Missoula's only Video and Detailed River Report for:
1/25/2012
If Video does not start in 5 Seconds, please press the play button below |
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River Name |
Current Fishing Conditions |
Current Hatches |
Current Hot Patterns |
| Blackfoot |
Winter fishing on the Foot is a risky venture. We reccommend heading up there only following a least three days in the mid to upper 30's in Missoula. Only then is it likely you won't be fighting ice flow all day. Having said that, just because the river appears choked in the lower canyon along hwy 200 doesn't mean the upper river is the same. There is more spring water around and above Scotty Brown Bridge, therefore the river can clear out faster and stay ice free longer. There is a pile of snow along the banks so don't expect to cover a bunch of ground. |
You might see some midges but we wouldn't go up there expecting fish on dries. |
>Dries: Just for dropper use - Noble chernobles in tan or red, or Chubby.
>Nymphs: SanJuan worm #8, prince in sizes 10-8, double bead stones, and copper john in 14-10
>Streamers: Bunnies or zonkers; yellow, black, olive or tan buggers, Marvins in motled |
| Bitterroot |
The Bitterroot can fish well all winter long. In early January we had a week of unseasonably warm weather and we noticed several boats rolling south. Results have been mixed but much of that has to do with one's expectations. Some folks come in the shop ecstatic that they caught 5 fish while others banked 8or9 and are dissapointed. To us, if the temps are breaking the freezing mark long enough for you to get on the water for a coupla hours - that's pretty sweet. Fish to hand then are a bonus.
As is the case on the Foot and Rock - upper reaches have the most spring water so often fish the best. Look to the deep color changes draining into big slow runs. Those areas stack up with trout in the winter. Swing a streamer and bead head through the slow water after working the chop with nymphs. |
midges. |
>Dries: Para purple haze or adams #18-20, Midges in similar sizes
>Nymphs: Big prince or #10 copper john, peacock double bead stones, red worm is king but pink also gets it done.
>Streamers: Olive
buggers and sculpins, marvins, and jj's fished slow. |
| Clark Fork |
Short of heading over the pass to the Mo, the lower Clark Fork is your best option when looking for fish up on midges. Get a coupla days in the high thirties or low forties and you chance seeing some exceptional dry fly fishing. Try your luck when ice chunks are floating by every few seconds and you will strugle to catch anything. When nymphing look for long riffles leading into deep slow wintering runs. If conditions afford some midge action check the swill holes and foamy back eddies which trap plenty of bugs.
The river above Missoula all the way to Deerlodge is not the best bet right now but fishing the spillway near Warm Springs can be exceptional. Bring plenty of scud variations and midge nymphs expecting to loose some on big fish.
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midges. |
>Dries: Parachute midge or griffith's knat in #20, maybe a bwo #18-20,or big attractor for a dropper
>Nymphs: SanJuan worms. phez tails #14-18, big prince size 10 or #16 copper john.
>Streamers: Sparkle minnow, jj's, yellow zonkers, marvins |
| Rock Creek |
Rock Creek is hands down our favorite winter haunt. Nothing beats the solitude, views and fish stacked in short deep runs. The lower or upper portions are most productive as the middle sections see little sun during winter months. If you decide to fish the upper river consider driving all the way around near P-burg and drop in from the top. Rock Creek road can be treacherous from end to end. We start with the same set up all winter: brown marvin followed up with a BRO power worm all dropped about 6-7' below a medium thingamabobber. And remember if you aren't setting the hook every third cast you need to add weight or cast further upstream to start your drift. |
midges on warm afternoons. |
>Dries: Blue winged olive parachute #16, griffiths gnat, purple haze, fat freddy as a top bug for droppers.
>Nymphs: The worm - red, pink, orange in #8, phez tail #16, prince in sizes 10-8 and copper john in 14-10.
>Streamers: Bunnies or buggers; black, |
| Georgetown Lake |
Ice fishing has been good to just ok. |
Leaches,scuds. |
>Dries:
>Nymphs: Zebra midge,egg patterns, and scuds
>Streamers: |
| Alternate Rivers and Information |
| MISSOURI RIVER:
The Mo has been fishing exceptional this winter until the late January freeze. Scuds rule here... Czech nymphs, hot bead czechs, pink scuds, orange scuds,lalalala... you might also try a worm or zebra midge if you become bored with the scud. Streamer swinging has produced a ton of fish as well - skinny olive bunnies are as good a bet as anything. Good luck!
Questions about an upcoming trip or fishing in Western Montana? Call us at our new fly shop in Missoula at 406-542-7411 (open 9 - 6 M - Sat., Sundays 10 - 3) Our Philipsburg shop is now closed for the season so be sure and gear up at our store in Missoula before heading tha way.
Good fishing -
John, Terri and Matthew |
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