Missoula News

Not spring, but not bad

The Kingfisher Flyshop’s Five-River Fishing Report

By The Kingfisher Fly Shop, 1-30-06

Things have been heating up on a couple of the local rivers recently but winter's a long way from over. This time of year, you don't have the luxury of waiting, so the moral of the story is to get it while it's good!

Bitterroot

1/30/2006

REPORTS: The warm weather (or warmer at least) of late has made for some pretty decent, heat of the day action on the 'root lately. On warmer days between about 2 and 5:30, there are widely scattered pods of fatties doing their thing. Tiny midge dries and emergers have been very consistent for us on the mid to lower river while smaller red or green brassies, copper Johns etc... have been about the best on the upper river all the way to Darby. Look for continued good fishing if the weather holds. Plan on going straight to the bottom if the weather starts cooling down again. The lower end of Rock Creek has been really good lately too.

If you are itching to get out, subsurface offerings (midges or san juan worms) are your best bet right now.

HATCHES: midges.

FLIES: Midges ranging from palaminos to Griffith's gnats and tiny parachute Adams. Flashy and tiny brassie type stuff in green and red. The worm.

WEATHER: Some of this, a little of that. Cloudy stuff with sharp pieces of sun poking through whenever they do. Not too cold but don't get out the water skies. Bet there'll be some fog and snowy bits here and there before salmonflies.


Blackfoot

1/30/2006

REPORTS: While this river is in icebox central, there are some VERY consistent runs along the mid to upper river that always produce well this time of the year if you know where they are. These runs have been good to us lately. The worm and squirreltail nymphs are the cure for what ails you . . . as long as it's cabin feaver we're talking about here - you're on your own for that other thing.

HATCHES: midges.

FLIES: Worms, squirrel tails.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Check out all the newly listed specials on the online store (www.kingfisherflyshop.com)

Clark Fork

1/30/2006

REPORTS: Good snowpack in the local high country drainages. Things are looking good for the '06 season so far . . . The Clark is giving up some fish here and there, but it's probably our last recommendation with the exception of a couple of always productive spots. If you do head that direction, look for heat of the day midging both wet and dry along with deep tandem nymph rigs that incorporate medium sized stoneflies, red san juans and cotton candy or roe colored glo bugs.

HATCHES: midges.

FLIES: Only the smallest, cutest ones in your box.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Look for the daily updates to begin again March 15th.

Missouri

1/30/2006

REPORTS: The last few days have been good but not red hot. You can always catch fattie or 10 using the standard pink Mo fare like scuds or Ray Charles. Look for sporadic dryfly midging heat of the day sometimes lasting into evening. Keep your tandem rigs deep and SLOW and be ready to set on the faintest indicator motion.

HATCHES: midges.

FLIES: Griffith's gnats, size 16 and 18 pink and gray scuds, small brassies and copper Bobs, tiny flashback p-tails, red San Juans, pink or salmon colored egg patterns.

Rock Creek

1/30/2006

REPORTS: Rock Creek is actually fishing pretty well in this warmer weather of late. Black stoneflies have been THE happy bug on the lower 12 miles of the creek. The upper end, going around through Pburg, has been giving it up pretty well, too, with smaller flashy stuff like brassies, copper Johns, etc... Remember that going swimming in the creek this time of year will result in irreversible shrinkage, be careful!

HATCHES: midges.

FLIES: Any midsize nymphs. Egg and worm patterns

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The newest rods from both Sage and Winston are now in stock at The Kingfisher. The VT-2 from Sage is the latest evolution in the RPL/VPS series and is available exclusively in Missoula at The Kingfisher. The Vapor and Ascent are the two new additions to the Winston line and are priced considerably less than all the other rods from this company. Check 'em out on our online store www.kingfisherflyshop.com

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