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Fly Fishing Western
Montana Rivers
Article by Bill Bean (Fishaus
Tackle Fly Shop in Hamilton, MT)
When we think of fly fishing in Montana there are so many
choices that it almost seems mind boggling. When we think
of fly fishing in Western Montana there are still a lot
of choices but they are concentrated and more easily accessible.
From Hamilton where I am located, five major rivers can
be reached within two hours. These rivers are the Bitterroot,
my home river, Clark Fork, Rock Creek, Blackfoot, Big Hole
and Beaverhead.
The Bitterroot
The Bitterroot River in Southwestern Montana
is characterized by pristine waters and fine fishing. From
its tributaries in the East and West Forks to its finale
at the Clark Fork you can find a myriad of fishing opportunities
includinhroats, Browns, Bull Trout and Brookies. West slope
Cutthroats abound here due in part to the catch and release
regulation for this species. Many of the tributaries such
as Skalkaho, Tin Cup Creek and Sleeping Child have good
populations of catchable Cutthroat. Upper tributaries such
as Blue Joint and Martin Creek are full of Brook Trout.
They provide some excellent small creek fishing for lighter
two and three weight rods.
The Bitterroot in its seventy plus miles of
meandering it is almost like two rivers. The upper stretches
have a higher gradient and are characterized by runs and
riffles. Most of the stone flies hatch here. The stone nymphs
prefer oxygenated water and the upper runs provide this.
The lower stretches of the river are much slower because
of less gradient. You will find an occasional riffle and
run but mostly longer and deeper pools. Here you find larger
hatches of mayflies.
There are twenty or more different combinations
of stretches that can be floated and fished as well as waded
on the Bitterroot. Stream access laws in Montana are very
friendly to fishermen and there are plenty of available
walk in sites providing miles and miles or river bank to
fish. A copy of the access laws are available at any local
Licensing Agency.
The Bitterroot is well known as one of the
finest dry fly fishing rivers in the state. The dry fly
fishing season begins mid- March and ends in late November.
ish will key on the imitation pattern for a full 6 weeks.
One pattern to use for the Skwala is a bullet head fly tied
with a black egg sack and dark body. The underwing is dark
brown or black and the overwing is tied in bullet head style
with dark brown premo-deer hair. The fish seem to look for
this hatch to begin their yearly feeding habits and with
the size of this stonefly they can build bulk fast. The
late fishing which continues into November includes patterns
such as the October Caddis and Midges. The Oc and several
varieties of Caddis. The mayflies are typically sizes 14
- 18 with the exception of the Green Drake which is size
10. The Salmon Flies should be fished with a size 6 or 8
and the Golden Stones are sizes 8 - 10.
The summer fishing is best described as a
continual opportunity for dry fly action. With the abundance
of mayfly hatches the expert as well as the novice fisherman
can do well. If you are not capable of matching the hatch
a well tied attractor pattern such as a stimulator will
usually do the trick. There are opportunities for fishermen
who prefer wading as well as those who prefer floating from
a raft. Many access sites provide the wading fisherman ample
stretches to spend a few hours or the entire day. September
and Labor Day mark an end to the hewinter. Many begin gathering
wood that they will use to heat their homes during the next
6 months. Elk and Deer seasons begin later in the month
and it is time to sight in that favorite rifle. After the
third weekend in October you can count on having the river
almost to yourself almost the entire day. The only local
fishewaiting for.
Rock Creek
When Skalkaho Pass is open, usually around
the first of June, Rock Creek is less than an hour away
from Hamilton. Access to the upper stretches of this Blue
Ribbon Creek is important because of the road from the lower
stretches is usually ungraded and slow going. Travel speed
of 3-4 miles per hour is not uncommon during the summer
because grading causes a great deal of dust to enter the
river system. Upper Rock Creek is characterized by slower
moving pocket water. As you travel North or downstream the
river gradient quickens and so does the river. The the fishing
can be outstanding. The Golden Stones are not far behind
and continue throughout the summer at a sporadic pace. The
lower stretches of this 50 mile river is the most accessible
and most heavily fished. Even though there are many fishermen
it doesnÕt distract from a Montana experience. The
fish are more cooperative and willing to rise to a may fly
or caddis fly imitation throughout the summer.
Rock Creek provides a variety of fishing opportunities.
There are fast and slow riffles, pocket water stretches,
splits in the river that provide side channels and isolated
water flows as well as woody debris habitat such as log
falls.
Species of fish include West slope Cutthroat,
Brown Trout, Bull Trout and Rainbows.
Hatches include stoneflies, caddis and mayflies.
Blackfoot River
The Blackfoot River flowing in a more traditional
direction, begins near Lincoln and runs Southwesterly before
it enters the Clark Fork River at Mill Town Dam near Missoula.
It travels almost 100 miles from its origin and provides
many an angler with a variety of fishing opportunities either
fins its course. As it moves toward the mouth the tributaries
increase the flows for the next thirty or so miles. This
is where the fishing begins to get at its best. Many of
the largest Bull Trout are caught on the Blackfoot even
though it is illegal to fish specifically for this species.
Access to the Blackfoot is usually found at one of the many
public access sites, bridge crossings or side roads. Wading
is popular in the summer and fall months when the river
falls to a lower level.
Hatches throughout the year include stoneflies,
caddis, and mayflies. Of particular interest are the summer
mayflies which include Green Drake, BWO, PMD, Mahogany Duns
and Tricos.
Species of fish include BrownÕs, West
slope Cutthroat, Bull Trout and a few Rainbow.
Clark
Fork
The Clark Fork is a very large river and provides
some excellent fishing throughout the summer and fall months.
It bches from a drift boat or raft. There is limited access
and too heavy of water for most wade fishermen even in the
summer time for most of the river. The places that are most
accessible by foot are the upper stretches around Warm Springs
and near the city if Missoula. Private property and higher
water levels eliminate most other parts from the wade fisherman.
One of the most popular stretches of the Clark
Fork is between Missoula and Rock Creek because of the stonefly
and mayfly hatches. Skwala, Salmon and Golden Stones appear
in the spring. There are also good hatches of Green Drake,
BWO, PMD and Mahogany Duns.
In the fall the fish pod along the sides of
the river. The river drops to a low in late August and September
and as you float along you can see the pods dorsaling along
the edges. If you pull your boat near shore and wade down
to the pods you can sometimes pickup up to three or four
fish per pod if the stars are aligned. It is more common
to catch only one but there are more pods ahead.
Species of fish include Rainbows, West Slope
Cutthroat , Browns and Whitefish.
Hatches include stoneflies, caddis and mayflies.
Big Hole
The Big Hole River begins above Jackson and
flows over 100 miles until it joins the Beaverhead and Jefferson
to become the Missouri River near Twin Bridges. The Big
Hole is noted for its larger than average Browns and Rainbows
as lation of native Grayling in one stretch. There are also
a good smattering of West slope Cutthroat and Brook Trout
along the way. This river is also pretty diversified and
is easily waded and floated throughout the summer and fall
although there are some new two year regulations for the
non-resident as well as resident commercial fishermen. These
regulations are for a two year period to end in 2002 and
to be evaluated for their success or failure.
The upper stretches are the best for the wade
fishermen as there is good access and lower water. There
is some pocket water as well as slower meandering sections
that can produce some of these nice fish we spoke of earlier.
The middle stretches pick up more water from tributaries,
are fast a raft and can produce some extremely nice fish
on streamers, woolly buggers and larger nymphs.
Fish species include West Slope Cutthroat,
Rainbows, Browns, Grayling , Brookies and Whitefish
Hatches include stoneflies, caddis and mayflies
Beaverhead
The Beaverhead is primarily a tailwater fishery
and begins at Clark Canyon Reservoir south of Dillon and
flows some 50 miles until it joins the Big Hole and Jefferson
to become the Missouri. It continues to produce some of
the largest Cutthroat and Browns in the rivers of Montana.
The banks of the
One of the most famous sections is Poindexter Slough which
is near Dillon. This slow moving section can really be fun
if the fish are cooperative and responsive to the imitations
that we throw.
The Beaverhead is experiencing drought conditions
again this year. There was low snowpack through the winter
and Clark Canyon is already at its lowest level in years.
Runoff for the reservoir has been lacking and the fishermen
on the reservoir report large schools of fish in concentrated
areas. Let's hope they get some rain and don't have to have
special regulations this year.
Fish early on the Beaverhead and be sure to
fish the stretch just below the spillway. It has produced
some good fish in past years.
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