Fishing Report and Water Outlook
61F water temps. 4K cfs Water Flows.
Fishing improving daily. Weeds still with us for a month or so. Seasonably warmer than average ai temps with us for the next 10 days.
Nymphers like the bobber. The bobber likes 3-5 feet separation from the flies. Not necessarily a split shot period yet. The split shot give the weeds one more purchase point. Find that clean water and fish. Faster, higher O2 levels, camouflaged from the predators above and beside and beyond. Crayfish, the hybrid Zirdle Bug, or a flashy streamer as your lead fly. Smaller Zebra, small Little Green Machine or the fly toy like a green narrow bodied Perdigon can be good. I like an Orange bodied October Caddis Soft Hackle followed by a Black Fruit Roll-Up with some erratic action.
Stop in to Headhunters of Craig for your Missouri River Nymphing Kit!
Headhunters can find a few. The trout seem to be ready for the fly when the drift is proper. Clusters, ants, small hoppers, any size Parachute Adams, downwind caddis patterns. Localized Trico, caddis, and pool for the CB, Callebaetis, out there as well. Not any dry fly competition out there so you will have all of your spots wide open.
Streamer fellas crushing when the clouds cover the sun. Not as good otherwise. Faster waters are good. An occasional stale pond fish too. Intermediate or heavier tips will get you past the surface and hopefully allow you to fish in cleaner water column delineations. Need a suggestion on this technique? We got the flies, and a few tips to increase your catch rate.
Swingers getting ready for next month. You can swing out there if you wish. Gotta find the right water. It can be difficult at this time of year with the competition of boat nymphers exacerbated by the contagious often ubiquitous detritus occupying your slice of the water column. Come in of the best in Swing tools in the tri-county area. Truly. Lots of lines, demo’s too, a wide array of Skagit heads and tips, Scandi lines and leaders, rods, reels, and the accessories you need for your Trout Spey day.
Looks like water levels will be in the 4K range for the Autumn and Fall session. Water temps falling. Not as quickly as we prefer, but Mother Nature has never answered our phone calls or texts. We are looking forward to the cooler 3rd season. All the fishing disciplines will improve. The fish will return to a positive feeding schedule and all will be good. Yes, it will.
Shop open daily. Guide trips available for the September, October, and November. The latter of the three a true gem in central Montana. The freestone rivers will fade first. We look forward to the industry trickling in to the region finishing the year on a high not.
Scanning my streamer and Trout Spey rods and lines and preparing for the aforementioned session ahead. Cleaning, replacing, cataloging, and stoking myself up for the short mornings, long afternoons, and golden light casting shadows…
