Raging Run-Off

Run-off is in full swing here in western Montana and the two big questions are will it flood?, and when will it end?  There's already been substantial flooding on eastern Montana rivers and if the right weather elements come together we're sure to have our share as well.  One thing is for certain, run-off will be with us a while this year due to our cool temps and high snowpack.  All is not lost though as there are some great fishing options during the May and early June.  The Missouri is our mainstay during run-off since it is a tailwater fishery that remains relatively clear despite high flows.  A trout population of nearly 5,000 a mile doesn't hurt either.  My last day on the 'Mo produced solid fishing with 7 trout of 20" or better.  Browns and Georgetown lakes are also great options.  We landed some true giants on Browns earlier this month, and with Georgetown just opening up it will offer up sight fishing to good numbers of cruising rainbows.  The Dearborn and other small tributaries are floatable this time of year and they can produce great fishing with a true sense of adventure.  We're never quite certain where we'll be fishing in May and early June, but wherever it is the odds are some of the biggest fish of the year will be landed. 

Skwalamania 2011

Skwala season is in full swing here in western Montana.  March came in cold and remained pretty chilly, but there was solid fishing from mid-month on.  Despite our overall cool temps we did have a couple of warm nights along with some rain that caused local rivers to jump up and turn off-color.  A couple days on the Missouri was the cure and we battled some big browns and rianbows.  The Bitterroot has stabilized for the most part, and fish are looking for dries again in the afternoon.  The best part about this bump in flows is that it has shuffled up the fish and some of the biggest fish in the river are getable now.  Those big old brown trout can't lay under log jams all day anymore and they're going to be looking for food.  We still have almost a whole month of spring dry fly fishing left.  I can't wait to see how it all plays out.