those years when the hoppers seem to come off with the end of the small golden stones. If so, it could be a great summer of fishing. I'll let you know when Sandy gets back from vacation and once again posts our fishing report on the web.

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Western Montana Fishing Report:
June 18 thru June 25, 2006

This week showed the end of salmon fly fishing on the Bitterroot, but the good news is there is still decent salmon and golden stone fishing on the upper Blackfoot. Of course with all things, the end of one hatch merely means the beginning of another. Green drakes, pmd's, and caddis are abundant on most our waters, and hoppers and the smaller golden stones are beginning to appear.

With warm, bright conditions forecast for most the week, it might be a tough week of fishing. However, last week on a day similar to the ones we are about to face, I had a 15 year old on the Blackfoot and he boated nearly 20
fish himself... with two of them in the 22 inch class. So, we're going to keep our fingers crossed and hope these skies do not slow the fishing appreciably.

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Western Montana Fishing Report
June 12 thru June 19, 2006

It was a great week of fishing. Salmon flies, golden stones, and a few green drakes... not to mention PMD's and caddis... made fishing for most the week a dream. About the only down side of last week is that most the salmon flies are winding down on many of the streams.

Right now, for any sort of salmon fly action it seems the best bet is up high on the Blackfoot. From about the canyon down, there appear to be many bugs still active. Activity on the West Fork of the Bitterroot, and Clark Fork is minimal at best.

With bright and warming days this week, we're hoping for more golden stones and green drakes mid-day, with caddis and pmd's in the early and late hours.

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Western Montana Fishing Report
June 5 thru 12, 2006

Salmon flies, large Golden Stones, and a smidgen of PMD, what more do I need to say?

The big bugs are all up and down the forks. From Darby to Painted Rocks you will see these small hummingbirds falling from the trees and flying across the river. I guess those trout also notice this frantic activity. Because just like every other year when the salmon flies appear... the trout are keying on them.

If you're looking for some heavy activity this month, grab that 5 wt. and head up into the headwaters of the rivers. With luck, it should last another couple weeks.

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Western Montana Fishing Report
May 29 thru June 5, 2006

Seasonable weather seemed to remind the insects that it was about time to emerge this week. Salmonflies have been seen... and fished to... on almost all the waters around here (Bitterroot, Clark Fork, and Rock Creek). About
the only stream I'm not sure of is the Blackfoot, and that's only because it's still a little off-colored, and I have not been up there yet.

Though I did spend most of last week completing final projects prior to our summer season, and wandering the roadways of Yellowstone Nat. Park, I did manage to skirt Rock Creek and the upper Root. Four days ago salmonflies were fairly heavy up to about 8 miles on the Creek. The Bitterroot is showing bugs from Wally to about 4 miles up the East Fork.

Water levels are high (about 3500 cfs at Darby) but color is remaining fairly clear in the upper rivers. Though these flows are high, they are right at historic norms for this time of year.

I'd expect this week should be good to excellent salmon fly fishing... and here's the caveat... if it doesn't get too hot and blow these streams out again.

I know it's a little base of me, but I did want to mention that we had another cancellation (a family group from Utah that had another commitment) for July 18 thru 21, 2006. Anyone wanting to get in on some good golden
stone, pmd, green drake and caddis action should definitely take advantage of this one. Historically, this is excellent fishing and upper and lower rivers are still an option.

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Western Montana Fishing Report
May 22 thru May 29, 2006

Last week saw our rivers drop significantly. Right now, they are flowing a little below 3,000 cfs (near Darby). These flows are fishable. Although the color is still slightly off, it's probably good enough to move a few fish.

With salmon flies being reported up on the upper Clark Fork, and a few being seen on the lower end of Rock Creek, I'd expect the Bitterroot forks to begin fishing sometime this week, or early next. So, for those of you who
have been sitting back, tying flies, and anxiously awaiting the salmon fly hatch, it's about time to break those rods out and start practicing that reach cast. I think those giant bugs are right around the corner.

 

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Western Montana Fishing Report
May 15 thru May 22, 2006:

It was a week of watching river levels rise here in Western Montana. We did not get 3 days of 90 degree weather as the forecasters predicted. Rather it was 4 days... with the last one on Thursday reaching the 100 degree mark here in Stevensville. The good news about all this is it really did a good job of flushing our streams.

River levels finally peaked late Friday, topping the 8,000 cfs mark near Darby. This is about 2,000 cfs more than I've seen since I've been watching the stream flow charts (or about 5 or 6 years). To say things were rockn'
and a rolln' is an understatement. Large logs were floating down the river without ever slowing, and banks were being tested to find out whether they really wanted to stay where they were, or succumb to the forces cutting at their roots.

A couple cooler days (in the 80's) has already begun to shrink these raging flows. By this morning the Bitterroot was running about 6200 cfs near Darby.
A week of significantly cooler days should continue to drop things around here and, with luck, by salmon fly time things should be flowing steadier and cleaner.

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Western Montana Fishing Report:
May 8 thru 15, 2006

With runoff cranking into gear this week, how things went last week is of minor concern in relation to what our fishing might be this week. In all likelihood, there will be little to no fishing on most the rivers in western
Montana this week. With unseasonably warm temperatures forecast for the coming week (in the lower 90's for three days) expect our rivers to go up considerably. Current flows on the Bitterroot, around Darby, are in the 3200 cfs range. I'd expect them to go up considerably over the next week, perhaps into the 5 or 6,000 cfs range.

We're already at, or above, previous runoff levels for this spring. This means color from those banks that are becoming part of the river is once again off coloring those streams that are prone to this behavior. The more
this flush of water raises above previous high's... generally runoff appears as a series of upward undulations in stream flow... the longer I'd expect the off-colored situation to continue. The good news is, with luck, this
might mean the peak of this years runoff will happen this week, and fishing might begin to settle down again.

If you are going fishing this week, work those tail waters, smaller southern exposed streams, and the lakes... as I believe lake's and streams opened this weekend for the general season, although don't quote me on that, and be
sure to check it for yourself. Otherwise, work on those other projects that you've been putting off, and hope for some fishing in about a week or two on the rivers.

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Western Montana Fishing Report:
May 1 thru May 8, 2006

High water, though not rampaging, seems to be the words of last week. Warm temperatures remained most the week, which seemed to keep the rivers at a slightly increasing flow level... which directly corresponded to the temperatures. Flows at Darby, on the upper Bitterroot, hit approximately 2800cfs. This is about 200cfs above it's last spike. Cooler weather at the end of the week started lowering those flows again. By early this morning, flows were once again moving at about 2200cfs.

I only fished the main stem of the Bitterroot this week, and top water action was nearly nonexistent here in the main stem. Though water color was good, weather conditions were overcast, and there was a fairly decent hatch of both BWO's, and drakes, there were few fish moving on the bugs, or our flies. It was really hard not to go down and fish below... knowing the quality of some of the fish we were passing over... as our dry flies continued to have little, to no, effect on the water we passed.

Bright skies, and warming temperatures this week, should indicate tough fishing for mayflies. If the river continues to spike through the week, by mid-week, we should be up into new flow highs, and we should get more coloring of the water. If you're going to fish the streams over here this week, be prepared for some high, off colored water later in the week, and the possibility you may have to spend most the day below surface if you want to catch many fish.

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