Great Falls, Montana Fishing Report 08.01.19
This time of year, when people ask what flies to fish, I like to ask them what flies they like to fish. This is the time of year I call fun-fly season. Almost everything is in play. Tiny mayflies, big mayflies, caddis, stoneflies, ants, hoppers, beetles, and moths. Recently, I put on a big dry fly in a color I’d never fished before. It worked. It was fun.
Current Conditions
Missouri River below Holter Dam - The water here is in the 5K realm and the fishing is excellent for the season. That does not always translate to easy, but the opportunities at rising fish are there. If you enjoy the trico game, it’s going strong. If you like fishing a hopper dropper rig, it’s coming into season.
On the nymphing side, it’s been really steady river wide. The water is also low enough for wading and quick enough to fish the banks by boat. In two words, about perfect.
Creeks and Smaller Rivers - In general, everything is low and clear with good fishing prospects. Water temperatures can swing quite a bit on a hot day on some lower valley streams, so think about fishing in the morning when the water is trout cool. If you want to fish in the evening, you’ll need to choose waters at a higher elevation or that have springs to cool them.
Ponds and Reservoirs - The word is out that Willow Creek Reservoir is being drained 100%. Don’t call FWP. It’s not their fault. It’s a tragedy that was avoidable, but lack of communication and money issues are resulting in the immediate death of a major resource and great fishery. Go catch as many trout as you can and fill your cooler. Limits have been lifted. The trout are eating crayfish by the ton right now as the crayfish are concentrated by the falling waters.
Warm Water - I view August as carp month. When it’s 90 degrees out, I seldom choose trout fishing in the evenings. Carp fishing is always on the table though. Carp are active when the water reaches and exceeds 70 degrees. Their metabolisms are cranked up and they will give you a serious tussle. If you have not fly fished for carp, you don’t know what you are missing.
Match the Hatch
Tricos in the morning, with a few larger mayfly spinners on the water along with spent caddis. Hatching mayflies and caddis during the day. Ants, hoppers, beetles, and moths flitting about. Egg-laying caddis in the evenings. Choose any or all.
Need to fill the box before you go? Order flies online here.
Tips & Techniques
It’s hopper dropper season. If you want the fun of dry fly fishing and the effectiveness of nymphing, now is a great time for both. Choose a large buoyant attractor fly like a hopper, chubby, or stimulator and run your nymph off the bend of the hook. On the Missouri, anglers will sometimes run droppers three to four feet. On small streams, 12 to 20 feet is often sufficient.
Did you know...
There has been a major trend in fly design over the past several years. Some of our most popular patterns now are jig flies or nymphs tied with bead heads on jig style hooks. The benefit is the hook rides point up. Great for hooking fish and not the bottom. Great for hopper dropper rigs.
See past reports from the Great Falls region here, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.