Overcast in the morning which made for a pleasant half day fishing adventure. Caddis and PMD’s were on the water for the whole stretch. Started seeing some heads come up around noon. JuJu PMD’s and little green machines worked for us. Lightning bugs silver and gold produced as well. Suppose to have some fantastic weather this weekend. Get out and enjoy the weather! Call to book a trip with Johnsrud Outfitters at 406-253-8408
Dry Fly’s and Streamers!
I was able to find some fish up and also had fish take streamers with the overcast/cooler weather that we had yesterday. Caddis and PMD’s were on the menu. I like using a adult caddis for my indicator fly with a cripple or emerger pattern for my trailer. PMD cripple and the Biot cripple are my favorite in a size 16. Tan, Brown, and blackish/olive for the caddis colors. I see more brown than anything. As I get to MT. Palace, the back winged/olive bodied caddis take over. Its a great time on the Missouri for dry flies and also picking up a few on streamers. Looks like the weather this week should be fantastic!
Sallies, PMD’s & Caddis!!!!
Had a great float today from the Dearborn to MT. Palace. It was a little windy at times but the river is fishing great. Spent some time nymphing around the Mid Canon islands and did quit well. Nymphs included the grape slushy, graphic caddis, cased caddis, JuJu PMD and red headed step child. By 3 o’clock the yellow sallies were coming off strong. I used a size 14 stimulator and got 2 nice fish. The wind died down and the caddis and PMD’s came off in huge numbers as well. Palmered caddis, bubbleback caddis, henry’s fork caddis, and PMD cripples came into play. The fish were up and some holding tight to the banks! Looks like things are getting heated up for dry fly enthusiasts.
DRY FLIES ON THE WORLD FAMOUS MIGHTY MO!
I had an epic day the the mighty mo with dries today. I floated Prewitt to Cascade and found fish up the whole stretch. Lots of caddis and PMD’s to keep the trout interested. Flies that worked for us included the PMD cripple, Palmered Caddis, Henry’s Fork Caddis, CDC Thorax Dun, and even got a few on PMX’s. It was a great day to see heads up and feeding.
Some Dry Fly Action!
I love the month of June and the eneryg that is brings. June has a feeling of rebirth because most of the freestone rivers have been blown-out. Everything is starting to settle and the great sport of fly fishing can take over our time for the summer. Fish are hungry and can be some of the best dry fly action you could see all summer. I have been fortunate to spend a little time messing around Great Falls and venture out to some new waters. Can’t wait for mass numbers of PMD’s and Caddis to consume the rivers! I have been seeing these guys but not in huge quantities. Here is a nice picture of KK showing off a nice brown he smoked on a PMD cripple. Even though KK out fished me he still caught this pig on my fly!
Went on a fun adventure yesterday down Belt Creek. Kris Keller was nice enough to ask me along. I really enjoy Belt Creek because of it’s senery and challenging rowing. This tributary also holds a lot of nice fish. I have been able to fish it 3 times this spring with Kris and have enjoyed the heck out of it. Here is a nice picture of a brown KK caught.
The flows are up and it was a great day to try a variety of nymphs. The wire worm for a lead fly worked quite well along with a mayfly or caddis nymph for a dropper. These included juju pmd’s, Lightning bugs (I like purple), barr’s emerger. I have also really enjoyed fishing Harrop’s cased caddis pattern. Didn’t see much for dry fly action but you never know in the back channels what could happen.
I was able to get out on Sunday and experience the World Famous Missouri River. Flows have been up a little bit for the last couple of weeks. I checked it Sunday Morning and the Mo was sitting at 6750 cfs. Overall it was a great nymphing. Lightening bugs (purple, silver, gold) was a great top fly followed by a midge pattern (juju midge, mercury midge, blood midge. etc.) The weather was changing throughout the whole day. Clouds would move in and out so there wasn’t a great consistent weather pattern for a dry fly day. I found a group of sippers a 1/4 mile above Craig. That was it for the day. I would have probably had more success staying out later in the evening. Its been great to see the BWO mixed in the the mass midges consuming the river.
I was fortunate enough to experience the “Might Mo’ this past weekend. I floated Stickney to MT Palace both days. Saturday was a great dry fly fishing day. Overcast conditions most of the day. Not to mention the pleasant weather with no wind. Midges were everywhere. The blue wing olives showed up early and lingered through out the day. Biot Adams, BWO Cripples, BWO thorax duns, BWO captive duns, and BWO emergers were in the arsenal. This Missouri is unique and technical. Sunday was a very difficult day. With the success I had on Saturday I was excited to nymph the same section that I had dry fly fished the day before. With the bright sun and warming conditions I tried plenty of different nymph patterns. Even though we picked up a fish here and there we had to work at it. Zebra midges, lightning bugs, juju baetis/midges, the worm, and barrs emerger were apart of the tactics used. With the increased temperature the Dearborn had come up and became a little off color. It will be interesting to see this weeks weather and what it will do to the surrounding tributaries.
Fishing on the Missouri was outstanding today. Little wind and midges were everywhere! Nymphing was strong right off the get go. Rigged up a red and white juju midge for my front fly and a zebra juju midge for my dropper. Never change my rig all day because it produced all day. Dry Fly action kicked off about 11 today. With little wind the midges were fair game and the fish took advantage of it. Tailouts and the soft side of runs is were I caught fish holding. Lots of fish were up looking and it was a blast. As an indicator fly I used a biot adams (14 & 12) with a transitional midge. I ran out of these and used a juju zebra midge for the dropper and it produced. Can’t wait for tomorrow to get back out there. 70 degrees with no wind! Lets go fishing