Please check the fishing regulations before fishing.
Parks Update 9-28-24:
We are seeing unusually warm temperatures this year, instead of snow like some other years. However, October is just a few days away and so are the freezing temperatures.
The water and the electricity to the campsites will be shut off this week (October 1st). We do leave sites CP1-11 with electricity year round. All sites are first come, first serve, self pay with cash or check. Please put the envelope stub on the POST and drop the envelope in the tube.
The dump station is still open, but there will be no water after this week. Please pay the $5.00 dump fee if you use it.
The docks will stay in place for several weeks yet.
The fire ban has been lifted for Big Horn County.
This is the last weekend the marina will be open. Stop by for that last snack or firewood.
The cabins are 1 step closer to being done, but they are not ready yet.
Have a blessed Autumn!
Holter Reservoir Fishing Report by FWP (October 7, 2024)
Rainbow action has been awesome on the lower end of the reservoir while trolling cowbells with various spinner rigs tipped with worms or while trolling crankbaits 10-12 feet deep. Some anglers are catching some nice rainbows while night fishing from shore with nightcrawlers or powerbait. Walleye and perch action has slowed down. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
The Firehole River continues to provide the best dry fly fishing in the Park with BWO and white miller activity and bank side terrestrial insect populations providing the reasons. Now that the northeast part of the park has drier weather, streams there are back in great shape with BWO, mahogany dun ( and some hecuba) mayflies along with hopper and ant populations making for good dry fly fishing. Much of the same applies to Fall River Basin streams which are now at base level flows making stealth necessary for top water fishing success.
Brown trout runs in the Madison River are increasing but so are the number of pursuing anglers using deep running streamer and large soft hackle patterns with success mostly early and late during the warm, sunny days. Brown trout are also staging to move into the Lewis River channel between Lewis and Shoshone lakes to provide result in the famed fall run that attracts world wide fly fishers.
Fishing the Jefferson River has been best on the upper reaches, near Twin Bridges, MT. Nymphing with crayfish and san juan worm patterns has been reliable. Be sure to twitch that crayfish around a bit when covering the “froggy water” as that can make all the difference between going tight and not touching a fish, this time of the year.
Our guides have been getting some nice brown trout to chase and eat streamers, but many of those eats have been from the middle of long runs and are definitely more random than “strategic.” Streamer fly fishing with some classic articulated patterns is the way to go right now.
Having a multi-density, intermediate-slow sink density fly line helps cover the slow and deep or fast and shallow water right now. The fast sinking lines are great for dragging through the few, deep holes but the slower sink rate lets the angler fishing here cover more water.
Hell Creek General Recreation Information (October 9, 2024)
Nymph fishing continues to be the best technique for anglers fishing the Gallatin River. Two-nymph setups with a larger first fly followed by a small dropper. A Jigged Prince or Rainbow Warrior Perdigon in a size 14 with a dark spanish bullet in a size 18 has been a reliable setup. Fish them about 4-5 feet below a strike indicator on 4X tippet.
The dry fly fishing has been much slower now, but it will improve when the cloud cover and cooler days finally arrive to bring the BWO hatches back around. There are some fish feeding on midges and bwo during the early and late, low-light periods right now.
You can get an idea of the water conditions in the Big Sky area by viewing this webcam, hosted by our friends at Montana Whitewater.
Fishing on the Yellowstone has been good recently. The most productive nymphs over there this past week have been the copper Duracell, purple Psycho prince nymph, Frenchie, san juan worms, hare’s ear, Sizzlin’ hot squirrel, Zirdle’s, Masked Marauders, pat’s rubber legs, sweet pea’s and Blowtorches. For dry flies, Stimulators are always a good bet along with morning wood hoppers, thunder thigh hoppers, humpy’s, parachute Adams, purple haze, corn fed caddis, rusty CDC para spinners, and hippie stompers. If you want to go big or go home nymphing or dragging with a zirdle bug and a small streamer like a cousin it sculpin, micro dungeon, freshwater Clouser, or woolly bugger off the back can be great for numbers this time of year if the nymphing or dry fly fishing is tough. For streamers, if it’s a bright day out fish a mini white dungeon montana intruder or olive kill whitey and if it’s more overcast black/purple mini dungeons, black and red ditch witch’s and gonga’s in full size and mini have been excellent as well as swim coach’s and mini peanut envy’s.
Suggested Fly Patterns
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Dry Fly
Sweetgrass Hopper (8), Henneberry hopper grey (12), Thunder Thighs hopper Yellow/Tan (10), Donkey Kong hopper pink/tan (10-12) Parachute Adams (16-20), Purple Haze (16-18), Buzz Ball (14-16), Corn fed Caddis (14-16), X-Caddis (14-16), Parachute PMD (14-16), Extended Body PMD (14-16), Larimer’s Yellow Sally (12-14), Water Walker (8-12), Chubby Chernobyl (8-16)
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Streamer
Woolly Bugger (4-12), Ditch Witch Black/red/purple/ Yellow/white(2), Mini Peanut Envy Black/Yellow/Tan (6) Mini Dungeon Black/purple /Olive/Yellow (6), Montana Intruder (4), Sparkle Minnow JJ’s/Silver/Sculpin (4-8), Double Gonga Black/Rainbow (4), Sculpzilla Black/White/Olive (4-8), Seasoned Geezer Gold/Natural/Olive (6)
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Nymph
Pat’s Rubber Legs (6-12), Zirdle Bug (6-12), Perdigon Blue/Purple/Pearl (14-18), Jig thread Frenchie Brown/yellow (14-18), CDC Pheasant Tail (10-18), Jigster PMD (14-18), Formerly Known Prince Nymph (10-18), BH Hare’s Ear (12-18), Sizzlin’ Hot Squirrel (14-16), Matt’s Shagadelic Mop Tan/Brown/Chartreuse/Cheeto (10)
Nymphs and streamers in the morning. Look to get out there around 10 as the water warms up. Mornings have been pretty cold.
Please respect all private property and fishing signs. At the corral on the Johnson Tuning Fork spot if the sign is up please find another spot to access.
See below for our tips on fishing Flint Creek near Philipsburg, Montana.
Here are a few tips for fly fishing Flint Creek:
1. Try nymphing in deep pools or under the banks.
2. Fish a single dry on the bank or the bubble lines.
3. Try swinging a streamer or a soft hackle through the ripples.
Here are a few fly suggestions:
1. Kreelex – Gold and Copper size 6
2. TJ Hooker – Brown and Black size 12
3. TJ Hooker – Tan and Brown size 12
4. PMD, size 12-14
5. Jig Frenchie – size 14,16
6. Spanish Bullet – black size 14,16
7. Pheasant Tail Nymph size 16-20
Flows and looking ahead:
Flow: 134 cfs at the time of publishing this report
Here is a link to the Flint Creek USGS Water Information.
Stop by the shop in Philipsburg for the latest report and for everything you need for your trip. We’re open 7-4 Everyday Tight lines!
Fall is here indeed. We’ve got crisp mornings and pleasant days for this first week October, but haven’t yet had our first major cold snap of the season. Hatches of Blue-Winged Olives are a possibility every day as well as October caddis. If the above average daytime highs and lack of precipitation linger, the terrestrial fishing will remain as good as it gets. Streamer anglers are back at it because fishing streamers in the low and clear streamflows combined with brown trout getting aggressive and territorial in preparation for the fall spawn can create for some of the best conditions of the year for fishing large streamer patterns.
With the leaves changing colors, Blue-Winged Olives hatching, and streamflows low and clear, we are in the heart of the fall fishing season here in Montana. Our guides, our guests, and the trout are all having a happy fall season here in Montana and we expect things to remain in the fall mode into November.
We expect the terrestrial fishing–hoppers, ants, and beetles–to hang in there for at least a few more weeks, especially with t his warmer weather that we’ve had. Our cold and wet spring means there are ample grasses which means there are also plenty of grasshoppers. We are optimistic of another very and are excited for some twitching hoppers.
Check out some of our recent blogs on Five Rivers to Fish This Fall and The Mayfly You Need to Know: Catch More Fish by Understanding Blue-Winged Olives. All of our rivers are in great shape to finish out the season–which will last into November!
Overview
Fall season fishing is a mix of matching the hatch and prospecting. The primary hatch in the fall is the Blue-Winged Olive mayfly. Some of our rivers like the Missouri, Madison, Yellowstone and Gallatin can also see sporadic hatches of October caddis. The Missouri River has the most consistent October caddis hatch. Aside from Blue-Winged Olives and October caddis anglers is fall focus on fishing with streamers or some lingering fishing with terrestrials.
The fall season is when brown trout begin to get aggressive and territorial prior to the spawn. This means some of the year’s biggest brown trout are caught. On the Yellowstone, Madison, and Missouri River anglers willing to commit to fishing big flies for big fish may very well land the fish of the year or possibly a lifetime.
Many of our small creeks are flowing very low so they are often not the best option for fishing.
Lakes have cooled from the heat of high summer and come back to being a viable option. Fall callibaetis and midge hatches can provide some exciting sight-fishing opportunities, but most anglers during fall in Montana focus on the many larger freestone rivers and tailwaters.
Hatches
Blue-Winged Olive mayflies can hatch on any given day during the next six to eight weeks on many of our local rivers can experience consistent hatches of this size 16 to 18 mayfly. Overcast and rainy or snowy days are the ideal conditions for a strong hatch, however they can occur on sunny days, but more likely to hatch in inclement weather. A hatch of Blue-Winged Olives in fall typically starts around 10 or 11 AM and can last until 3 or 4 PM. The exact timing is entirely dependent on exact weather on the given day.
October caddis is a relevant hatch for anglers in fall on fly fishing waters near Bozeman, Montana. Unlike hatches of Blue-Winged Olives and other more well-known hatches, October caddis are sporadic and do not hatch with any regularity. Fishing an October caddis hatch is a lot like fishing grasshoppers because you will unlikely see adult naturals fluttering with any regularity. You will see the occasional adult emerge every so often. The best way is to commit to fishing these large dry flies as part of a dry-dropper rig. For the dropper you can choose a large caddis nymph or a Blue-Winged Olive nymph. Most October caddis adults range in size from 8 to 12, with 10 being the most common.
Fly selection
For Blue-Winged Olives:
Nymphs:
Beadhead Little Green Machines in olive or natural in sizes 16 to 22
Beadhead Hare’s Ears in sizes 16 to 22
Beadhead Perdigons in natural, olive, peacock, black, in sizes 16 to 22
Sawyer Pheasant Tails in sizes 16 to 22
Emergers:
RS2 in olive in size 16 to 22
WD-40 in olive or brown in size 16 to 22
Captive Dun/Emergers in size 18 to 22
Dries and Spinners:
Para Adams or Para Purple Haze in size 16 to 22
Compardun in BWO in size 16 to 22
Brooks Sprout in size 16 to 22
Rusty Spinner in size 16 to 22
October caddis:
Stimulators in orange or royal in size 8 and 10
Chubby Chernobyl in rust or golden in size 8 and 10
Elk Hair caddis in orange in size 8 and 10
Beadhead Bird of Prey in size 8 -12
Beadhead cased caddis in size 8-12
Streamers and baitfish for big brown trout
Home Invaders in darker/contrasting colors in size 2 – 10
Sculpzillas in black, olive, or brown in size 2- 10
Sparkle Minnows in a variety if colors in size 2 – 10
Your favorite go-to stream pattern
Reading water
Because most of our local rivers and creeks are flowing low and clear in fall, reading water is not as crucial as early summer, but how you approach the stream and the water you target is absolutely crucial. Fall is best summed up by Blue-Winged Olive hatches and chasing big trout with streamers. Most trout in fall are going to be found in the deeper, medium slow water. On large rivers like the Yellowstone or Missouri look for trout to be holding in water that is between 4 and 6 feet deep and not moving very fast, but still has current. If a hatch of Blue-Winged Olives begins, the trout will remain in the medium speed water and in 4 to 6 feet deep range but as adult mayflies hatch and they congregate in foamlines or backeddies and slower seams, the trout will follow the food. At the end of a Blue-Winged Olive hatch look for the slower water and for fish cruising and eating adults or spinners.
When fishing streamers, target the medium speed water and 4 to 6 feet depth range but also any place where a large fish can wait in ambush. These can be undercut banks, in and around structure like submerged logs or rocks, and, lastly, any type of drop-off. Drop-offs can be the deeper water at the end of a riffle, the dark water off a shelf or rock rip-rap, or a any pockets or structure near deeper water.
Flow Data: Missouri River below Holter Dam near Wolf Creek, MT
Still pretty warm around the Craig area for the next week. Bright and sunny too. Partly cloudy Wednesday to the weekend. Maybe more fish will eat on the surface. Streamer fishing and nymphing have been the most productive methods to catch fish. Nymphing has been very good. The dry fly fishing has been OK but when you find fish rising and present them with an ant, Parachute Adams, or midge cluster paired with a good drift they will likely eat the fly. Fish have been steadily eating Olive Micro Mays, Green machines, and caddis nymphs subsurface. Larger patterns will start working this time of the year like Callibaetis nymphs and October Caddis nymphs. The Sowbug game is starting up again. Tailwater Sowbug is tough to beat. Perdigons are working as well. Olive and or Black have been best. The weeds are certainly a factor. If you want to Cruise a big dry fly, try an Orange Chubby to imitate an October Caddis. This large fly can produce some great top water explosions.
Rodgers Lake- excellent Grayling action, few nice cutts. Try Thomas spoons, small spinners. Flies try small nymphs or small bugger patterns.
McGregor Lake- troll shoreline with small flat fish or flickershads for rainbows.
Smith Lake- lots of small pike on spinner baits or dead bait.
Fennon/Chruch Slough- good pike action with dead baits or jerk baits.
Flathead River- white fish starting to show up in small numbers. Try around Columbia Falls Bridge. Check lower section next week or so, also few nice trout.
Lake Mary Ronan – still good perch action 25 to 30 feet, try JT Tackle NEW mini slob spoons.
FOR WEEKLY WHITE FISH CONTEST
Starting October 15th
Fishermen:
I am behind on reports. Macman and I have had covid and have been very sick. Getting much better.
Fall Fishing improving straight out in front of Big Arm boat access. This year the perch are just as good as was two years ago. (12″ inchers caught)
Lake trout good numbers for Spin fishing. Cut throat among the Lake trout.
Areas for Lake trout: Skidoo Bay; Blacks Point; Rocky Point; White Swan Point begin
120 to 180 feet but can be as shallow as 50 feet.
POLSON CITY DOCKS 1/2 bucket of perch and small mouth bass caught.
Mack Days early Morning
Late in afternoon perch, pike and small mouth bass
Lake Mary Ronan Algae bloom scare is over. Lake has cleared up. Perch being caught.
Above Polson bridge
Weat Bay best boat launch for ski boats at Ducharme Access
Bigger boat? Launch at Kwa tuk nuk
Good Fishing
The macman
Montana
Hebgen: The lake has been tough lately, the cooler weather was looking great, but broke into bluebird skies and 70’s for the foreseeable future. The bugs are mostly gone but there are a few callibaetis and midges still hanging around. Stripping streamers and leeches in the upper reaches of the arms has been pretty productive for us. Alternatively, you can hang a leech to a baetis nymph under an indicator.
Flies: #8 Black or Olive Simi Seal Leech, #6 Balanced Squirrel Leech Black, #6 Olive or Black Hot Bead Leech, #8 Booby Leach, #8 Thin Mint, #6 Olive OR Brown Peanut Envy, #4 Supernatural Peanut – Olive, #6 Olive Montana Mouthwash, #18 BBQ Baetis, #18 Turkey Callibaetis, #12 Balanced Damsel, #14 Olive Nugget, #12 O.S. Buzzer
Flows:
Inflow to Hebgen Lake: 687 cfs
Hebgen Lake Outflow: 805 cfs
Kirby Flows: 886 cfs
Temp @ Kirby: High – 63 F
Low – 53 F
** Flows as of 12pm September 25th, 2024 **
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MRO Guide Noah Norwood’s Client Tim Dolan with a chubby little Brown
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Upper Madison:
The bright sunny days have made fishing a bit of a grind lately, but the Upper is still fishing ok. Aside from the odd baetis, the surface action has mostly come to a close this season. Nymphing is as consistent as ever – small & natural is the name of the game in the fall. Streamers and Leeches will definitely drag Ol’ Leroy out of the cutbanks and pools as autumn sets in and those browns get mean.
Flies: #16 Sunburst Perdigon, #18 S&M Dark Baetis, #18 Purple JJ Baetis, #16 Black OR Red Krystal Dip, #14 Pilva’s Perdigon – Olive, #16 BWO Loopwing, #18 BWO Magic Fly, #18 CDC BWO Biot Comparadun, #20 Low Water Baetis, #16 Purple Parachute, #20 CW Trico Spinner, #18 CW Rusty Spinner, #4 Olive Supernatural Peanut, #6 Olive MT Mouthwash, #6 Olive/White Barely Legal, #8 Hot Bead Leech – Olive, Black, Brown
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MRO Guide Tyler Amory with a pretty Hebgen Brown on a day off
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YNP
As of August 14th, The Northeast Corner of YNP’s hoot owl restrictions on Slough Creek, Soda Butte, Lamar River, and Yellowstone River have been lifted – Have fun!
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*****The Madison, and Gibbon are freshly open, and the Firehole and it’s tributaries are no longer hoot owled. Have Fun!*****
The western side of YNP is slowing down due to the bright and warm weather. Swinging just simply isnt as effective on fair weather days. Nymphing might net a fish or two, and the firehole still has some dry fly fishing to be had. The Northeast Corner is starting to slow down and was recently hit with a lot of rain, which has colored up many of the watersheds up there. There’s still some good fishing to be had before it gets too cold up there though!
Flies: #12 Partridge & Orange, #14 Partridge & Peacock, #16 Diving Caddis Olive, #8 Hot Bead Leech – Black, Olive, or Brown, #6 MT Mouthwash Olive, #6 Olive Slumpbuster, #6 CH Sparkle Minnow – Brownie, #6 Olive OR Brown Peanut Envy, #8 Thin Mint Hot Bead, #4 Supernatural Peanut – Olive & Black
Flows:
Madison near West Yellowstone: – 342 cfs
Yellowstone below Yellowstone Lake: – 830 cfs
Gibbon: – 84.9 cfs
Firehole: – 235 cfs & 72 F
Lamar: – 231 cfs
Gallatin near Big Sky: 289 cfs
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Get out there!
- Flathead Lake – There is a good Lake Trout bite off Caroline Point down to Angel Point. Try trolling at depths of 40′-60′.
- Echo Lake – There is stills some good bass fishing at Echo. Try Chatterbaits or Spinnerbaits in deep water.
- Smith Lake – The bite is slowing down but we are still getting some Pike off deadbaits.
- Lake Koocanusa – We have been finding some good Rainbows off Rexford Bench trolling with flies. Additionally, a few Kokanee are biting on dodgers and wedding rings.
- Flathead River – The Whitefish are starting to show up at the Old Steel Bridge and Columbia Falls.
- Middle Thompson Lake – A few Kokanee are being caught in depths of 25′-35′ using dakota spinners and Mack’s Lures. The Pike fishing has slowed down, but we are still picking up a few on deadbaits.
Unusually mild weather has been settled over Southwest Montana for the last few weeks, giving anglers fishing near Bozeman a bit of an extended season.
The best fly fishing near Bozeman is subsurface, this time of year. Although our guides have been moving and catching some nice brown trout with streamers, the action has all been during the low-light morning hours.
Blue-winged olives are starting to show up on area rivers with some dry fly fishing periods later in the afternoons and along local river sections with more shade. The Gallatin Canyon is a good place to look for some rising fish in the early afternoons right now.
Tandem nymph rigs have been the way to go for consistency on the rivers near Bozeman like the Madison, Gallatin, and Yellowstone. Small perdigons and mayfly nymph imitations in dark colors, fished about 5’ under a strike indicator along gentle, deeper current seams is the way to go right now.
Low, clear water is prevalent right now and requires stealthy approaches and finer tippets than anglers typically use when fly fishing in Montana, near Bozeman. Fluorocarbon tippet can be a real “game-changer” in these conditions.
It looks like we might get some clouds and rain towards the middle of the month – those are the conditions to look for if streamer fly fishing for brown trout is “up your alley.”
Hauser Reservoir Fishing Report (October 7, 2024)
Rainbow fishing has been great while fishing from shore at the Causeway and from Black Sandy campground. Fly fishing with leech patterns, wooly buggers, hares ear, or prince nymphs has been working well. Some anglers are having success with crawlers and a marshmallow. Walleye and perch fishing has been slow. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
This Kootenai River Montana fishing report is being brought to you by Orvis Endorsed Linehan Outfitting. This report will be updated weekly to provide current conditions, weather, hatches, patterns, and flows to our local waters and across the state.
Flows from Libby Dam: 4000cfs
Water temperature at Libby Dam: 42 degrees
Hatches: midge, baetis
patterns: zebra midge, parachute Adams, parachute pmd, Rosenbauer’s olive rabbit foot emerger, purple haze, purple chubby, red chubby, olive sparkle dun,bh prince, soft SJ worm, bh pheasant tail, bh rubber legged stonefly, big streamers in white, pink and olive, circus peanut, black conehead buggers
It’s not quite spring up here in Kootenai River country but we have good news. Flows from Libby Dam have been reduced and will be stable at 4000cfs through the end of March for now. That means there’s some great early season fishing available right now.
Expect more clammy cloudy weather through the weekend and into next week. March continues to come in like a lion and we’ve yet to see the lamb. Rain and snow mix will dominate forecast. Fortunately daytime temps will ooch into the forties which is at least a small sign of spring around here.
At the moment the river is clear and in good shape. Don’t expect much in the way of dry fly fishing and insect activity until we get some substantially warmer daytime temperatures. The water is still cold but trout will start to feed a bit in the coming weeks.
This is always a good time of year for nymphing. With low flows you don’t need a heavy rig. You just need to get the flies down in softer runs and pools where trout are most likely to be holding this time of year. Don’t spend a ton of time fishing fast riffles.
Streamer fishing is also productive this time of year especially since bigger fish will be hungry after laying low for a couple months during the dead of winter. Keep in mind they will not necessarily want to move too fast or too far to get a meal. Get your streamers down and fish them slowly and erratically. Nothing like a wounded minnow to get a big rainbow interested in at least a sniff.
In Boston Red Sox news, it’s PLAY BALL! After several weeks of a lockout the players union owners have finally come to an agreement. Spring training will start immediately and while opening day was and remains delayed until April 7, the season will still be 162 games. For now the Sox have managed to keep essentially the same playoff roster they had last season. Infielders Dalbec, Arroyo, Bogaerts, and Devers are key players. In the outfield Jackie Bradley Jr. has returned to Boston and Kike Hernandez and Verdugo will anchor the deep green. Ace Chris Sale will hopefully be healthy and other starters from last year will hopefully pick up where they left off in October. Go Sox!!!
Give a call anytime if you need more Kootenai River details or information on any of our hunting or fishing adventures. And please check out our e-commerce site for all Linehan Outfitting branded swag and Orvis gear. https://linehan-outfitting.myshopify.com/
We look forward to hearing from you. 406-295-4872
On the Gallatin River we’ve got cool nights and crisp mornings that lead into hatches of BWOs by 11ish and then start to simmer by 3ish/4ish. Start later in the morning for sure–as water temps are dipping into the low 50’s at night, even dropping into the 40’s here very soon. Additionally, the flows on the Gallatin River at the moment are low, which means the fish are concentrated in the deeper runs, pockets, and holes. Because the Gallatin River is low you will need to cover a lot of water when you fish. If you fish a deep run or hole and catch a few fish, consider moving up to the next run or hole. With the low and clear flows on the Gallatin right now fishing subsurface is the best way to get into fish at the moment. Choose tandem nymph rigs with flies in the size 18-22 range. See the list of flies below for the best choices. With the low, clear water for success you will need to drop down in tippet sizes so you are getting a better drift. Many anglers are going to 9 foot 5X leaders with 5X fluorocarbon for their tippets. Trout are being found in the 5-6 feet deep medium fast runs during most of the day.
Of all the rivers we fish in the Bozeman and Big Sky area, the Gallatin River sees the fall season come first. The scenic Gallatin Canyon is going to fish better than any other section of the river. But, with the longer and cooler nights of early September compared to August, the river’s hatches are clearly transitioning from summer fishing to fall fishing…before the river blew out yesterday the Blue-Winged Olive fishing was pretty good as the rain and overcast moved in.
The Month Ahead:
The next month on the Gallatin River is going to definitely see some great dry fly fishing—just not sure if it will be lingering terrestrials like grasshoppers, ants, and beetles or if it will be Blue Winged Olives as cold fronts pass through. But even if the dry fly fishing is not providing good action on top, Gallatin River trout in September often feed with regularity on subsurface nymphs.
Flies for the Gallatin River for the Next Month:
- Lightening Bugs in sizes 16-18
- Sawyer PTs in sizes 18-22
- Zebra Midges in black, red, or olive in sizes 18-22
- Pheasant Tails in sizes 16-20
- Chubby Chernobyl in black, olive, or royal in sizes 12-16
- Little Spankers in sizes 18-20
- Pat’s Rubberlegs in sizes 12-14
- Hi-Vis caddis in sizes 12-16
The Paradise Valley Spring Creeks are fishing well and should get better the further we get into the fall. Midges in the morning, with some baetis around mid afternoon, especially on cloudy days. Ants and Beetles are good options on sunny days in the afternoon. Don’t be afraid to throw on a light dropper as well.
GO-TO FLIES:
-Fire Beetle #14
-Brooks Sprout Midge Gray #20
-Zebra Midge Red #18
-Ray Charles Grey #18
-BH Bugger Hot Red Black #8
Flow Data: Bighorn River near St. Xaiver, MT
The fishing is certainly not lights out on the Bighorn. The weeds are still making nymphing tough. They are starting to break up which means you have to clear your flies frequently. Dry fly action has slowed. Some terrestrial eating fish but not a lot. A Black Micro Mayfly, Pearl/ Olive Jiggy Perdigon, Black Zebra Midge, or Tailwater Sowbug have worked the best. Worms are starting to play as well. San Juan Worm in wine is my all time favorite. Some of the black caddis are out in the evening and a small peacock elk hair works to trick the fish that are eating these insects. It is always worth trying a streamer if you are searching for a big predatory fish but the consistency has not been there. Should only get better if we could just get some cool cloudy weather.
886 CFS @ Kirby. The Upper Madison has been fishing well and will continue to fish well into fall. There are some BWOs and caddis hanging around with fish willing to eat on top. Cloudy days are better. Dips, Soft Hackles, and Green Machines are all good options for bobber fishing. Streamer fisherman are finding some really nice fish as well.
GO-TO FLIES:
-$3 Dip Brown #16
-Wonky Worm Red #10
-X Caddis Tan #16
-Baetis Bomb BWO #18
-Sparkle Minnow JJ #6
Missouri River October Fishing Forecast 2024
Bring on the cloudy, wet, and fall weather that we just love in October. Let’s not wait until November. We do want it in November as well but the October time frame will suit us just fine. But we are looking for the perfect day as described below…
Overcast, damp, raining, and cool.
Ahhh….perfect.
So get out your low light sunglasses and several pair of gloves along with your dry fly boxes and be fish ready for those relatively rare perfect fall days when they occur.
As I write this the second week of October, we have not had October weather, yet. And no inclement weather in the next ten days of this October 2024. 10 days from now, the lowest daily air temp is 58F. But, we will continue to use the sunscreen religiously as the high ad bright October continues.
Yeah, the days to remember include 45F, calm, moist, overcast, with a mega BWO hatch @ 145pm. Be here for the 4 or 5 days that can happen in October. We had not too many last year. The year before? Like 8. 3 years ago less than 4 or 5. 4 years ago we got none. None.
Last year we got 3 of those. In the middle of the month last year we had 15F, snow, and calm. Bitter cold temps. The dry fly fishing was sick. And damn cold.
We had quite a few nice Autumn days this September.The last couple weeks have held some very nice days including a couple downpours. Streamer and dry fly anglers alike value the grey skies. Reminiscent of those Autumns and Fall days that you remember. That you yearn for. That you just love!
Maybe the coming weeks will bring us some more seasonable weather patterns. Good news! Do your snow dance today. Please.
Dry Fly Anglers love the Fall
The bigger BWO’s have not shown themselves, yet. The water temps need to fall a bit before we will witness the larger olives on the water. A few larger October Caddis flying around. So we have a lot to look forward in the next 2 months!
This author believes that the Mo does not carry the big BWO anymore here in the fall. Some? Yes
The little baby BWO’s the damn Pseudocloeon have been showing up. Pretty good yesterday in the afternoon on the upper river. Sign of them on the lower reaches more common as the bugs generally start on the lower stretch and move upwards. The last couple weeks were riddled with tiny olive hatches. Good action when they occur. Can be maddening at times.
More around for longer on the water during rain events. There are plenty coming off daily in the sun but they do not stay as long on the surface as their wings dry out and they fly away. Most believe that baetis hatch better on overcast and moist days. But do they really, or do more become crippled and knocked down than they do on sunny warmer days? You make the call.
We love the cripple here on the Missouri River for the fall period. CDC, Poly Winged, or old school with a hair winged post will suffice. The one you can see is a great idea. Dark posted on dark days along with brighter posts for sunny and harsh lit afternoons. The Smoke Jumper, any of Harrop’s CDC Posted including the D&D and the Last Chance, Quigley versions and the Limestone Cripple, and the Poly-Posted dun or black posted derivations like Nymen’s DOA, the Storm Chaser, and many more. Lots of options are in our always full bins here in downtown Craig.
Headhunters open daily @ 7 am
Fall Nymphing on the Missouri River
The Nymphing Cult loves this time period as well. Great short and long rigged nymphs will work. Go any depth you like. Go long with a split shot at 4′ for a total length of 6′. Two flies. Two small ones, a big and small, or even two large flies. How about the short leash. Good times in the afternoons. Wait to see the smaller Pseudo pop and shorten up. Length of 3′ or less from Palsa and no split. Try a small Thinga-ma-bobber, the popular screw capped Air Lock Jr. for shorty success. Or try our newest wool bobber product! It is just awesome with the short leash program!
Flies for the fall. All of the Pheasant Tail variations including all the hits from the last ten years. LGM, Two Bits, Mercury RS2’s, Micro-Mays, Indigo Child, Purple LB’s, Pearl LB’s, S&M’s, Military Mays, Red Headed Step Child, Mercury PT, Zebra’s, and more. Czech’s, Sows, October Caddis Pupa’s, and worms will round out your nymph fly selections.
Try out one or a couple of the many killer Euro Fly Patterns that include skinny bodies, heavy tungsten beads, epoxied heads that bind it all together. Best Flies Under the Big Sky at Headhunters of Craig.
Streamer Junkies Unite
How about those streamer anglers? Get the flies in the water and strip them. Sink tips along with the dry line of your streamer choice for this lower water level streamer fishing. You can certainly get by with the dry line but the intermediate tip will help. Some even like a deeper sink tip for dredging the center of the river as well. Those who have the Missouri River channels figured out get some fish that others never address. Slow and low as she goes. Do it, try it, and you may be rewarded with a few that never get touched.
Missouri River streamer caught Brown Trout
Headhunters Fly Shop has a wide selection of sink tips in stock for both the two handed and single handed anglers. We are the fly line source on the banks of the Missouri River. And a no harm no foul fly line guarantee. You don’t like it? You can switch it, trade it, refund it. Anything you want . We will get you set up with the right line period. A ton more in store if you need anything strange. We got it here in Craig. Give us shout if you have any questions.
Some single rig a fly, some double rig it. Try a big steamer pattern chasing a smaller streamer fly. That rig can get it done. We like heavy tippet to the fly. No 3 or 4X for us. Big and tough. Chuck it and duck it. If you want to get the fly to sink faster you can also try a VersiLeader from RIO. Add it on to your dry line and change the game that way.
Want to integrate a tippet ring. A swivel? Come by and chat with the shop gang and they will not only help you find an appropriate stretch but help you with the hot flies of the day. We have 2mm and 3mm tippet rings as well as some swivels in stock!
Flies? As the readers of this blog and the anglers of the Missouri River already know we like the flashy stuff. We love the flash. Coffey’s, Kreelex, and Skiddish come to mind. Arnold’s Stinger Sculpin, Buggers of ten variations, Clousers and Marabou Clousers, leeches, and some of that wacky Galloup stuff too. Thin Mints, Sparrow, Carey Specials, tons of mayfly and caddis soft hackles, and much more.
Missouri River Weather, Flows, and Water Temps
We talked about the weather up top. Variable is the answer. Be prepared for any weather from sunny and 75F to terribly cold and 25F. Rain and snow and sleet common as well. Gore-Tex is a good thing to have.
Water flows look like they should hold at this upper level for the fall. 4000cfs currently. Much better than the low flows we have endured the previous several fall periods. When she gets to the low 3K range the fish do not have as much freedom.
Water temps in the perfect range too. The Big Baetis bicaudatus and tricaudatus are coming, maybe. Cross your fingers?!?! Below 60F this morning. A good temp. Trout love that 54-58F range. They run, and jump, and fight, and love it!
See you in October or November?
The fall is a fabulous time to be here on the Missouri River. We do understand that there are lots of fall activities to keep you busy. Fly fishing the Mo is one of them. Come by and see us if you are win the neighborhood. We will point you in the right direction.
If you would like to book a cabin or a guide trip give us a shout @ 406-235-3447 ext 1 and our crack booking team will get you all lined out!
The East Gallatin River originates in the Bridger and Hyalite Mountains near Bozeman, Montana and is a local’s favorite for some small stream freestone river fishing. The fishing on the East Gallatin right now is going to feel more like summer right now with the warm weather. The fishing with terrestrials is still pretty solid. Blue Winged-Olives may show up if we get a cold snap comes through again…but it is not in the forecast.
The East Gallatin River is known this time of year for providing some good Do-It-Yourself walk and wade fishing. The hard part about the East Gallatin is getting legal access. There are several place to access the river, but sometimes parking is tough to find. If you do fish the East Gallatin be sure to know Montana’s Stream Access Law.
Tandem nymph rigs are going to be the best bet right now for the East Gallatin. Fish a two-fly rig with smaller beadheads such as PTs, Lightening bugs, King Princes, Perdigons, or your favorite small mayfly and caddis nymphs.
If you want some dry fly fishing for rising trout in the Bozeman area the East Gallatin River is the closest and most consistent bet right now. If you do go in hopes of finding fish on dry flies, Blue Winged Olives should start to hatch around 10/11 AM. Most trout on the East Gallatin River right now are going to be holding in medium-slow water waiting to pick off hatching insects. A few trout may still be looking for terrestrials. The East Gallatin River is also home to some great undercut banks so if you are looking to fish streamers and target some of the river’s larger trout, now is a good time work on your double-haul and fire a streamer into a dark and deep spot in hopes of finding a predacious brown trout.
Considering a fly fishing trip to the Bozeman, Montana area? Read one of more recent blog posts: Five of the Best Rivers to Fish Near Bozeman, Montana.
Flies for the East Gallatin River Right Now
Beadhead Pheasant Tails in size 14-22
Beadhead Little Green Machines in size 14-22
Beadhead Lightening Bugs in size 14-22
Beadhead King Princes in size 16-22
Parachute Adams or Purple Haze in size 16-22
BWO Comparaduns in sizes 14-22
Rusty spinners in size 16-20
Sculpzilla in black, olilve, or white in sizes 6-10
Sparkle Minnow in gold/olive in size 6 and 8
Beadhead worms in size 10
Canyon Ferry Reservoir Fishing Report by FWP (October 7, 2024)
Good walleye action continues from the Silos north to Hole in the Wall and between Duck Creek and Confederate in 20-30 feet of water while using bottom-bouncers with flashers or slow-death rigs or crankbaits. Perch and rainbows are also being caught on traditional walleye gear. Rainbows are being caught on the north end and around the Silos while trolling cowbells, spoons or rapalas. Shore anglers are catching a few rainbows in various spots around the reservoir on worms or jigs. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena
Fishing has been OK but the warm bright sun continues in the Livingston area. Fishing should only get better once we see some cool and cloudy weather. The dry fly action has been mediocre with nymphing being a bit more consistent. Still midges hatching in the mornings with a few Baetis coming off in the late mornings. Fish that are eating BWO’s are looking for small flies, #18- #22 BWO Comparadun is the way to go. This should only get better as we get further into fall. For ants I really like the Simazaki Ant. Beetles will also work. The Green beetle is my favorite. Terrestrial action is slowing but with the forecast it is worth a shot. Midges will hatch again the evening and fishing can be pretty good close to dark. BWO nymphs and emergers will be great options when the fish are eating sub-surface. Nymphing will be pretty consistent in the event that the trout do not want to cooperate and eat bugs from the surface.
*Flow Data: Yellowstone River near Livingston, MT
The fishing has been OK. Some BWO’s have been hatching in riffles and fish have been on them. The hatches seem pretty localized so if you do find risers it is worth working the fish for a while. A BWO Comparadun has worked great to trick fish eating Baetis. Cruising a foamy dry will still be worth a shot if you put a dropper below your hopper. Not a ton of fish willing to eat a large dry but I have found a few here and there. BWO nymphs are gaining traction as we get later into the year. Olive Micro Mayfly or pheasant tails have been excellent subsurface. Fishing a dry with a buggy looking (CDC or soft Hackle Collar) caddis nymph in olive or bright green below the dry has been working well. Same goes for jig style nymphs with a collar like the YFG Energizer. I really like the Jig Anti-Freeze or the Andersons Bird of Prey. A black Peanut Envy has been getting the majority of the attention when streamer fishing. A little cloud cover will help the streamer fishing immensely. It has been pretty slow recently.
3.5/5
Tip of the Week:
As we get into fall streamer fishing, you will start to find trout making their way into deeper pools and undercut banks where trout often hold during colder months. Vary the speed of your retrieve, mixing slow and fast strips, to mimic the erratic movement of baitfish. Additionally, using darker, larger streamers in stained or overcast conditions can increase visibility and trigger aggressive strikes as trout bulk up for winter.
7 Day Outlook:
Here in the Missoula valley this week, we will experience mostly sunny skies with some cloud cover and slight chances of rain early in the week. Temperatures will be pleasant and gradually warming, with light winds throughout, maintaining generally calm conditions.
*Known Clark Fork Hazards:
Clinton-Turah: A few VERY sketchy spots through this section. Do not attempt unless you are very experienced.
Best Techniques:
On the Clark Fork, fishing has continued to be productive. The lower river got a good bump in flows after last week’s rain which is welcome. With the recent weather changes, anglers can use a variety of tactics to target opportunistic trout. Dry-dropper rigs remain effective, but with cooler, cloudy conditions, streamer fishing becomes an good choice for those hoping to throw larger flies. As more mayflies and caddis emerge, having patterns like Mahoganies, Blue Winged Olives, and October Caddis on hand will be key for those looking to fish dries when conditions allow.
*Traveling or in a hurry? Let our knowledgeable staff pick a fly selection for you!
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*Call us for up to the minute updates at 406.542.7411 or if you are in the area stop in for all your gear and the right bugs.
DRIES
Para. Adams Sparkle Purple #12-18
Chubby Chernobyl #6-12 – Purple
Water Walker #8-12 – Gold, Tan
Shanafelt’s Mongo Hopper #10-12 – Tan
Para-Ant #14-18 – Black
Glo Ant #14-18
Clook’s Beefcake Hecuba #12
Swisher PMX Foam #10 – Orange
NYMPHS
TJ Hooker #8-12 – Brown/Coffee
Hot Bead Power Worm #06-10
Jig Prince #8-12
Frenchie #12-14
Perdigons and Bullets #12-14
Duracell #12-16
RIO’s Anty Raid TB #16 – Black, Cinnamon
STREAMERS
Lil’ Kim #04-08
Wooly Bugger/Thin Mint #6-10
Sparkle Minnow #04-08
Kreelex #04-06
Micro Dungeons #10 – Tan, Olive, White
Mini Ice Pick #6
Double Gonga #4-8
Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir Fishing Report by FWP (October 7, 2024)
The snagging season for Kokanee Salmon opened on September 1st and will run through October 31st. Limits are 35 salmon daily with 70 in possession. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
Tiber Reservoir Fishing Update (October 8, 2024)
Water is low, was still about 60 degrees fish we got were hanging around steep drops chasing bait in 15 to 20 feet
Tobacco River in Eureka Report (September 27, 2024)
The come in waves and started spawning early this year. There are some though. I’d walk the river until you find a pocket. We had luck at Graves Creek last weekend.
