Conditions At-a-glance
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Our Report
BEST TECHNIQUES – Nymphing, headhunting for midge and skwala sippers.
TIPS OF THE WEEK –
1. Cast your nymph into the faster water just above the dumps to get it down quicker.
2. Nymph deeper pools where the fish aren’t rising.
3. There may be fish rising to midges or skwalas. Keep an eye out!
7 DAY OUTLOOK – Winter flows are good. Some shelf ice around. Midges, Skwalas, and March Browns should be active in the coming weeks.
Good luck and don’t forget to stop in our Philipsburg shop Flint Creek Outdoors and our NEW JACKALOPE JOE’S espresso bar! We’re open 7:30-5 seven days a week. Be sure to stop in to talk to Josh, grab a coffee, some Orvis gear, and flies from the the best fly selection in the region.
Fly Patterns
NYMPHS - Pat's Rubber Legs, brown, #6; Hare's Ear Nymph, #10-14; Pheasant Tail Nymph, #14-18; Pink San Juan Worm, #8-10; Montana Prince, tan, #12-16
DRIES - Griffiths Gnat #16-20; Purple Haze #16-20
STREAMERS - Sparkle Minnow #6 in Olive; Zonkers #6, 8 in Natural, Olive, or Yellow; Kreelex Fly #6 in Copper/Gold, Gold/Silver, or Purple/Silver.
Specifics
Water Flow
224
Visibility
48"
Water temperature at mid-day
42 deg.
Water Condition
Clear
Best time of day to fish
Late morning to late afternoon
Best stretch
The entire creek is fishing well.
Best access point
Upper: Gilles Bridge
Lower: Valley of the Moon
Fish species
Cutthroat, rainbow, cutt-bow, brown, bull, some brook trout, and whitefish.
Fishing season
Open year round, but catch and release for trout during winter.
Nearest airport
Missoula International Airport
Recommended fly fishing leader
9' 3x
Recommended fly fishing tippet
3x and 4x top to bottom bug respectively unless you are swinging streamers then bump up to 2x
Best fly fishing rod
Crisp 9' 5wt for nymphing but super fun spot to swing streamers with switch rods.
