Fishing Report

FISHING REPORT OF BELIZE-SAN PEDRO

My wife and I were in San Pedro this past week for our honeymoon and yes, she did let me go fishing two days while we were there.  Conditions were a little tough.  I was suppose to go Tuesday but we had overcast and lots and lots of wind so my guide cancelled.  Thursday and Friday were sunny most of the time but had to compete with the wind.  It was a great experience to fish to these saltwater creatures.  I caught four bone fish and had one shot at both a group of permit and tarpon but they didn’t eat. It was awesome just to have a shot!I will just have to go back.  Back in Montana and all ready for the spring season here.  I will be in the Great Rockies Sport Show this weekend in Missoula.  I have the fishing bug-do you?

FROM THE VISE OF JOHNSRUD OUTFITTERS-Articulated Flies

As the winter lingers on I have been devoting quite a bit of time to the streamer game.  Lately, I have been extremely interested in Kelly Galloup’s articulated series of streamer flies.  At first I was a little leery of the flies because of their length.  After reading quite a bit about them I’m excited to use these bad boys on some big trout.  Today I tied up a few “Fat Heads” and “Sex Dungeons”.  They are a little time consuming but the flies look great after they are complete.  It was pretty cool to use wire to tie both hooks together.  The beads used on the fly were a little wearied at first but they grew on me.  I had a tough time getting use to the spun deer hair for the fly.  One fly looked good but then the second one needed help.  I substituted Polar Fibre and I liked the look of the head.  Wes Craven uses this material on his Gonga series of streamers-good stuff!

BAETIS DRY FLY DAY AT JOHNSRUD OUTFITTERS!

Spent a large portion of the the day tying up some great baetis imitations for the Missouri River.  These include the Captive Dun, Last Chance Cripple, and the CDC Biot Cripple.  Again, Missouri River fish like to target insects that stuck in their shuck or the insects final stage “the spent stage”.  Not a lot going on with the snow the dropped in Great Falls today.  Received my new book on streamers today so that should give me some good reading material for the next couple of weeks.  Just grinding out the winter here in Montana!  You know its pretty bad when your kinda interested in tying flies while listening to the Jodi Arias trial.  Lots of entertainment here folks.  Cheers

BWO-RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER?

Well, we might be a little further from the Blue Wing Olives than one would wish for!  After guiding yesterday and seeing quite a few midges on the water got me thinking about the great BWO, PMD, Trico, and caddis hatches that we have on the beautiful Missouri River.  Today i tied a BWO Captive Dun which I have found to be a great fly for the Mo.  Missouri River fish really like insects that are either struggling to get out of their nymph shuck or insects that are spent.  I really like fishing a cripple pattern for my indicator fly and drop a captive dun of the back.  It’s tough to see so when you see the swirl-set the hook.  I can’t wait to see the upright wings of the mayflies.  Take advantage of the spring special that Johnsrud Outfitters is offering.  $300 Fullday all gear is included until June 1st!  Call and book a trip today (406) 253-8408

MIDGE FISHING ON THE MISSOURI

Had a great day out on the water with Don and Sherry.  Floated Holter Dam to Craig and saw plenty of boats out on the water enjoying the 56 degree temperature.  We did have to compete with the wind quite a bit today.  The morning blew pretty good and then it let up at noon but then howled in the afternoon until 3:30.  Firebead Ray Charles with a zebra midge as a trailer did the trick for us today.  More importantly, you had to find the holding water!  Tail-end of islands are great places for holding fish.  Bull pastures was a great spot to git to get a few fish to the boat.  Streamer Fishing?  Don is streamer junky and had no problem throwing some junk.  Olive Gonga and olive Bouface  got a couple.  Was it great-no but you never know until you try.  When the wind wasn’t blowing quite a few midges on the water!  You gotta love the Missouri and the bugs it produces.    Thanks again to Don and Sherry for the great trip!

TRY A MEAT WHISTLE!

Looking for a great crayfish imitation?  Try John Barr’s Meat Whistle.  Great color, movement, and it catches fish.  Browns, rainbows, bass, pike, etc.  it will catch fish.  Getting calls about the spring special this year on the Might Mo (March 1st – June 1st $300).  Book your trip early to take advantage of this great deal.  Spring is just around the corner! I hope!

 

 

Hook: Jig hook

Cone: Copper

Thread: Rusty brown 6/0

Ribbing: Gold Wire

body: Gold flat diamond braid

Wing: Rust Rabbit Strip

Legs: Pumpkin Barred Sili Legs

Flash: Copper Flashabou

Collar: Brown Marabou

MORE STREAMERS!

Still pretty cold and windy here in Great Falls.  Keeping myself occupied by tying up a bunch of streamers for a local fisheries.  Looks like it’s going to be 55 on Friday!  Is it going to be windy?  I hope not!  Might be a great chance to throw some flies.  Here’s a yellow version of the Gonga that I was tying yesterday.

SCULPIN  STREAMERS!

After making breakfast, going to church, and stopping by the grocery store it was time to ty up some sculpin patterns.  This picture shows Wes Cravens Olive Gonga.  Great streamer where ever you find sculpins in the water.  It’s a little difficult to tie but once you get the hang of the polar fibre material there’s not to much involved.

Hook: size 2 or 4

Thread: 3/0 black

Eyes: Yellow

Tail: Olive Mara bu

Rib: Olive Saddle

Body: Olive Brown Ice Dub

Legs: Grizzly

Head: Olive Polar Fibre

 

FROM THE VISE OF JOHNSRUD OUTFITTERS

TRY TYING THE CLOUSER MINNOW!

I don’t think you can ever go wrong having an assortment of “Bob Clouser Minnows”.  I have found that the white/chartreuse and foxee red minnow are great on the Missouri River.  These are relatively easy to tie and can be absolutely deadly.  I like to keep my clousers relatively slim with some flash!  Haven’t been to motivated to get out fishing but have been finding my fix at the fly tying vise!  Some great high school basketball going on right now in the great state of Montana.  I think I’m going to head to the Highwood vs Roy-Winifred game tonight!