July 4, 2008 Montana Fishing Roundup
This is a brief synopsis of fishing conditions and reports from select waters across the state. For more detailed information, contact a fly shop, bait store, or boat marina for the particular water. For detailed information on river flows, visit: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/current?type=flow
High river flows and reservoir levels of the spring and early summer this year have many anglers happy, while others are frustrated. In the short term, these high water levels may make fishing difficult, although in many areas the window of prime fishing has simply shifted later into the summer, which is a welcome change from the dry winters and springs of the past few years. In the long term however, there are some important and beneficial processes occurring in the rivers and reservoirs of the state due to the high water. High water in the rivers means many of them will be subject to clearing, flushing flows that may not have taken place for five to ten years. The high, chocolate brown water that disappoints a June angler is carrying silt and sediment that has clogged the gravel and cobblestone bottoms of streams. With this silt flushed away downstream, there is better habitat for insects and fish, and in some cases improved spawning habitat as well. High water in reservoirs means that shallow areas along shore are underwater, maybe for the first time in eight or ten years. Vegetation that has grown in those areas when the water was low is now flooded, providing fantastic cover for young, newly hatched fish, and a bloom of plankton and nutrients to sustain these same young fish in the future. So curse the high, muddy waters if you must, but realize that your future fishing will probably benefit as a result.
Some of the best fishing bets right now:
Bighorn Lake – One of the prettiest reservoirs in the state, and now providing some great smallmouth bass fishing.
Bighole River – The salmonfly hatch has pretty well ended, but the fishing remains very good.
Bitterroot River – High flows demand extra caution, but the hatches are coming on strong and the fishing should be on a steady upswing.
Cliff Lake – Lakes are always a good option when the rivers are having runoff issues, and Cliff lake is noted for producing some large fish.
Deadmans Basin – Good trout fishing now, and prepare to return in mid-summer to try for a tiger musky.
Flathead Lake – Reports of good lake trout fishing.
Hauser Reservoir – If the size of the fish doesn’t mean everything to you, check out Hauser for good action on smaller walleyes.
Hungry Horse Reservoir – Fishing around the creek mouths is the place to be right now.
Nelson Reservoir – Very steady walleye bite, with bonus northern pike as well.
Smith River – Ah, but to have a float permit on the smith now that flows are dropping, and hatches are popping…
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