Fishing Report, April 10

The Flathead has been holding steady the last few days—a little color in the water, but still fishing well. While it’s not exactly “lights out” yet, there are some great fish to be found.

Today and tomorrow look promising, but with the weather shift headed our way, this window won’t last long. We’re looking at rain and a possibility of more snow next week. The good news is that the high country snowpack is still stacking up nicely, which puts us in great shape for the summer season.

Fishing Report, Whitefish

Flathead River: The “High and Dry” Report

Status: High & Rising | Flow: ~15,100 CFS (Increasing) | Temp: Peaking at 43°F

The Flathead has been on a slight rise the last few days—a little color in the water, but still fishing well. While it’s not exactly “lights out” yet, there are some great fish to be found.

The Visibility Rule: Flows have bumped to 15,100 cfs as the North and Middle Forks push significant color into the main stem. If there is at least 3 feet of visibility, the river remains an option for targeting the edges with large patterns. However, that is an optimistic outlook; expect the river to get muddy quickly.
The Strategy: Today and tomorrow look promising on the river, but with the weather shift headed our way, this window won’t last long. We’re looking at rain and a possibility of more snow next week.
The Silver Lining: The snowpack is still stacking up nicely, which puts us in great shape for the summer season. We anticipate things will stabilize and potentially clear up by the middle of the month.

Local Lake Report: The Spring Pivot

When the river “blows,” we shift our focus to the local lakes that offer consistent clarity and active spring trout.

Small Local Trout Lakes: For those after Rainbows and Cutthroats, our smaller local lakes are waking up. Focus on the shallow shelves where the water warms fastest. Small spoons, balanced leeches under a buoy, or slow-stripping olive buggers have been the ticket this week.
Whitefish Lake: This is the reliable producer for big numbers right now. The Lake Trout (Mackinaw) are in a steady groove. We are finding the most success vertical jigging in the 140–180 foot range. White tube jigs or heavy lead-heads tipped with cut bait remain the “old reliable” setup.
Echo Lake (Smallmouth): The smallies are starting to wake up! We’re finding them holding a bit deeper—around 15 feet—rather than the skinny water. They are still a bit sluggish in the 43°F water, so slow down your presentation.

Fishing Report, Kalispell

The Kalispell Stillwater Report: High Gear Strategy

The Flathead River is holding steady for now, but with the forks currently pushing color, the stillwater game around Kalispell is officially in high gear. Local lakes are offering the most consistent action for anyone looking to avoid the big water and find some solitude.

The Local Lake Breakdown

The fish are active but mobile; if you aren’t getting bumps, don’t drop anchor for too long. They are roaming in search of emerging midges and warming water, so staying on the move is your best strategy.

South of Town (Rainbows): These fish are on the hunt. They’ve moved into the shallower littoral zones to take advantage of the early season warmth. Concentrate your efforts on the sun-drenched shelves and drop-off transitions where the water temps tick up first.
West of Town (Grayling): The grayling are hugging the “green lines”—the transition zones where weedbeds meet open water. They are cruising these boundaries looking for easy snacks, so parallel the vegetation and you’ll run into them.
Spring Pike (On the Fly): We’re seeing some aggressive “water wolf” activity in the shallow, mud-bottom bays that warm up fastest. For the fly anglers, it’s time to break out the 8-weight and big streamers.
- The Fly: Think large and flashy. Articulated patterns like Game Changers or Bunnies in white, chartreuse, or “fire tiger” are the ticket.
- The Rig: Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight—run a wire leader or at least 80lb fluorocarbon to handle those teeth. Focus your casts on the edges of last year’s weed growth or protected sloughs.
Echo Lake (Smallmouth): The bass are gradually shaking off the winter chill. We’re finding the most consistent action in the 15-foot depth range rather than the shallows. With water temps hovering around 43°F, a “low and slow” approach with a Ned rig or football jig is the winning ticket.

Tactics for Success

Keep it simple but be ready to tweak your presentation. The standard lake rig is the top producer right now.

The Setup: Run a “Bobber” (Indicator) Rig. Suspend a Balanced Leech (olive, black, or bruiser) as your lead fly and trail a Chironomid Nymph below it.
The “Key Three” Adjustments: If the bite stalls, change these in order:
1. Depth: Adjust your indicator up or down 12 inches at a time until you find the feeding lane.
2. Retrieve: Try a slow “figure-eight” strip versus a dead-drift.
3. Pause Length: Sometimes a long, 5-second pause is what triggers the strike from a following fish.

Guide Trips Famous Spring Guide Special

3/4 Day: $450 | Full Day: $650

Take advantage of the light crowds and happy fish. Whether you want to master the stillwater game or hit the Missouri, Clark Fork, Blackfoot, or Flathead rivers, Montana Fishing Guides provides top-notch customer service tailored to your day—from the first call to the final handshake.

We’re here to help you shake off the winter rust and find success before the May runoff hits. Our phone is on 24/7—call us anytime at 406-233-9001 to get your next fun day on the water!