Spring Fishing

Spring fishing is just around the corner! While our rivers offer fishing opportunities through the winter months, it’s the warmer spring days and the increase in insect activity that have us hyped for March and April. We’re currently getting our first taste of spring weather, the forecast shows daytime highs near 50°F for the next week. The valley snow is melting fast, and it won’t be long before the yard is clear again. Flows may rise slightly as the low level snow continues to melt over the next few days, but conditions should remain stable unless we get a major rain event. Keep an eye on river graphs as you plan your trips. The stoke for dry fly fishing and spring hatches is building, and we hope to be casting to rising fish soon.

Spring Hatches

Spring hatches are just a few weeks away, and we’re gearing up for some pre-runoff fishing. The winter/spring stoneflies, such as Capnia (#16-18), Leuctridae (#16), Nemoura (#14), and Skwala (#10-12), will begin to show up soon, as well as March Brown mayflies (#12-14) and BWO mayflies (#18). Keep an eye out for the smaller Capnia and Leuctridae stones the next few weeks, followed by the larger Nemoura and Skwala stones, along with  March Browns later in March and though April. While BWOs might be present, they tend to play second fiddle to the larger bugs when hatches overlap. Make sure you have a selection of patterns on hand: small black and olive stimulators (#16-12), dark foam stonefly variations (#16-12), foam Skwala variations (#10-12), and para mayflies or cripple patterns (#12-18) are all must-haves.

Spring Fishing Opportunities

Spring is hands down our favorite time to fish—it offers the best opportunity at the larger fish in our rivers. While occasional stream flow disruptions can happen in March and April, we typically experience consistent flow levels and a variety of fishing options. We also appreciate the later hours of spring fishing. Afternoons are typically the best time to find rising and active fish, so there’s no need for an early wake-up call to enjoy a great day on the water. On some days, afternoon dry fly fishing can be incredible if the weather and flows align. If not, dropper rigs, streamers, and tandem nymph setups will keep you in business. Nymphing remains the most reliable method, but on warmer days, we often find fish rising to March Browns, BWOs, and spring stoneflies. As tourism and population continue to grow here in NW MT, spring offers a great chance to beat the crowds and enjoy some peaceful time on the river before the summer rush.

Flathead River – The Flathead is our home river, offering convenience for quick trips. Afternoon half-day trips are typically recommended, as the warmest part of the day provides the best chance to see rising/active fish. March browns and smaller spring stones are the main hatches to get fish up in the afternoons on warm spring days. Although the Flathead isn’t famous for a strong Skwala hatch, we do see some on warmer spring days, and the fish will typically take a foam skwala quite well when fish are up on smaller bugs.

Clark Fork – The lower Clark Fork is a great spring option. The river sees a variety of spring hatches, including Skwala, Nemoura, March Brown, and BWO. This river really comes to life as we head into late spring, just before runoff and into May. Watching the river graphs and taking advantage of late spring flow windows, you can enjoy some excellent dry fly fishing with Skwalas and March Browns.

Blackfoot River – The Blackfoot River corridor tends to be a bit colder, so it wakes up later than some of the other rivers. That said, spring can still offer up some big fish caught on nymphs and streamers. Dry fly fishing is often subpar this time of year, but the upside is the lack of crowds—making it a peaceful and relaxing outing. This corridor gets plenty of shade early in the season, it’s wise to bring a puffy jacket and you’re toque. If you find a warm, calm day, it can be a fun time to fish the Blackfoot.

Missouri River – Early spring (late March through early April) is one of our favorite times to fish the Missouri. The streamer fishing can be a real blast, especially on the lower sections. Nymphing is almost always productive, and dry fly fishing with BWOs, March Browns, and Skwalas can provide some memorable moments when conditions line up. Once the freestone streams begin to blow out in mid-to-late April, guides from around the state start to show up and the crowds will pick up. While fishing is still great, we prefer the quieter early spring days before the run-off traffic shows up.

Looking Ahead

We’re eagerly anticipating the full arrival of spring and its hatches, and it’s shaping up to be another excellent season on our local rivers with close to average water in the hills. Whether you’re a seasoned streamer angler, single dry DFO type, or first timer, the next few months offer plenty of opportunities to catch some quality fish while avoiding the summer crowds. Give us a call to line up your next trip.