Missoula Area Fishing Report 7/30
We are getting into the dog days of summer and the water is getting warm in the afternoons. Both the Clark Fork and main stem Bitterroot River are under Hoot Owl restrictions and fishing is closed between 2:00 and midnight each day. Also pay attention to the Clark Fork restrictions, Rattlesnake, Fish, and Cedar Creeks plus the St. Regis River have closures within a 100 yard radius of the mouth of each of those streams. As much as I love throwing hoppers, not going to happen much there. It’s a great time of year to get off the beaten path and hit the tributaries or take a hike and find a mountain lake to fish. Fish might not be as big, but they will be eager and fun. I only had one trip this past week and fished a couple of days on my own. Report will be a little thin.
The two days I floated this week were both on the Blackfoot River. I am finding some great mayfly action first thing in the morning. I have been putting some great fish to the net with a pmd cripple. Typical spots, deeper runs and slots in the rocks are where the majority of the action is taking place, just look for the spots with some color change and you’ll be in the ballpark. I also have been running a water walker that I tie up with some longer legs. I know some fish eat it for a nocturnal stone fly but I also think some are eating it for a crane fly. It’s a good play and with it being a bigger bug, fish are moving a good distance to eat it. Once it starts to warm up, I have switched to black beetle, it’s not lights out but will get an eat or two here and there. I did not fish any dropper flies this week. I find it very difficult to get drifts to the good terrestrial water with a nymph under it. I would imagine playing your favorite perdigon, pt jig or prince will catch a few fish if you want to work the deeper guts and pools. I would also start thinking about fishing a hopper in the afternoon as well, anyday that is going to start pulling some big fish. Don’t give up on it either, you may get a lot of dink splashes at it, but if you stick with it some big fish will come up and play.
Dry Flies: Chubby (size 6,8,10), Water Walker (size 8,10), Purple Haze (size 14,16), Black Beetle (size 10, 12), Red or Black Ants (size 14,16), Grasshopper (Size 8,10)
Nymphs: Pat’s Rubber Leg (size 8,10), PT Jig (size 14,16), Prince Nymph/Jig (size 14,16), Perdigons (size 12,14,16), Copper John (size 14,16)
I also spent a day up one the bigger tributaries of the Clark Fork. Fished in the afternoon using a black beetle. Fish were very eager and I caught several nice cutthroat on the beetle. My favorite tactic is to park in a section I like to fish, hike up the road to get above my truck and then fish down to it. I feel like fishing downstream I get a much better drift and natural presentation. I also give them a drift or two to eat it as I’m moving downstream. I figure if they don’t eat it on the first drift, they're not going to eat it. I do work the deeper water a little more as there are usually a couple fish you may need to coax out. Look for cover and shade this time of year, fish will find a good willow pocket and park it. I am always amazed at some of the places and how shallow the water is where I find good fish. Don’t be afraid to cast into shaded, shallow water, you never know what you will find.
Dry Flies: Hoppers (size 8,10), Beetles (size 10,12) Ants (size 14, 16), Chubby (size 6,8,10)
