Fishing Report

FROM THE VISE OF JOHNSRUD OUTFITTERS

Looking for a great leechy pattern for the Missouri River?  Try John Barr’s Slumpbuster or Bouface.  Both of these patterns use pine squirrel and when they are wet these are some of the best leech patterns on the market.  I particularly like the olive versions but black and rust are great colors as well.  I’m going to be putting up a give away of flies for the Missouri River.  These include dry flies used for spring (adams, Midges, BWO’s, PMD’s, and Caddis)  Sign up and put your name in the hat for some free flies!

FROM THE VISE OF JOHNSRUD OUTFITTERS

Trying to get through the doldrums of winter?  Tie up some great nymphs for the Missouri River.  Today I got after the UV Tan Czech Nymph, Rainbow Czech, Purple Weight Fly, Gold Weight Fly, Silver Lightning Bug, and Cravens JuJu Zebra Midge.  All of these patterns are great for the world famous Missouri River.  I really like the UV Tan Czech when the rainbow Czech is on the popular menu with the guides-Just to throw a curve in things!  The Rainbow Czech is a must on the Missouri!  Most guides use this as their lead fly and use the smaller midge or mayfly imitations off the back.  You can’t go on the MO with a large supply on Purple and Gold Weight flies!  Great Caddis imitations-A MUST!  As I tie, I like to tie up a dozen lightning bugs whether they are purple, silver, blue, pearl, or gold.  I would like to also suggest Cravens JuJu Midge series on the Might MO.  The traditional Zebra Midge (Black Thread-Silver Wire-Silver Bead) is a great pattern.  I like Cravens pattern at times when this patterns is being used a lot by fellow anglers.  It is very natural and I have even had great success dropping this off a small Adams in a midge hatch.  It’s a great fly to put in the film!  Enjoy

FROM THE VISE OF JOHNSRUD OUTFITTERS

PURPLE LIGHTNING BUGS!

Here is a few purple lightning bugs that I tied up today.  I love to use this pattern for early spring and late fall.  This is a great pattern for Blue Wing Olives (BWO) when they start popping.  My wife today used that term “popping”  when she asked: When do the BWO start popping?  I though is was pretty cool and I felt proud of how far my wife has come in the fly fishing world!  Tie a few of these bad boys up for this spring.

Hook: 16-22 *I like size 18

Thread: 8/0 Black

Bead: 5/64

Tail: Pheasant Tail Fibers

Body: Purple Holographic Tinsel

Thorax: Peacock Ice Dub

Legs: Pheasant Tail Fibers

I would like to say “THANK YOU” to everyone that stopped by to visit with me at my Johnsrud Outfitters booth.  It was a great experience to be apart of the 2nd Annual Sportsman Expo show in Kalispell this past weekend.  THANKS AGAIN!!!!

Here’s my Smith River video that I have been working on.  I hope you enjoy it!

Missouri River Fall Fishing!

Today the temperature is at 72 degrees.  Tomorrow the high is 42 degrees.  Is this Montana weather or what?  You can feel that fall weather is upon us.  This will be great for baetis and great streamer fishing.  Today the fishing was great from the Holter dam to Craig Montana.  Nymph fishing was outstanding.  Weight fly, Lightning bugs, Green Machines, Zebra Midges of course, and a few streamers will do the trick.  It’s a great time to book a trip on the world famous Missouri.  Fewer boats and a lot a fish to be had.  The front moving through Montana should only help matters.  Are baetis on the horizon?  Probably-a few more degrees cooler will help.  Can’t wait to see the streamer bite go off the hook with the browns spawning and the fall water temperatures.  Its about time.

THE SUN RIVER-YOU SHOULD TRY IT!

I fished the Sun River today and absolutely enjoyed the heck out of it.  New water, new bugs, new structure, and new fish.  There are some big fish in the Sun!  Access is a little tough but were there is a will there is a way.  I was a streamer junky today.  Coffee Sparkle Minnow-Skidish Smolt- and anything flashy.  Got a few on hoppers but we had a lot more success pitching some junk!

THEY LIKE ANTS!

Floated Dearborn to MT. Palace on the world famous “Mighty Mo”.  Tresstrials are the way to go.  Hopper-dropper set up is a great way to get their attention.  If you present it they will eat it.  Don’t be afraid to throw a streamer in there.  Olive seems to be working good.  Get out and enjoy the fall weather.

ALL IS WELL ON THE MISSOURI!

The Missouri has it all for you.  If you want to go up to the dam and catch a ton of rainbows you can.  Nymphing up there is great.  I go six feet from my indicator to my split shot.  Lately,  I have been going with a variety of zebra midges.  Red has been working great for me with a black zebra as a trailer.  You can get away with size 18’s but I like 20’s.  Weighted fly (purple & gold), lightning bugs and little green machines will do the trick.  I haven’t had a lot of luck from Wolf Creek to Craig.  If you thinking hopper fishing I would go to the Canyon!  Get it way out in front of the boat “Long Drifts!!!”  They will eat if you present it.  We also got a few on a olive streamer.  The fall is here and you can feel the streamer game starting to pick up!

BRIAN ON A TEAR!

The morning is good at the dam.  Size 20 zebra midge or smaller is key!  We used a green machine as our indicator fly and dropped the small stuff off the back.  Lots and lots of fish to be had at the dam.  Brian tried it all today with nymphing-some dry fly action-and even pitched a few streamers just for giggles.  Weeds are still all over the Mighty Mo so choose your destination.  The dam is always good.  If you want to hopper fish think canyon.  If your into pitching streamers you must commit to it.  Mornings are great and the afternoons get tough.  Get out early and enjoy.  Thanks for the trip Brian and good luck tomorrow.