Now that winter is over, we have been getting a bunch of weather and moisture. Snow and rain the last few weeks have the rivers sustained at near run-off levels. While the rivers are much higher than normal for the spring, they’ve all been dropping and clearing for a week or so. Fishing conditions are shaping up on our western freestones. There is more rain and warm weather in the forecast so we will have see how it goes. NOAA prediction graphs are all calling for another couple bumps in flows over the next week.  Keep an eye on the flows if you’re heading out. If the rivers don’t come up too much you should be able to catch some fish.

Flathead River Fishing Report – The Middle Fork is already turning back up and the main-stem is Flattening out – these higher flows might stick around for a while. Look for softer side channels, back eddies, shelves and edges with slower holding water. Fish are not going to be spread out along the banks so skip that type of water and focus on slower holding lies. Look for march browns, BWOs, and spring stones in the afternoons, especially on warm calm days when the suns out. Tandem nymph rigs and slow moving streamers in the deep slow runs/holes will likely be the most productive. On warm calm afternoons the foam skwala with a dropper is worth searching with. Also, keep and eye out for afternoon risers when flows stabilize in the coming weeks.

Clark Fork River Fishing Report – Like everything else, the Clark Fork is running well above average and carrying some color. 12k is generally about the sweet spot so it’s getting close. However, the graphs on the Bitterroot and Blackfoot aren’t dropping much so looks like these flows might be slow to come down. More rain and warmer weather in forecast so we shall see. We are all looking forward to the March Browns and skwalas pouring off… Meanwhile, a foamie skwala and a dropper or short leashing a turd and worm along the slower banks will produce. Hopefully flows will drop and stabilize so we can hunt with the single dry skwalla.

Blackfoot River Fishing Report – The Blackfoot is also well above normal flows and carrying color. The bigger fish typically like the bigger flows and off color water but it’s still cold and there’s generally not much bug life here in the early spring. That being said, some opportunities for great fish exist for those who put in time and roll the dice. Stick with streamers and nymphs and you might get lucky. If flows drop and stabilize there could be some dry fly opportunities but generally the Blackfoot is not a reliable spring dry fly fishery. If you are looking for the dry fly fishing, you’ll want to stick to the Clark Fork or Flathead for better odds, or make the long haul over to the Missouri.

Missouri River Fishing Report – Unlike our western freestones, the Missouri is low and clear. It could actually use some water and a little color. Cold and windy seems to be the norm this spring. Generally that’s the early spring situation on the Mo as storms and varying pressure systems move through the eastern front bringing up the W word. If you can find a calm-ish day with some clouds, that’s what you’re looking for. Streamers, dries, & dry/dropper rigs are how we like to do. A march brown or skwala with a small Mo style dropper on the lower half of the river is far more entertaining and engaging for the angler that understands. But the bobber is generally the most productive, especially for those who are learning or focused on numbers over method. It’s all fun…

Lake Fishing – The low elevation lakes are opening up. Rogers is open and the fishing has been easy. Lots of other lakes to explore with bigger rainbows if you’re not into the greyling thing. But they generally aren’t as productive. Not many of those big cutties around on Rogers any more, but still a few. Hard to beat a small hare’s ear/p-tail and a balanced leach when lake fishing. Rogers is generally a shallower rig deal, some of the other rainbow lakes require some deeper depths. Run a long leader and adjust deeper if you’re not getting action. Also, give a type 3 full sink line a try on a super slow troll if you’re looking to get some depth and cover more water. If you’re fishing rogers and don’t want to stare at a bobber, put on an intermediate tip line and slow retrieve for a little more user involved type of fishing.

Pike fishing is also heating up in the sloughs and valley lakes. Had a friend that got one on top-water the other day so there’s that.

Early Spring Freestone Fly Patterns 

Dries – Mayfly parachutes and cripples #12-18, foam skwalla stonefly variations #8-14, dark bodied stimis #14-16,

Nymphs – Pink and Red San Juans, jigs in the PT, Prince & Hare’s ear variety, perdigons in olive/brown/pink

Streamers – sparkle minnow variations, olive and black crystal cone buggers, big and flashy, small and flashy, big and drab, small and drab, they all work just depends on the day. Also, try a tandem streamer rig with one of each. Putting a smaller white fly with no weight in front of your bigger weighted fly gives you a great visual to help you track your fly and see flashes/follows better. Is more betterer sometimes.

Mo Patterns

Dries -BWOs, parachute and cripple mayfly variations #12-18, Skwala foam variations, Midges & clusters

Nymphs – hot bead whatevers, pink sow bugs/scuds, tail water sows, BWO perdigon variation, worms, green machines, midge variations

Streamers – big and flashy, small and flashy, big and drab, small and drab. See what they want, run a tandem, mix it up.

New shwag, gear and flies trickling in the shop. Some custom fishing rafts as well. Shop hours have been sporadic so give us a call if you want to stop by.

Jason Lanier
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