Fishing Report, April 9

Montana is soaking up this spring sunshine right now! It’s warm, sunny, and the fishing? Seriously good! The Flathead River is on fire, flows are up a bit, but the water’s crystal clear. And the Missouri? It’s fishing great too! So, whether you’re dreaming of the Flathead, the Blackfoot, or the mighty Missouri, we’ve got some awesome options for you. Looks like we’ve got warm and sunny skies until Friday, then, you know, back to that classic spring mix!

Fishing Report, Whitefish

Okay, so the Flathead’s running at 6370 CFS and has been climbing for the last three days. You’d figure it’d be a muddy mess and the fishing would be off, right? Nope! She’s clear as a bell and fishing really well. Nymphing’s been solid, and we’re even hearing whispers of fish eating dries – those 44-degree water temps would explain that. Soon, we should start seeing some bugs popping… think BWOs, March Browns, and Gray Drakes. Skwalas? Probably not yet, but after last year, who knows! Worms, girdle bugs, and scuds are what they’re eating. No need to get all fancy with your fly selection – just your basic spring freestone stuff.

Fishing Report, Kalispell

Now, if you’re up for a little Montana road trip, the Blackfoot and Missouri are looking really good. The Blackfoot’s in awesome shape right now. Clarity’s dialed in, and it’s actually on the rise – seems to be the theme lately. Rising river, clear water, and great fishing? Weird, but we’ll take it! If you hit the Blackfoot, stick with those streamers until you see fish start looking up for dries.

The Missouri? It’s just solid, plain and simple. Really good nymphing all day, and then the dry fly bite turns on in the evenings. Throw on about 7 feet of leader to a split shot and let your favorite pink fly and sow bug drift. Seriously, hit that indicator at anything that looks off, and you’ll hook up. Evenings are all about those dries. When the wind dies down, the midges start popping, and the fish are looking up. What are they looking for? Definately a good drift. All those slick dry flies wont get eatn unless they are drag free. Single midges are kind of my favorite right now… KISS Midge Emerger has been working really good for me lately.

Guided Trips

Get the most out of spring fishing with Montana Fishing Guides’ famous Spring Guide Special! Enjoy a hassle-free 3/4 day trip on the Flathead for $400, or venture to the Missouri, Clark Fork, or Blackfoot for $550 – all equipment provided. Our top-notch guides and service guarantee a great day. Ready to fish? Call 406-233-9001 anytime.