Weekend Fishing Report for late August
Flows 4500cfs-ish.
Water Temps 63F.
No restrictions. No Hoot Owl.
Low smoke levels. Today, clear w/ roving thunderstorms. Power out for a couple hours.
Callibaetis will be happening soon. Some out now. August and September are the period for this hatch often thought of as a lake bug. This localized hatch can be just fantastic. Use the perennial favorite for this insect, a pattern in every anglers box…the Parachute Adams. sizes 12-14. Dropper if wanted. A zebra midge will be perfect. Or a small Pheasant Tail, or any one of the thousand associated derivations. If I see even a few in the air, I tie it on. Fish ti blind or fish it to rising trout.
That little BWO mayfly is on the docket as well. Psuedocloeon is a small fly. Sizes 20-26? Small Adams, parachute BWO’s, and damn small mayfly nymphs in olive flavors. Getting them on the surface is difficult. Getting them below the surface is not all that difficult. Autumn afternoons can be filled with short leash nymph rigs and lots of net action.
Ants? yes. Hoppers too.
Zirdles? Yes, still a fantastic pattern for the Mo this time of year. And we have not even reached the September Session. Crayfish too.
September a fabulous nymphing month. Not great for dry fly action. No predictable or consistent hatches here on the Mo. Strippers like to test the waters as well.
Speaking of streamer anglers they are getting some big trout to the net. Flashy. Big. Ripped back to the boat or shore. Look for some faster waters, or that soft soggy water too.
Book your fall trips today. September and October are fantastic months to be out in central Montana fishing Montana’s Missouri River near Craig. Headhunters has all the lodging, 35+ choices, lots of full time fishing guides, and the shop you can fulfill your fly fishing dreams at!?
Booking Hotline: 406-235-3447. ext 1
The dam reach is coming back. Fewer weeds but the fishing has been questionable. Many fishing the canyon with success. The lower reach has had some good stories as well. Hit and miss per usual on that reach. But the canyon with the faster and oxygen filled riffle waters are seemingly better than the rest of the river at this point. But many cannot stay away from Dam to Craig.
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