Bitterroot
River: Bring
your shotgun!! Winter is getting close so look for days with temps
in the upper 40's and 50's to be the best. The spring fed areas will
produce with nymphs and streamers. Look for fish eating midges on
the warmer calmer days. The springs around the Fort are always a good
option for a quick winter dry fly fix.
The Slough is now public water and
always gives up a few big ones in the winter months.
Fly Patterns:
buzz balls, grffith's, buggers, p-tails,
micro mays, brassies, the g-bug, SJ worms, eggs, and any small flashy
nymphs
Blackfoot
River: Pretty
cold up there but you should be able to get a few on tandem nymph
rigs or slow streamers on the warmer afternoons. Small
stone/worm combos or flashy p-tail variations should work.
Fly
Patterns:
buggers,
p-tails, the g-bug, SJ worms, eggs, and any small flashy nymphs
Clark
Fork River:
spot specific
nymphing and
slow trolling streamers should be decent.
A Tandem nymph rig with a g-bug/worm
or worm/p-tail combo should do. Midglings, buzzballs, and grfiths
should work if you find anything rising.
Fly
Patterns:
buzz balls, grffith's, buggers, p-tails,
micro mays,
brassies, the g-bug, SJ worms, eggs, and any
small flashy nymphs
Flathead
River:
Winter is right around the corner but
nymphing/jigging tandem rigs
deep and slow should be productive
for lake-run whitefish and a few trout
thrown in the mix. The
Flathead River will produce fish through out the winter on the warmer
days (upper
40's low 50's) for
those who are willing. Slow deep trolling streamers might also produce
a few. A whitefish jig
with a smaller flashy nymph or bugger/egg combo will work for both,
although a duck blind or tree stand sounds WAY more fun.
Fly Patterns:green
& blue jigs, eggs, stonefly nymphs, smaller flashy nymphs, micro
mays, batman nymphs, buggers, sculpzilla, flash fry etc.........
Swan
River: The
upper river is closed through the 3rd saturday in May. The lower river
and bay area continues to produce fish on nymphs and slow moving
streamers. Tandem
nymph rigs with a g-bug/egg or small
bugger/worm type stuff should work. Some NICE fish are still
taking flies on the lower river. We are seeing
a good mix of cutts, bows, lakers, and an occassional bull in the
mix. If you are in the area stop by the shop and demo
one of the new Temple Fork switch rods.
They are a BLAST!
Fly
Patterns: eggs,SJ
worms, stonefly nymphs (G-Bug), micro
mays, buggers, sculpzilla,
flash fry, small flashy nymphs
