Conditions At-a-glance
good
Our Report
BEST TECHNIQUES – Throwing dries!
TIPS OF THE WEEK –
1. Get your float on, but flows are dropping so it will be a little more difficult. Still very doable though.
2. Throw dries!
3. Don’t ignore the side channels.
7 DAY OUTLOOK – Salmonflies are still around. Flows will continue to drop. Summer is here!
Good luck and don’t forget to stop in our Philipsburg shop Flint Creek Outdoors and our NEW JACKALOPE JOE’S coffee bar! We’re open 7:30-5 7 days a week. Be sure to stop in to talk to Josh, grab a coffee and some Orvis gear, and flies from the the best fly selection in the region.
The Hatch
Salmonflies, green drakes, golden stones, yellow sallies, PMD's,c addis , BWO's, and Midges.
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 - #4-10 Salmon Flies, parachute green drake #10, yellow sallies #14, Caddis, BWO's, #16-20; Purple Haze, #10-18
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
930 CFS at the mouth.
Visibility
3'
Water temperature at mid-day
54 deg.
Water Condition
Clear
Best time of day to fish
Late morning through late afternoon
Best stretch
Upper
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.
