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Montana Fishing Reports
| Fishing Reports for Montana. If you have a report for your area send it to us at reports@bobberstop.com. Please put "Fishing Report" in the subject line of your e-mail and please don't forget to include the location. |
** Last Update was made on 10 - 18 - 07 ** REPORTS WILL RESUME SPRING 2008
MONTANA FISHING REPORTS - LICENSES - REGULATIONS
BITTERROOT RIVER - General: 66 cfs @ West Fork, 472 @ Darby, 765 cfs. @ Florence, 794 cfs.
@ Missoula. Dropping river-wide and fishing well from top to bottom depending on what type of
fishing you prefer and what type of aquatic transportation you possess. The rain last week has
opened up some more stretches to hard boats, and wade fishing is a good option anywhere on the
river. Sunny days will see continued Trico spinner falls in the mornings followed by hopper fishing in
the afternoons. Cloudy days, it's all about the mid-day BWOs, Mahoganies, and Hecubas. Lots of
fish looking up on this river these days with the fall hatches firmly in place now. Mornings might be a
little slow to start, so bring your droppers, nymph rigs, or olive streamers to turn a few before things
warm up.
Hatches: BWOs, Mahoganies, Hecubas, Tricos, October Caddis, Golden Stones,
Hoppers/terrestrials, Caddis, midges
Fly Patterns: Golden Stone dries (#8-10) like Half Downs, Rogues, Carnage Stones, and Bank
Robbers, #8-12 hoppers like parachutes, club sandwiches, Rainy's Grands, etc #16-18 PMDs like
GTs, Sparkle Duns, and Z-lon Cripples, #18-20 Poly Wing and comparadun Tricos, #16-20 BWOs
like GTs, comparaduns, cripples, etc, #12-16 Mahoganies like GTs, cripples, tilt-wing duns, etc,
#8-18 Parachute Adams and Purple Haze, #14-18 parachute and Goddard caddis, ants, beetles,
big stonefly nymphs (Pat's rubberlegs, double bead stones), san juan worms, princes, copper
johns, buggers, JJs, and sculpins.
Report by: The Grizzly Hackle
BLACKFOOT RIVER - General: 472 @ Bonner. The Blackfoot River and all tributaries are now
completely open to fishing 24 hours a day. The entire river is a good option for you these days;
nymph rigs, slow-moving streamers, hopper/droppers, attractor dries...take your pick; a lot of tactics
will move fish up here right now. On the mid-upper stretches, #8-10 attractors like PMXs, Turck's,
hoppers etc with a worm, copper john or prince dropper will be a good bet, as will smaller (#12-16)
attractor dries like Trudes, stimi chew toys, etc. October caddis are going, and skating a #10
orange stimi or elkhair caddis across the riffles can produce some entertaining strikes; Oct caddis
pupa under a dry or indicator are also effective right now. Sculpins/buggers and tandem nymph rigs
involving a big stonefly nymph and the worm fished in deeper holding water will be productive and
should turn some larger fish for you. Mid-day hatches of BWOs and some Mahoganies will have fish
looking up, and while most of these guys will be on the smaller side, some pods will have nicer fish
mixed in. This river is very low; even in a raft be prepared to do some dragging, and hard boats
aren't recommended unless you hate your gel coat or feel like having some wood refinishing to do
for a winter project. The Missouri is stable at 3250 cfs. and is also benefitting from the cooler
weather the past couple of weeks. The weeds are breaking free at this point, making for much
easier subsurface fishing in places; and very frustrating fishing in other places where the loose
weeds have piled up. Standard tandem Mo nymph rigs and smaller buggers (olive or white) will be
the goods underneath when you're not dealing with green gunk. Trico spinner falls are still raising
fish on dry, calm mornings, and with any cloud cover the fall BWOs will be out in force in the
afternoons. Look for the little dry fly and streamer fishing to only get better in coming weeks,
especially on calmer, cloudy days on the lower river. As always, mind the wind over there.
Fly Patterns: Golden Stone dries (#8-10) like Half Downs, Rogues, Carnage Stones, and Bank
Robbers, #8-12 hoppers like parachutes, club sandwiches, Rainy's Grands, etc #16-18 PMDs like
GTs, Sparkle Duns, and Z-lon Cripples, #18-20 Poly Wing and comparadun Tricos, #16-20 BWOs
like GTs, comparaduns, cripples, etc, #12-16 Mahoganies like GTs, cripples, tilt-wing duns, etc,
#8-18 Parachute Adams and Purple Haze, #14-18 parachute and Goddard caddis, ants, beetles,
big stonefly nymphs (Pat's rubberlegs, double bead stones), san juan worms, princes, copper
johns, buggers, JJs, and sculpins.
Hatches: BWOs, Mahoganies, Hecubas, Tricos, October Caddis, Golden Stones,
Hoppers/terrestrials, Caddis, midges
Report by: The Grizzly Hackle
CLARK FORK RIVER - General: 910 @ Turah, 2160 @ Missoula, 2780 @ St. Regis. Fishy
weather in the forecast for the rest of this week. Afternoon wind may be a pain at times, but with the
overcast it should be well worth putting up with some dreaded W for the sake of good fishing. The
Clark is fishing well both above and below the dam right now, with BWOs and Mahoganies bringing
fish up to the little dries from late morning through the afternoon. You'll see the best bug activity
and most rising fish in overcast conditions (see above optimistic outlook on the weather forecast...).
October caddis are hatching, and skating a big orange elkhair or stimi has been effective, as has
fishing an October caddis-type pupa below a dry or under the indicator. Mornings will be a little
slower to start as things warm up; look for deep droppers below hoppers, nymph rigs, and
streamers to be productive for you before things get going on top. Fish on the Clark will continue to
eat hoppers/big attractors well in to October, even after the first hard frosts of the season begin to
kill off the naturals.
Fly Patterns: Golden Stone dries (#8-10) like Half Downs, Rogues, Carnage Stones, and Bank
Robbers, #8-12 hoppers like parachutes, club sandwiches, Rainy's Grands, etc #16-18 PMDs like
GTs, Sparkle Duns, and Z-lon Cripples, #18-20 Poly Wing and comparadun Tricos, #16-20 BWOs
like GTs, comparaduns, cripples, etc, #12-16 Mahoganies like GTs, cripples, tilt-wing duns, etc,
#8-18 Parachute Adams and Purple Haze, #14-18 parachute and Goddard caddis, ants, beetles,
big stonefly nymphs (Pat's rubberlegs, double bead stones), san juan worms, princes, copper
johns, buggers, JJs, and sculpins.
Hatches: BWOs, Mahoganies, Hecubas, Tricos, October Caddis, Golden Stones,
Hoppers/terrestrials, Caddis, midges
Report by: The Grizzly Hackle
MADISON RIVER - Things have been decent on the Lower lately, the bright sunny days aren't the
best all the time. Kiel and a few buddies fished the Lower last Saturday and had a great day from
Cherry to Greycliff. Right along the edges of the weedbeds is where most of the risers have been
seen lately, and it has been from Warm Springs to Cherry where more of the rising fish have been
seen. That's a good place typically to look for risers - they feel comfortable enough to come up and
sip on the surface without exposing themselves too much. Wade fished with buddies around
Greycliff last week and it was fair, a few fish munching some streamers and nymphs. Beartrap has
been good lately, heard that it has been a little more consistent right up below the dam, but a few
guys doing well with crayfish on the lower end as well as on streamers (JJ's). Crayfish, streamers,
some small baetis nymphs, a few good dry fly patterns and that should take care of your fly
selection - by the way the Clouser in tan and brown is the ticket right now.
Fly pattern suggestions:
Stinger Sculpin Olive & Tan: 2 Cone-nan The Barbarian: 2 Silvey's Sculpin Olive & Tan: 2 BH FB
PT: 16-18-20 Copper Bead Mayfly: 16-18-20 Deaddrift Crayfish: 4 I Ain't Yo Baby's Daddy Tan &
Rust: 10 CDC BWO Emerger: 16-18-20 Olive Anatomay: 16-18 Skip's Nymph Olive: 16 Super
Soft PT: 16-18 Brooks Sprout BWO: 16-18-20 Hackle Dun Baetis: 16-18-20 Bubble Back BWO:
16-18 Rootbeer Float BWO: 16-18
Report by: Montana Troutfitters
MISSOURI RIVER - Good luck this weekend if you make it over to the Mo, it should be a good one
as long as it's not too windy... Well not what you would expect to lead with on the Missouri, but
apparently the streamer fishing has been top notch lately up on the Missouri. This weekend was
kinda cold, but dries have been coming off in afternoons and evenings, small, small baetis (try the
Hackle Dun in a 24...) and some caddis apparently as well. Nymphing has been PHE phenomenal,
ha ha Rick, and it's been with pink and orange scuds, sowbugs, small baetis nymphs and the like.
You will want to watch the weather if you're planning a weekend up there though, wind can be a
doozy at this time of year. If it's bright and sunny be prepared to have some smaller nymphs,
definitely nothing bigger than a 16. If it's overcast, plan on things fishing pretty darn well... So grab
a handful of BWO's and some smaller baetis nymphs and head on up. Just like we said, check the
weather and see what's forecasted for the Wolf Creek area before making the trip from the Bozone,
or wherever you may call home!
Fly pattern suggestions:
San Juan Worm Brown & Red: 10 WD 40 Red and Grey: 18-20 Disco Midge: 18-20 Zebra Midge:
18-20 Scud Pink and Grey: 18 Pheasant Tail: 18-20 Ray Charles Grey and Pink: 18 Wilcox's Little
Green Machine PT: 16-18-20 Tailwater Tiny Black, Olive & Red: 18-20-22 Hogans Military Nymph
Black & Olive: 18-20 Copper Bead Mayfly: 20 Brooks Sprout BWO: 16-18-20 Hackle Dun Baetis:
18-20-22-24 Hogans Sipper BWO: 16-18 CDC Bubbleback BWO: 16-18
Report by: Montana Troutfitters
YELLOWSTONE RIVER - Everything is fine now! So the river is back in shape and everyone I've
talked to have said that the fishing hasn't skipped a beat. I had been floating and fishing the
Yellowstone a fair amount lately and the previous week it was pretty darn good on Wednesday.
When the cloud cover is out, the BWO's are thick and the fish are absolutely podded in the foam
lines and back eddies. A little bit of mixed success depending upon the weather, but as long as you
can bundle up and handle a bit of wind, the fishing is as good as it gets right now. There are
definitely plenty of fish eating right now, seemed every pool or tailout had a few fish in it, nearly
everyone we talked to has had good days over on the Yellowstone lately. Cloudy days the fish are
definitely chasing streamers, browns are getting their nice dark colors and getting aggressive. Ran
the baitfish/beadhead combo on Wednesday and did pretty well. All reports have been if the cloud
cover rolls in, the fishing has been pretty good. Copper and white zonkers, Eyez Wide Open, and
whatever you want to toss off the back - pheasant tail, copper wire mayfly etc. Should be another
good weekend to get out there!
Fly pattern suggestions:
Ugly Bug Brown, Golden, & Black: 6-8-10 Mega Prince: 6-8-10 CH Bow River Bugger Olive & Black:
2-4-6 Silvey's Sculpin Olive, Tan & Black: 2 BH FB PT: 14-16-18 Mustang Sally: 16-18 Lightning
Bug Gold: 12-14-16 Eyez Wide Open Tan & Olive: 2 Stinger Sculpin Natural: 2 JJ's Special:
2-4-6-8 Dirty Bird Rust & Tan: 12-14-16 Copper John Black & Olive: 14-16-18 Biotic Nymph Olive &
Black: 16
Report by: Montana Troutfitters
MONTANA FISHING REPORTS - LICENSES - REGULATIONS
BITTERROOT RIVER - General: 66 cfs @ West Fork, 472 @ Darby, 765 cfs. @ Florence, 794 cfs.
@ Missoula. Dropping river-wide and fishing well from top to bottom depending on what type of
fishing you prefer and what type of aquatic transportation you possess. The rain last week has
opened up some more stretches to hard boats, and wade fishing is a good option anywhere on the
river. Sunny days will see continued Trico spinner falls in the mornings followed by hopper fishing in
the afternoons. Cloudy days, it's all about the mid-day BWOs, Mahoganies, and Hecubas. Lots of
fish looking up on this river these days with the fall hatches firmly in place now. Mornings might be a
little slow to start, so bring your droppers, nymph rigs, or olive streamers to turn a few before things
warm up.
Hatches: BWOs, Mahoganies, Hecubas, Tricos, October Caddis, Golden Stones,
Hoppers/terrestrials, Caddis, midges
Fly Patterns: Golden Stone dries (#8-10) like Half Downs, Rogues, Carnage Stones, and Bank
Robbers, #8-12 hoppers like parachutes, club sandwiches, Rainy's Grands, etc #16-18 PMDs like
GTs, Sparkle Duns, and Z-lon Cripples, #18-20 Poly Wing and comparadun Tricos, #16-20 BWOs
like GTs, comparaduns, cripples, etc, #12-16 Mahoganies like GTs, cripples, tilt-wing duns, etc,
#8-18 Parachute Adams and Purple Haze, #14-18 parachute and Goddard caddis, ants, beetles,
big stonefly nymphs (Pat's rubberlegs, double bead stones), san juan worms, princes, copper
johns, buggers, JJs, and sculpins.
Report by: The Grizzly Hackle
BLACKFOOT RIVER - General: 472 @ Bonner. The Blackfoot River and all tributaries are now
completely open to fishing 24 hours a day. The entire river is a good option for you these days;
nymph rigs, slow-moving streamers, hopper/droppers, attractor dries...take your pick; a lot of tactics
will move fish up here right now. On the mid-upper stretches, #8-10 attractors like PMXs, Turck's,
hoppers etc with a worm, copper john or prince dropper will be a good bet, as will smaller (#12-16)
attractor dries like Trudes, stimi chew toys, etc. October caddis are going, and skating a #10
orange stimi or elkhair caddis across the riffles can produce some entertaining strikes; Oct caddis
pupa under a dry or indicator are also effective right now. Sculpins/buggers and tandem nymph rigs
involving a big stonefly nymph and the worm fished in deeper holding water will be productive and
should turn some larger fish for you. Mid-day hatches of BWOs and some Mahoganies will have fish
looking up, and while most of these guys will be on the smaller side, some pods will have nicer fish
mixed in. This river is very low; even in a raft be prepared to do some dragging, and hard boats
aren't recommended unless you hate your gel coat or feel like having some wood refinishing to do
for a winter project. The Missouri is stable at 3250 cfs. and is also benefitting from the cooler
weather the past couple of weeks. The weeds are breaking free at this point, making for much
easier subsurface fishing in places; and very frustrating fishing in other places where the loose
weeds have piled up. Standard tandem Mo nymph rigs and smaller buggers (olive or white) will be
the goods underneath when you're not dealing with green gunk. Trico spinner falls are still raising
fish on dry, calm mornings, and with any cloud cover the fall BWOs will be out in force in the
afternoons. Look for the little dry fly and streamer fishing to only get better in coming weeks,
especially on calmer, cloudy days on the lower river. As always, mind the wind over there.
Fly Patterns: Golden Stone dries (#8-10) like Half Downs, Rogues, Carnage Stones, and Bank
Robbers, #8-12 hoppers like parachutes, club sandwiches, Rainy's Grands, etc #16-18 PMDs like
GTs, Sparkle Duns, and Z-lon Cripples, #18-20 Poly Wing and comparadun Tricos, #16-20 BWOs
like GTs, comparaduns, cripples, etc, #12-16 Mahoganies like GTs, cripples, tilt-wing duns, etc,
#8-18 Parachute Adams and Purple Haze, #14-18 parachute and Goddard caddis, ants, beetles,
big stonefly nymphs (Pat's rubberlegs, double bead stones), san juan worms, princes, copper
johns, buggers, JJs, and sculpins.
Hatches: BWOs, Mahoganies, Hecubas, Tricos, October Caddis, Golden Stones,
Hoppers/terrestrials, Caddis, midges
Report by: The Grizzly Hackle
CLARK FORK RIVER - General: 910 @ Turah, 2160 @ Missoula, 2780 @ St. Regis. Fishy
weather in the forecast for the rest of this week. Afternoon wind may be a pain at times, but with the
overcast it should be well worth putting up with some dreaded W for the sake of good fishing. The
Clark is fishing well both above and below the dam right now, with BWOs and Mahoganies bringing
fish up to the little dries from late morning through the afternoon. You'll see the best bug activity
and most rising fish in overcast conditions (see above optimistic outlook on the weather forecast...).
October caddis are hatching, and skating a big orange elkhair or stimi has been effective, as has
fishing an October caddis-type pupa below a dry or under the indicator. Mornings will be a little
slower to start as things warm up; look for deep droppers below hoppers, nymph rigs, and
streamers to be productive for you before things get going on top. Fish on the Clark will continue to
eat hoppers/big attractors well in to October, even after the first hard frosts of the season begin to
kill off the naturals.
Fly Patterns: Golden Stone dries (#8-10) like Half Downs, Rogues, Carnage Stones, and Bank
Robbers, #8-12 hoppers like parachutes, club sandwiches, Rainy's Grands, etc #16-18 PMDs like
GTs, Sparkle Duns, and Z-lon Cripples, #18-20 Poly Wing and comparadun Tricos, #16-20 BWOs
like GTs, comparaduns, cripples, etc, #12-16 Mahoganies like GTs, cripples, tilt-wing duns, etc,
#8-18 Parachute Adams and Purple Haze, #14-18 parachute and Goddard caddis, ants, beetles,
big stonefly nymphs (Pat's rubberlegs, double bead stones), san juan worms, princes, copper
johns, buggers, JJs, and sculpins.
Hatches: BWOs, Mahoganies, Hecubas, Tricos, October Caddis, Golden Stones,
Hoppers/terrestrials, Caddis, midges
Report by: The Grizzly Hackle
MADISON RIVER - Things have been decent on the Lower lately, the bright sunny days aren't the
best all the time. Kiel and a few buddies fished the Lower last Saturday and had a great day from
Cherry to Greycliff. Right along the edges of the weedbeds is where most of the risers have been
seen lately, and it has been from Warm Springs to Cherry where more of the rising fish have been
seen. That's a good place typically to look for risers - they feel comfortable enough to come up and
sip on the surface without exposing themselves too much. Wade fished with buddies around
Greycliff last week and it was fair, a few fish munching some streamers and nymphs. Beartrap has
been good lately, heard that it has been a little more consistent right up below the dam, but a few
guys doing well with crayfish on the lower end as well as on streamers (JJ's). Crayfish, streamers,
some small baetis nymphs, a few good dry fly patterns and that should take care of your fly
selection - by the way the Clouser in tan and brown is the ticket right now.
Fly pattern suggestions:
Stinger Sculpin Olive & Tan: 2 Cone-nan The Barbarian: 2 Silvey's Sculpin Olive & Tan: 2 BH FB
PT: 16-18-20 Copper Bead Mayfly: 16-18-20 Deaddrift Crayfish: 4 I Ain't Yo Baby's Daddy Tan &
Rust: 10 CDC BWO Emerger: 16-18-20 Olive Anatomay: 16-18 Skip's Nymph Olive: 16 Super
Soft PT: 16-18 Brooks Sprout BWO: 16-18-20 Hackle Dun Baetis: 16-18-20 Bubble Back BWO:
16-18 Rootbeer Float BWO: 16-18
Report by: Montana Troutfitters
MISSOURI RIVER - Good luck this weekend if you make it over to the Mo, it should be a good one
as long as it's not too windy... Well not what you would expect to lead with on the Missouri, but
apparently the streamer fishing has been top notch lately up on the Missouri. This weekend was
kinda cold, but dries have been coming off in afternoons and evenings, small, small baetis (try the
Hackle Dun in a 24...) and some caddis apparently as well. Nymphing has been PHE phenomenal,
ha ha Rick, and it's been with pink and orange scuds, sowbugs, small baetis nymphs and the like.
You will want to watch the weather if you're planning a weekend up there though, wind can be a
doozy at this time of year. If it's bright and sunny be prepared to have some smaller nymphs,
definitely nothing bigger than a 16. If it's overcast, plan on things fishing pretty darn well... So grab
a handful of BWO's and some smaller baetis nymphs and head on up. Just like we said, check the
weather and see what's forecasted for the Wolf Creek area before making the trip from the Bozone,
or wherever you may call home!
Fly pattern suggestions:
San Juan Worm Brown & Red: 10 WD 40 Red and Grey: 18-20 Disco Midge: 18-20 Zebra Midge:
18-20 Scud Pink and Grey: 18 Pheasant Tail: 18-20 Ray Charles Grey and Pink: 18 Wilcox's Little
Green Machine PT: 16-18-20 Tailwater Tiny Black, Olive & Red: 18-20-22 Hogans Military Nymph
Black & Olive: 18-20 Copper Bead Mayfly: 20 Brooks Sprout BWO: 16-18-20 Hackle Dun Baetis:
18-20-22-24 Hogans Sipper BWO: 16-18 CDC Bubbleback BWO: 16-18
Report by: Montana Troutfitters
YELLOWSTONE RIVER - Everything is fine now! So the river is back in shape and everyone I've
talked to have said that the fishing hasn't skipped a beat. I had been floating and fishing the
Yellowstone a fair amount lately and the previous week it was pretty darn good on Wednesday.
When the cloud cover is out, the BWO's are thick and the fish are absolutely podded in the foam
lines and back eddies. A little bit of mixed success depending upon the weather, but as long as you
can bundle up and handle a bit of wind, the fishing is as good as it gets right now. There are
definitely plenty of fish eating right now, seemed every pool or tailout had a few fish in it, nearly
everyone we talked to has had good days over on the Yellowstone lately. Cloudy days the fish are
definitely chasing streamers, browns are getting their nice dark colors and getting aggressive. Ran
the baitfish/beadhead combo on Wednesday and did pretty well. All reports have been if the cloud
cover rolls in, the fishing has been pretty good. Copper and white zonkers, Eyez Wide Open, and
whatever you want to toss off the back - pheasant tail, copper wire mayfly etc. Should be another
good weekend to get out there!
Fly pattern suggestions:
Ugly Bug Brown, Golden, & Black: 6-8-10 Mega Prince: 6-8-10 CH Bow River Bugger Olive & Black:
2-4-6 Silvey's Sculpin Olive, Tan & Black: 2 BH FB PT: 14-16-18 Mustang Sally: 16-18 Lightning
Bug Gold: 12-14-16 Eyez Wide Open Tan & Olive: 2 Stinger Sculpin Natural: 2 JJ's Special:
2-4-6-8 Dirty Bird Rust & Tan: 12-14-16 Copper John Black & Olive: 14-16-18 Biotic Nymph Olive &
Black: 16
Report by: Montana Troutfitters
