Missoula fishing Still Holding Strong

Spring has been in full force for fishermen here in Missoula and it has been a pretty epic season to say the least. We have battled through the changing weather, cold water temps and have produced some amazing days on the water. I have never been contained to just one river during a season and I consider myself proficient on almost every local stretch of here. I would say I continued that trend during this spring season. From chasing pike on the Clark Fork and Flathead to dry fly fishing on the Bitterroot we stay flexible and try to keep a nomad approach. I have yet to see another boat in the last two weeks and it seems like I have been able to stay unseen and successful.

We have arrived at the later part of spring now where Missoula usually tends to see our run off start. This brings muddy higher water but we are still holding strong with the cooler nights and mild day time temps. I have a few clients who are willing to gamble on this time of year and when the stars align, like they have this Spring, they really reap the benefits. In this last week of April competition will decrease from other outfitters and guides, the traffic will slow down and the bugs will be prolific. I have seen this magic time happen about every 2 years and when you find yourself on one of our world class waters by yourself in the middle of an incredible hatch, you will be happy you took the risk. Last week I ventured down to the lower Clark Fork to check on the hatch. The water was a little high from our early spring run off but it still fished alright. I found that the outside banks were not quite built right and there wasn’t enough bugs to push fish to feed in the hard lanes. I saved my days by running some meat and potato flies through some mid level inside riffles and still managed to dig up 12-20 nice trout for some beginner clients. I ventured back towards the Bitterroot to chase the dry fly bite again and saw lots of March browns and plenty of skwalas. New clients arrived on Tuesday and I knew it was time to check the lower Clark again. This time I noticed a little drop in the river and a better build on the outside banks. Clouds moved in and our cool morning heated up with a smorgasboard of bugs and action, landing lots of nice size trout on dry flies and droppers as well. We closed out our week by staying solitary on our own stretches of rivers NOT on the Bitterroot and created some great memories.

We have arrived, peak pinnacle fluttering skwalas are here on the lower and upper Clark Fork and Blackfoot and Bitterroot along with Baetis, March Browns, Mothersday Caddis and an occasional Grey Drake. My client who arrives Monday will be frothing at the mouth to once again see some of the best fly fishing we get for the end of April. Life is short, book the trip, make the gamble, take the risk, set the hook and make it happen!