Bigfork Anglers Fly Fishing Report 4/17/11

Got this one at the boat ramp yesterday morning.

 General Outlook: As predicted, the last couple days were great dry fly fishing. BWOs, March browns, and skwalas were all out on the water in the afternoon and the fish were chowing. We have been focusing our guide trips down on the Bitterroot the past couple weeks and the dry fly fishing has been GOOOD. The Blackfoot, and Clark Fork are both fishing well too. The weather forecast looks like it will continue to hold our water in the hills for the remainder of the week so the fishing will be solid. I’ve heard rumors of Grey Drakes on the Bitterroot and Clark Fork but I haven’t seen any so it’s probably just March browns. They are often confused. I would like to see some big grey drakes on the lower Clark Fork this year.

Skwala eater

Blackfoot:Nymphing and streamer fishing will be a good bet. Stonefly nymphs followed by a prince or sjw should be all you need. Slow trolling streamers on a tip should connect with some fish too.
Fly Patterns:Girdle bugs, db Stones. SJWs, general beadheads, Glo bugs, buggers / streamers 

Lower Clark Fork: Stable flows and fishing well. A skwala foamy with a deep dropper in the prince /g-bug/ sjw variety will be a good way to start. Tandem nymph rigs through the deep seems and deep back eddies will find fish. Trolling streamers on a tip should find fish too and is more fun than starring at a bobber if you can’t get them to eat the dry.  BWOs and March browns should appear in the afternoon so keep your eyes open for risers.  A skwala trailed by a p-tail cripple or purple haze chute will work for the rising fish.
Fly Patterns:Girdle bugs, db Stones, prince nymphs, fb p-tails, SJWs, Glo bugs, buggers / streamers, purple haze chutes, p-tail cripples, foam skwala stuff

Flathead:The main stem is a little high but fishable. They are ramping flows out of the South Fork so head up to Blankenship or the forks to get more manageable flows.  If you are fishing the mainstem, look for soft eddies and slower runs. Tandem nymphs fished deep and slow will be your best bet.
Fly Patterns: Pats rubber legs / girdle bugs, db epoxy stones, 20 inchers, general beadheads, pink stuff, glo bugs, sj worms in pink or red, buggers, streamers, foam skwala variations, midges, bwos.

Swan: The upper is closed through the 3rd saturday in May. Streamers and nymphs fished slow and deep will be your best bet for the lower river and bay.
Fly Patterns: Pats rubber legs / girdle bugs, db epoxy stones, 20 inchers, general beadheads, pink stuff, glo bugs, sj worms in pink or red, buggers, streamers