Wintery Fishing Conditions

Should have put the boat away last night.

If you were out yesterday you got some intermittent winter blasts of snow and wind. You also got the afternoon emergence of March browns and rising fish. It was short but sweet, and they ate the skwala before and after.  Another great day of spring dry fly fishing on the Bitterroot…It looks like the weather is going to be chilly for several days but the rivers will continue to drop. For the those that brave the elements, the fish are willing.

Snowing sideways.

The Flathead is on the drop but it looks like another push of water is on the way early this week. You should be able to catch a few out there until then. The fish are still looking for the dry fly in the right spots and small foamies and parachutes will catch you a few. Tandem nymph rigs with the usual winter suspects will also catch fish.

The Clark Fork, Bitterroot, and Blackfoot all look about like the above graph.

According to NOAA all of our western freestones are going to get another substantial spike in flows early this week. Until then, brave the weather and take advantage of our spring fishing. It’s been good, even in the wintery conditions. March browns, bwos, and skwalas are all out and about.