Coming Down FAST!

By The Kingfisher Fly Shop, New West Unfiltered 4-19-06

Bitterroot

4/19/2006

REPORTS: Much warmer weather on tap for the next couple of days with almost no chance of rain. The clear skies are making for COLD nights and this has got the rivers on the drop in a big way. The upper river near Darby is running 1160 while the lower section nearer Missoula is about 3770. These flows are still pretty fat and finding soft water will be the key. The cold overngiht temps will keep the fishing slow until about 11 or noon. Look for nymphs to still be the name of the game, but as the clarity improves throughout the day and tomorrow, expect to see some fish willing to play on top for skwalas and march browns.

Blackfoot

04/19/2006

REPORTS: The North Fork and Montoure are running crystal clear and making the upper section of the Blackfoot a somewhat viable option. The lower 1/2 is still running chocolate goo and 41 degrees at Bonner. Clarity will improve fast over the next 2 days, but the warm daytime highs will likely bring the latest push of low elevation snow down into the rivers. It's got us looking at this point, but not really willing to commit just yet.

Clark Fork

4/19/2006

REPORTS: This river, like all the local rivers, is on the drop in a big way this morning. Clarity though town and below is still dismal, but the upper river has got considerably more visibility. Yellow streamers and big ugly skwala dries with DEEP worm droppers will be about your best bet up here for the next couple of days. Like we said, yesterday, though, the lower river will never ever fish again . . . ever . . . unless it fishes next week which it probably will, maybe.

Missouri

4/19/2006

REPORTS: Sunny and warmer on the Mo today. Should be one of the nicer days to be on this river in some time! As the day heats up, expect to see more fish looking toward the surface and more fish actively moving to the nymphs and streamers. While there are still a bunch of fish up and out of the river in the tribs at this point, the warm-up will go a LONG way towards geting the hatches moving, bugs on the water and the fish that're still in the river more active. Fish metabolism and food requirements change dramatically with even a few degree rise in water temps. Look for blue wings, midges and even a few skwalas (on the sections below Craig) to be the main fare on top and keep your nymphs small and red. Chage up your streamer color until they let you know which is best and keep your retrieves slow.

Rock Creek

4/19/2006

REPORTS: Dropping and clearing in a big way. The lower river near Clinton is down about 100 cfs from yesterday morning's flow. The warmer weather will get a few more fish looking up over the next couple of days, but your best bet will still be with slow moving nymphs and streamers. Double beaded stones with a sjw dropper have been tough to beat on the upper end recently. Heat of the day you may want to try a medium sized skwala or march brown dry with a p-tail or worm dropper. Remember the new law that requires all companion dogs to be diapered so they don't . . . you know . . . in the woods. All dogs traveling up the creek in jet boats are exempt from the new dooty directive. [End of article]