Lo 31 °F Sunday


Sunny

Hi 78 °F Sunday
Night

Clear

Lo 36 °F Monday


Sunny

Hi 80 °F Monday
Night

Mostly
Clear
Lo 39 °F Tuesday


Sunny

Hi 84 °F Tuesday
Night

Mostly
Clear
Lo 44 °F Wednesday


Mostly
Sunny
Hi 83 °F Wednesday
Night

Mostly
Cloudy
Lo 42 °F

Crazy warm weather heading out way. Highs in the 80′s and lows in the high 30′s to low 40′s could wreak havoc on our freestone rivers for the next few days. NOAA is calling for possible flooding in Northwest Montana by the middle of the week. There is still alot of snow in the high country so I would guess that might be a possibility. Good thing the lakes are fishing so great. Rogers lake is fishing great. Lots of midges and callibaetis on the water. Water temps are 52 and probably going to be on the rise after a few warm days. Lots of nice sized grayling being caught. Most are 13-16 inches with a few reports of 17 inchers being caught. Dries? Yup. Callibaetis Duns on the surface and they love to eat the parachute adams. You dont have to get crazy with your dry game just about anything that looks like a callibaetis will work. What does a callibaetis look like you ask? A parachute adams. Its a gray mayfly with two tails in about a size 14. The wings are speckled, callibaetis are often called speckled wings. Nymphs you ask? PT’s, hares ears, leeches, hula girls, dons emerger, midge emergers and damsels. Nymph rigs set up to get close to the bottom are working great. Throw on 1 BB split shot if you are fishing over 5 feet deep. This will help get your flies in the zone better.

Brent With Another Nice Trout.

Tired of fishing? Want to do some Catching? What river should you be fishing? You know, The MO! Its great, water levels are low and water temps are great. 4820 CFS with a water temps peaking at 51. The last few weeks has been great on the Missouri. Nymphing is solid and dry fly fishing is great. If you have never seen the river at these levels you should get down there. It’s a completely different river. Walk wading is great. Lots of new structure for you to fish. BWOs, March Browns, Midges?, I did see a few Gray Drakes and caddis are the bugs in play. I know, you want to know about the carpenter ants? If you see them….fish em! Just say’n.
Our Spring Guide Special is still in full effect. Its time to do some fly fishing in Montana and get you fish fix! Full day trips, $399 and half day trips $299, need lodging? We got you covered. Want to enjoy a dinner in the Best Bar in Montana? No problem, the cabbins are right next to it. Just imagine…..

Beat It Bananas!

Whats the deal with bananas? Bananas go great with lots of things, pancakes, banana splits, banana bread, grunts(not really), fried bananas, crepes, smoothies or pudding. All fine and dandy. Keep them away from the boat! If you are looking to catch a few fish and have a good time dont bring the bananas!!!! I know it sounds crazy but it is true. Not catching fish? Some how a banana has found its way on the boat. Bunches of bananas are obvious but they are a sneaky bunch. You gotta think outside the box to stay on top of the situation. Trail mix is loaded with those dried little devils! If you have trail mix with bananas in it just dump it over the side of the boat. Is that littering? Nope! You are adding great stuff to the bio mass of the river, just like salmon in Alaska. Wait? Do we really want to be feeding fish bananas? That could be a problem. How about Banana Boat sunscreen? Another problem. Throw it away! Dont ever buy Banana Boat sunscreen if you are going fishing. Wear it to the beach but not to go fishing. Dont even sunscreen up with it before you get on the boat. I have a back up tube of sunscreen for just such occasions. Use mine and rub it all over your face, it will keep you safe and catching fish. Oh, but I need potassium or my legs will cramp. No problem, got you covered. A banana has 467 mg of potassium and an avocado has 975 mg. Dont like avocados? Here is a handfull of dried apricots(All that time as a Paramedic has finally paid off). People think I’m crazy but it’s true. I could write a book about my banana theory but I will spare you. I just feel everyone needs to be aware of this very serious problem. No bananas!

Need moving water? Flathead is on the rise. Maybe. How about a tail water? Let’s get to the Missouri! It’s fishing great! Dries? Yup. Out in the full sun eating like its cloudy. What bugs are on the water? March Browns and BWOs are getting eats. Caddis dries yet? A few fish eating the caddis. What flies? See lake technique 3, rusty parachute, PT parachute, purple haze, spring creek baetis, cripples and emergers. Nymphs? Rainbow Czech, lightning bug, fire bead, sow bugs, caddis pupa, zebras, rojo, purple Jesus, juju black and purple, military may, red headed step child, rs2 and any other micro may you like.

Your guide has spent the last 4 days in his waders, same socks, capeline long johns and Simms Guide Pants. Really? Don’t forget it rained like hell for two of those days. Now it’s the first sunny warm day. Waders off and flops on! It’s summer for a few days!

Speed stick to the rescue! You say something smells funky? Not me sir….. I took off my capelines, aka funk barrier to the guide pants, and I’m wearing flops? UV rays from the sun should kill any micro organisms on the feet and I rubbed speed stick all over my body. Sorry that smell is not me. Do you notice that great clean scent? That’s me!

Gotta be moving water!!
OK…. Let’s go to the Missouri. It’s good. Nymphing is great. Dry fly fishing is great. Lots of scum suckers around the back eddies and the hot rods in the riffles. Get that fly first and your in the game. Rainbow Czech nymph, firebead, PT’s, mercuries, juju, purple Jesus and caddis pupa will get fish under neath. Dries? Lots of march brown and BWOs. Is it Mothers day yet? Rumored in the lower river, bottom low. Maybe in the next 2-3 days? Could happen, maybe? It’s gonna be warm and water temps hit almost 53 at my boat.

Man Down!!!

10 minutes later Friel rolls in with a cup full of 6 shots of espresso. He takes two shots in the morning, he takes six shots in the afternoon. He takes two shots before he takes six shots and then he fells alright.

More BWO stuff? Yup, we have been fishing them a bunch and thats that game right now! Last week I showed you the Purple Jesus, I found another great pattern for Richard Strolis. I have been using this pattern for the last few weeks and is also part of my program. It is very straight forward and an easy tie. I tie them in 16 to 20′s. The dubbing I use is MFC Frog Hair, it comes in a bunch of great Baetis colors and dubs like a dream. For the legs I use Krystal Flash or Pheasant tail. I also use a Dai-Riki #320 or #125 if you like curved hooks. Crystal or Purple Irr glass beads work great,

This is a great pattern that you should have in your box. Tie up a bunch for your next trip and you wont be disappointed!

How about this weather? A few weeks ago it was almost 80 and now we are back to spring weather. Last week the river blew out and was muddy. Now the river is on the drop and things can come back into shape if we dont get a lot of rain in the next week. We also need those night time temps to stay low if we are going to get some fishing in. This is a tough time of year and things will be hit and miss on the river. Gotta keep an eye on the flows and weather forecasts. Give the shop a call and we will give you up to date information. So where is the fishing?

Overnight Partly Cloudy Lo 26 °F

Thursday Chance Showers Hi 57 °F

Thursday Night Chance Showers Lo 34 °F

Friday Chance Showers Hi 52 °F

Friday Night Chance Showers Lo 35 °F

Saturday Chance Showers Hi 50 °F

Saturday Night Chance Showers Lo 32 °F

Sunday Chance Showers Hi 54 °F

Sunday Night Chance Showers Lo 26 °F

 
The Lakes are fishing great right now. Whitefish Lake has turned on in the last week. Lakers, Cutthroat and Pike are all on the bite. With the water temps warming the lakers are just starting to move in the shallow water. White streamers, Sparkle Minnow and Buggers in Brown and Black are the ticket.

Gary Getting Them On Whitefish Lake! Fish Tacos Anyone?

Rogers lake is also fishing great! Lots of grayling with a few nice trout in the mix. It’s a little early to be stripping leaches, nymphs are the ticket. What are they eating? Any nymph with some shine to it. Could I be more vague? I’m just sayin, get it in their zone and they will eat it. When it is not windy look for midge activity and Callibaetis. On the right day you could find some dry fly fishing.

Looking for some moving water? The Missouri River will not disappoint! Nymphing is great and on the right day…. Dry or Die! Look for overcast days, warm temps and light winds if you are thinking dries. Bugs? Baetis, Midges and soon…Caddis! Fire beads, scuds, small pink junk, juju’s, purple jesus, PTs are all good choices. Dries? You know I love the Parachute Adams, midge clusters, BWO emergers and midge emergers are all getting it done. Come by the shop for our selection of Techy Mo Flies.

Our Spring Guide Special is still in effect. $399 for a full day and $299 for a half day. We have boats on the water everyday, its time! Time for what? Time for you to go fishing in the great state of Montana!