After a week of rising rivers in Missoula we continue to see anglers sticking great trout, although the main methods have shifted briefly to streamers and droppers. Dry fly action has slowed while we enter a flow rate above normal. Anticipating where the leverage over our resident trout occurs is the key to success. Under current conditions, fishing the runs that produced on previous days can be a recipe for a long day in the boat. Higher flows cause stream dwelling insects to lose their connection with river substrate, and clumsy stonefly nymphs create a large target meal for hungry fish coming out of winter. With nighttime lows dropping down into the freezing range over the next few days our water should level and begin to drop. We anticipate seeing outsized trout being caught in the coming days by anglers who know where to strike in the Missoula area drainages. Lots of the best fish are caught in the edge of conditions.
Spring fishing success is a culmination of decisions made in the boat and also surprisingly those made behind a screen. Keeping a close eye on the weather forecast and corresponding hydrologic predictions is a necessary daily task. These two months of the season offer unique conditions that change daily. Warm nights and rainy days in the forecast let us anticipate rising rivers, just like below freezing nights and cool daytime highs can make us shift where we head for the day or what time we start. Time spent behind the oars as well as behind the screens offers invaluable experience that separates seasoned guides from the rest, at an even more heightened level in the early season.
We are still taking bookings for April 2022 and are now booking March 2023. Give us a call to plan your springtime trip! Read more about our Spring Special here
Tight Lines,
Caleb Garrett
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