The Kingfisher Fly Shop’s Five-River Fishing Report

By The Kingfisher Fly Shop, New West Unfiltered 8-14-06

Bitterroot

8/14/2006

REPORTS: The flows, water temperatures and fishing conditions are about exactly the same as this time yesterday. While the river is still bone dry in spots and not ideal for floating, the wade fishing is really starting to pick up on the upper stretches. The East and West Forks are still the best place to be for all day fishing as water temps are not a concern. With the weather starting to break and the days getting shorter the water temps will start to moderate and the lower stretches should start to give it up. There are mandatory fishing restrictions from Tucker to Missoula, no fishing from noon to midnight.

Blackfoot

8/14/2006

REPORTS: There are mandatory fishing restrictions in place on the Blackfoot. In addition to the no fishing between noon and midnight up here, most of the tributaries are TOTALLY closed to fishing. These include The North Fork, Gold Creek, Monture Creek, Belmont, Copper Creek, and the Lander's Fork. Even with the closures, there is good fishing to be had on the main Blackfoot, you just have to get on the river early and be done by noon. Hopper droppers and deep double nymph rigs are producing. While bigger fish are being caught, you are still going to be dealing with a lot of smaller fish for every nice one you hook. If you want to target the bigger fish you will have to go deep in the green trenches along the river bottom with double nymph rigs.

Clark Fork

8/14/06

REPORTS: With the exception of the upper river near Turah which is considerably lower, the rest of the Clark is running pretty close to what it was this time last year. The recent cooler night time temps have really put the Clark Fork back in play. While there are still mandatory fishing restrictions from noon until midnight, if you're on the water early you can have some great fishing. There are tricos and caddis out in the mornings as well as fish looking up for terrestrials. The trico spinner fall has been good below town and very unreliable above town. You will also have to contend with algae above Missoula until we start getting frost-like temps at night. Like everything else in the area, you need to get out early and be off by noon.

Stop into The Kingfisher and sign the list in support of FWP pursuing a boat access at Erskine or some point in between Harper's Bridge and Petty Creek. It's time to get this almost inaccessible 24 miles of river open to public float use. If you can't get into any of the shops, call or e-mail FWP and constructively voice your support. (406) 542-5500/fwprg22@mt.gov

Missouri

8/14/2006

REPORTS: The Missouri has been, how shall we say, technical! There are tricos and pseudos out which means, for the most part, long leaders and very small bugs. There are hoppers out, and the fish are looking up for them during the heat of the day. The nymphing has been tough due to algae but if you can find clear lanes you can get it done. The flow this morning at Holter is 3580cfs with a water temp of 63 degrees.

Rock Creek

8/14/2006

REPORTS: Yes, Rock Creek is getting hit pretty hard these days but if you're willing to walk away from the standard access points you can find some space and much better fishing. While everything else in the area is under mandatory afternoon fishing restrictions, the Creek is fishing well pretty much all day. The lowermost stretches are getting warm by later afternoon but the cooler weather the past few days has helped that out. Medium sized patterns of all kinds will get you hooked up. Keeping droppers underneath whatever dry you're fishing will also increase your chances. Let your dryfly casts drag at the end of the drift, fish are keyed on spruce moth movement up here big time. [End of article]