Mid Winter Opportunities

It is mid January and Montana should be encased in ice. However we have been enjoying very mild temperatures and for those who like to get a few hours in on the water every month, you have a great oopportunity.

It looks like the temperatures will remain in the mid to high 30's or low forties even for a few more days. The Beaverhead from Pipe Organ bridge down is fishable. Both the Upper and Lower Madison has open water and is wadable. The Ruby River below the reservoir is also fishable in sections. On all these waters you want to fish nymphs deep with lots of weight. You may need to try a variety of patterns. Experiment with your fly size and color. Use bead heads with an indicator. The fish will be very sluggish and strikes difficult to detect.

Any fish this time of year is fun even Whitefish! Get out and get some exercise and fresh air.

Good Luck

Late Fall Fishing

The formal fishing season is over in SW Montana for most people but remember, many of our streams do remain open to fishing all winter long. The state of Montana believes that there is no reason to prevent anglers from enjoying a nice day on the stream when it comes along.

Generally in late fall and winter you are going to have to fish nymphs deep with weight and a strike indicator. The water will be too cold for the fish to be active enough to chase streamers and you will not find much hatch activity to provide top water dry fly fishing.

This fall the Beaverhead is much higher than we have experienced in the past several years. The river closes from Clark Canyon Dam to Pipe Organ Rock to protect spawning trout but you can fish from Pipe Organ Bridge all the way to Barrett's Diversion through the entire winter. Fish small nymph patterns like the ray charles, pink softy scud, brassies and micro may flies. We recommend sizes 18-22. Use lots of weight and fish very deep.

The Big Hole is a bit higher than normally seen at this point in the fall but that is good for anglers particularly if you want to float the river. I would suggest a larger stone fly pattern like the Pat's Stone with a small copper john dropped off the back. Use at least a BB shot and fish deep.

The Madison is very good in the off seasons. You should find fish moving from Ennis Lake up into the Varney Bridge area. As always, you should fish some type of nymph deep. The standard bead heads are always a good choice as well as the stone fly patterns. Fish about a size 8 stone fly and size 12-14 bead head. I like the lightening bugs, copper johns and prince nymphs as my dropper.

For the smaller stream fisherman we recommend the Ruby below the Ruby Dam. This stretch of the river is open year around and you should be able to enjoy some good mid-day fishing with bead head nymphs on any nice day this fall and winter.

Finally, the Jefferson is another option but as we always like to let anglers know, it is a river with a lower fish count per mile so you should not expect to have as active a day's fishing as you would on other area rivers. You can hook some very large fish on the Jeff but not a lot of fish typically.

If you are an out of area fisherman we would not suggest you plan a vacation to SW Montana specifically to fish this late fall or winter but if you find yourself in the area on business or for recreation of another type and you have a free day when the temperatures are comfortable, don't forget that you can fish most of the rivers of SW Montana all year long!

Good Luck

Early Winter Weather in SW Montana

You never know what you are going to experience for weather when you visit Montana. September was spectacularly nice and October has been horrible. Fortunately we are supposed to see a moderation of the cold temperatures and you should expect some good fall fishing conditions.

The Beaverhead continues to flow well above its past few fall levels and fishing is fine. Some blue winged olive activity and very good small nymph fishing. For those who enjoy streamer fishing you can work wooley buggers off the banks effectively. Fish ray charles, micro may fly and pink scud nymphs with indicators.

The Big Hole flows are way up and the river in fine fishing condition now. Once again you will not find too much dry fly fishing but the nymph fishing will be good. Use larger copper johns and pheasant tail nymphs. We like size 10 and 12. You can also drop a second fly off your rig with a san juan worm or smaller may fly nymph imitation.

The Jefferson is a good fall river. Our personal preference is for streamer fishing. We like the lighter colored flies like a white zonker leading a darker wooley bugger in black, brown or olive.

The Madison is primarily nymph fishing now. The usual array of bead head patterns with weight off an indicator will produce good fishing.

Don't let the weather deter you. Get out and enjoy the few remaining nice days of the season.

Fall Has Arrived in Montana

Fall has finally gotten to SW Montana. September weather was more like August's weather but fishing was excellent. Hopper fishing on area streams and spring creeks was superb this season but now we have to look to limited dry fly fishing with primarily nymph and streamer action.

The Beaverhead flows are much better than previous seasons. Some blue winged olive action with very good nymph fishing when the dries are done.

The Big Hole is still relatively low and floating is best with a raft. Fish large pheasant tail nymphs and copper johns in sizes 12 and 14.

The Madison is erratic but nymph fishing should produce good steady action.

The Jefferson should really pick up with streamers now that we are getting more cloud cover.

The Ruby continues to fish well with small nymphs and streamers.

Get on the water and enjoy what remains of the 2009 season!

Fall Has Arrived in SW Montana

The mornings are cool and crisp and the afternoons quite warm and pleasant. Fall is in the mountains of SW Montana and Anglers should get out and enjoy the few really fabulous days we have left before winter arrives. The fishing is good and should remain so for the next six weeks.

This fall we have more options than we have experienced in about 8 years.

The Jefferson is fishable and the populations of trout up quite a bit from the drought years of 2000-2007. We still like to have cloudy overcast weather to maximize the Jefferson's potential but you may actually find a few fish still feeding on hoppers on the Jeff. but if it is slow on top fish nymphs deep.

The Beaverhead which has been very low and unfloatable the last few falls is going to run about 450 cfs this fall which means we will enjoy great fishing through the remainder of the season. Think about fishing Crane fly patterns off the banks with a skittering motion or hoppers in along the willows in the afternoon.

The Madison both above and below Ennis fishes well in the fall. The big fish that typically seem to disappear in August, resurface in September and you should have steady fishing on nymphs and streamers.

The Big Hole is lower and must be floated with a raft rather than a hard boat but the fishing is quite good. Nymphs in the mornings with some trico action on top. In the afternoon you can fish attractor dries and hoppers on the lower river.

Clark Canyon Reservoir is red hot again. Strip small leech patterns or streamers you favor.

The Ruby still produces dry fly fishing on hoppers in the afternoons. Nymphs and streamers in the mornings are the answer on the Ruby.

Enjoy these soft,quiet days on the waters of SW Montana. They will not be here long enough!

Fall Fishing is here

It is hard to believe but September is almost upon us and that means that we will begin to see some changes in weather and the fishing that is available in SW Montana.

Currently the weather is very warm and we are still experiencing summer fishing conditions.

The Beaverhead is at a nice level and providing good nymph fishing in the mornings with hopper fishing in the afternoon.

The Big Hole is floatable with rafts but if you have a hard boat be sure to choose a section of the river with very few braids that will make navigation difficult. The fishing on the Big Hole is especially good when we have some high cloud cover. Otherwise we recommend that you leave fairly early in the morning and expect fishing to drop off by about 3:00pm. Fish tricos in the morning, attractors and hoppers in the afternoon and when fishing on top slows down use a nymph rig with bead head nymphs and no weight on the leader.

The Madison is typical August Madison fishing. If you fish deep with nymphs you will find better sized fish. Fishing on top will produce fish but you will move a lot of small fish with the occasional larger trout. Fish deep with your favorite bead head nymphs or try a sculpin pattern dead drifted with an indicator. On the surface try hoppers or attractors.

The Ruby for the wade fisherman is a good choice. Fish above the reservoir near the Cottonwood camp with small attractors and enjoyable pocket water fishing. Below Ruby Reservoir fish hoppers and expect to see some larger trout.

We always mention Clark Canyon Reservoir as a choice for anglers looking to hook fish over 20" and sometimes up to 24" or 25".

Good Luck!

More Cool Weather

Summer and Fall are fighting for control of SW Montana. One day it will be in the high 80's and the next the high 50's. If you are planning a trip to Montana in the next few weeks be sure to come prepared for any weather. Have fleece garments and a good rain jacket with you but you may also want to have a pair of wet wading shorts!

Fishing remains very good with a variety of things happening:

The Beaverhead from Clark Canyon to Barrett's diversion is fishing consistently well. As always you can nymphs successfully and in the afternoons you will find fish up on dries. Caddis and hoppers are the primary dry fly choices.

We have been told that the Beaverhead will be running higher flows this fall than what we have experienced the past few years. This means no closure in the late part of the fall and the fishing will remain excellent.

The Big Hole also will have much more water this fall than it has for many years. You will find nymph, streamer and dry fly fishing to be good through October this season.

The Madison should begin to produce better sized fish again as the water cools and brown trout begin to move into spawning mode.

The Jefferson will be another river that fishes well this fall when it has been too low late in the year the past few years. We like streamer fishing on the Jeff. especially when you have dark overcast days.

Don't neglect Clark Canyon Reservoir. It continues to kick out some very large fish for the nymph and streamer fisherman willing to spend a little time.

The fishing pressure on Montana's streams has been very light this year and as we get past labor day you will find that traffic on all SW Montana rivers is just not going to be heavy.

Have a great time.