Fishing Roundup 7/25/08

Hopper time has arrived in Montana

            With the fishing year nearing August, it should come as no surprise that grasshoppers are starting to be talked about by anglers across Montana.

            Of all the fly patterns, grasshoppers are some of the most fun to fish.   They’re big.   They’re easy to see as they float with the current.   And, best of all, trout love them.

            If you haven’t tried a hopper pattern on the end of your fly line yet this year, this is the time to try.   If you want to juice up your offering a bit, put a grasshopper on the end of your fly leader and add a dropper to it – maybe a hare’s ear or prince nymph.

            That way, if the floating hopper doesn’t catch a trout, the nymph right below it just might.

            Good luck in your fishing.   Here’s the report:

Big Hole River:   Flows are dropping on the river, and floating is best with a raft.  Try nymphing with Lightning Bugs, Copper Johns, and Pheasant Tails.  Fish are also being caught on dry flies including Yellow Sallies, Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulators, and PMX’s.

Bighorn River: Flows have dropped to 3,000 cfs on   and should remain there for the rest of the summer.   Black caddis are hatching.   PMDs are increasing in numbers, too.

Bitterroot River: The best dry fly action is on the upper half of the river with good hatches of PMDs, golden stones and caddis.   Nymphs are working better on the lower river.

Blackfoot River: Grasshopper and attractor patterns are working well right now, especially if you’re looking for numbers.   If you want to hook the really big ones, stick to streamer patterns and go down under for them.

Canyon Ferry Reservoir:   Walleye fishing has been good on the south end of the lake.   Most action has been off Pond 4 or around Hole in the Wall.   Rainbow fishing has been fair, with most action around White Earth and Goose Bay on cranks or cowbells fished 25-35 feet deep.   Perch fishing is slow, with a few caught on jigs around White Earth.

Clark Fork: It looks like we’re into the terrestrial season with grasshopper and ant fly patterns both working well on this river.

Cooney Reservoir: The best bite is early in the morning and late in the evening with night fishermen also doing well.   Both leeches and crawlers are working.   A lot of the walleyes are small.   Rainbow trout are up to 2.5 to 3 pounds.

Flathead Lake: The fishing for lake trout remains steady with spoons working very well.   Fish are suspended 25 to 55 feet down.   The whitefish bite is just getting going.   It may still be a week away before the strong bite starts.

Fort Peck Reservoir: Action has slowed a bit.   Walleyes have started heading deeper, down to 20 to 35 feet.   Lindy rigs and spinners with bigger blades are working.   Bass fishing is good.    Northern pike are where you find them.

Gallatin River: Above the Taylor’s Fork, fishing   has been so-so with mixed reports.   Anglers are mostly nymphing.   Caddis are coming off in the evenings and fishing has been pretty decent.

Hauser Reservoir: Rainbow fishing is slow with a few being caught below Canyon Ferry Dam on worms and marshmallows.   Walleye fishing is good in the Causeway while using jigs tipped with a worm or leech in 10 to 15 feet of water.   Most walleye caught have been small.

Holter Reservoir:   Some nice rainbows are still being caught early morning or late evening while trolling cowbells tipped with a crawler.   Most rainbow action has been around Split Rock and the Oxbow in 20 to 30 feet of water.   Walleye action is very good throughout the reservoir.

Lake Frances: Water levels are starting to drop.   Walleyes are heading deeper.   Action on northern pike and perch is picking up.

Madison River: Salmonflies have moved their way up around Raynolds and above, so it’s foot fishing only at this point for the big dries.   Behind the hatch, fishing has been better with attractor patterns.

Missouri River, Below Holter: Flows are down to 4,100 cfs.   Caddis and PMD’s are on the water in the morning.   Dries are working.   MFGs amd tungsten copper john rubberlegs are working down under.   Some hopper action has started.   Mornings are fishing better than evenings.

Nelson Reservoir: Walleyes being caught, but the size has dropped a bit.   Most are about 14 inches.   A few bigger ones being picked up along the way.   Bottom bouncers and night crawlers are your best bet.   Crankbaits are working, too, with Shad Raps a good choice in silver and black, blue or crawdad finish.

Smith River: It’s still floatable at 182 cfs.   Caddis and PMD’s are working in the mornings.   Hoppers are working in the afternoons.

Tiber Reservoir: Walleye fishing is very good with a lot of releasing of little ones going on.   Bottom bouncers and worm harnesses are your best bets right now.

Yellowstone River: Salmonflies are done on the Yellowstone for the year.   River flows have been affected by some muddy water coming down from Yellowstone National Park, so be sure to call ahead.   Flows remain relatively high and fast in the lower valley.