April is the new June
Cold morning here in Missoula, I sit here after scrolling my guide list looking for a few accomplished fishing sherpas to help me out in June. These are hard days to get help on this late in the winter. It seems June is prime time here in Missoula, the weather has usually turned for the best by that time and the big bugs are here at that time. Salmon Flys, PMD’s, Golden Stones, Drakes etc. The Missoula marathon is happening along with all the other outdoor enthusiasts arriving…it’s a pretty hopping place that time of year. Booking those June days isn’t an issue, they will fill and if you are a good guide you will have a busy June. But it wasn’t always that way. When I started my guide career, June was a coveted month to work. Back when we had heavy runoffs and longer winters we wouldn’t see our local waters drop into shape until mid June and some of the other big rivers such as the Clark Fork wouldn’t really hit stride until July. I was reliant on other outfitter’s special permits to get me access onto smaller tribs such as the West Fork or the coveted middle Rock Creek.. These were gimmies in the guide world; super guiding. You didn’t have to know the small details to guiding and the nooks and crannies of the big rivers. You could just put your line in the water, stay safe and boat 30 fish a day with giant stoneflies and 2x with sub par anglers. The veterans had their sneaky plays on the big river to keep them working early June and as run off succeeds, the Blackfoot and Bitterroot would start to clear up and get consistent. Many years on the Blackfoot I distinctly remember floating with my wife through a locust hatch of Salmon flies without seeing a fish eat one. The subsurface bite was also nonexistent due to high volume and bad clarity.
Nowadays, outfitters in Missoula are pumping June. From start to finish it will be the busiest guide time in Missoula. I have joined on as well with setting up local trips and Missouri river trips. Although all the fishing buzz of Missoula surrounds June I also believe it can be congested and busy. If my clients ask me when the best time to be here is, I will stick with mid to late April. Our early season stonefly skwala bite is fantastic and if you are savvy and know our local rivers you can find epic quiet fishing all around Missoula. It comes with a small price of unpredictable weather, some mornings it may be 30 degrees and slow starts but the afternoon bite lights up and the dry fly bite is there if you know where to look. I have always prided myself in being able to adapt year after year to changing weather patterns, rising traffic and unpredictable snow packs. My clients who consistently show up in March and April always score the early season bite and fresh trout that are hungry for a fly. I think it is a good choice to be here early after the past few dry years, but bring your grit, waders, puffy jackets and be willing to hit the elements. April is the new June and “weather” you like it or not the times have changed along with the seasons of fishing.
