The Kingfisher Fly Shop Five-Valley Fishing Report

They’re Here!

By The Kingfisher Fly Shop, 3-02-06

Bitterroot

3/2/2006

REPORTS: They're here! While we haven't seen any adult skwalas on the 'root yet, they are out on the Clark Fork across from the shop and at the mouth of Rattlesnake creek big time. They have to be sproadically hatching on the 'root as well, then. The fish will take almost no time to begin to key on this much anticipated hatch, so the fishing's about to get VERY good locally. The lack of low elevation snowpack should also make for a very good early season since there won't be the usual intermittent pushes of off color water as the low elevation stuff melts and hardens back up as spring temperatures warm. We shouldn't seem much of an interruption of skwala nirvana until the big one lets loose, typically around May 11th.

Blackfoot

3/2/2006

REPORTS: The nymphing has gotten somewhat better up here with the recently warmer temperatures. Bigger squirreltails and prince nymphs with red san juan droppers have been taking some nicer fish on the ice-free banks on the mid to upper river. Still about a week or two behind the 'root and Clark in terms of skwala potential, but it'll happen.



HATCHES: midges.

FLIES: Red San Juans, bigger stonefly or oversized mayfly nymphs.

WEATHER: Today: Mostly sunny in the morning...then becoming mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain in the late afternoon. Highs in the 40s. Tonight: Cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows in the 20s. Friday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain and snow. Highs in the upper 30s to mid 40s. Friday night and Saturday: Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows in the 20s to lower 30s. Highs in the 40s. Saturday night through Sunday night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the 20s. Highs in the mid 40s to lower 50s. Monday: Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 40s to lower 50s. Monday night: Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain and snow. Lows in the 20s.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Thanks again Missoula for voting The Kingfisher Missoula's Best Fly Shop for the 8th year in a row!! We really appreciate your support.

Clark Fork

3/2/2006

REPORTS: The skwals have arrived on the Clark Fork! Good numbers of these critters have started showing up on the river across the street from the shop, along the Kim Williams Trail and at the mouth of Rattlesnake Creek. Looks like the hunt is on! Dryfly action should turn on for real here in the next few days. Highs in the lower 50s on Saturday could make for some of the first serious action of the year. Remember that on all the local rivers, the type of pattern you use won't be nearly as important for the 1st week or two as it will later on in the hatch. As the fish begin to get wary, they'll focus almost exclusively on low rider type dryfly offerings. Right now, though, bushy and high riding is fine for your skwalas.

Missouri

3/2/2006

REPORTS: If the wind stays down, it should be a no-brainer. The river's been fishing well with smaller nymphs when the whitecaps abate. Not much in the way of consistent dryfly action yet, but we have had some pretty good, late afternoon, activity on some days. With the forecast calling for mostly calm conditions through the weekend, your Missouri plans might be coming together.

Rock Creek

3/2/2006

REPORTS: Still and icy affair up on the creek these days, but that'll change in a hurry with the warmer weather we've been getting. With the skwalas being seen through town at this point, it's almost a certainty that they're out and about near the Rock Creek/Clark Fork confluence and maybe even the lower mile or two of the creek. If not, it won't be long until they are.

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