Early July expectations and realities fishing Montanas Missouri river
Summer is certainly here. The first months slipped by pretty quickly. Half of our fantastic hatches have come and gone. More are in the back end of their greatness while the Trico, terrestrials currently dominate the surfaces of Montana’s Missouri River.
A few statements about the Missouri River July 25.
Quite a few angelrs around. Although fewer than May and June. Some dry fly anglers, some anglers visiting the Mo, and fishing guides that reside locally calling this river home. Izaak’s and the Tap House feed most and the visit g angler has three fly shops to wander through.
Dry fly fishing is tough. Posted up dry fly angling, Trico season. First cast is the best cast. Down and across. Some sort of slack line presentation. Fish the fly you like. Truly. The fantastic blind dry fly fishing the river experienced late spring into early summer has come to an end. Maybe again? Better than usual that deal. Trico’s dominate the morning sesh. PMD spinners will show or not. Ants can fool them. Callibaetis? I like well drifted oversized mayfly patterns with a visible post. Just sayin.’
Nymphing is good. Not the best year in history but, “Put the fly in front of enough trout and you will catch a few. “ The Zirdle Deal has begun. Drag that thing around and get a few big ones. Smaller mayfly nymphs, larger too. Caddis Pupa with various colored beads can get the attention of our trout.
Lower water levels than normal. Mid 4K’s. Water temps in the low 60’2. Cool nights will help us through the summer and we pay homage the Mother Nature to keep us cool.
Be nice out there. Conduct yourself in appropriate outdoor behavior that you children would be proud of. Don’t go crazy and give other anglers out there some space. A big beautiful river out there with no irresponsible, outlandish, and careless debt considerations.
A family weekend for the front end of the holiday but looks like Sunday will get things revved up for the remainder of July. Lots of long time anglers, non-local locals, and the like around and more to arrive as the annual hatches continue through the remainder of the month and hopefully beyond.
Weekends with high mercury levels attract all kinds of recreators. Go early or go late. You cannot do what everybody else is doing and assume that you will be the only wade angler or boat fisher. You have to be creative.
“Once you recognize the seasonal angler flow algorithms in relation to the current hatch cycles and how it correlates with angler age and/or maturity quotients you will totally understand how to operate in parallel trout fishing universes. ”
Lots of river out there. The once frequented canyon of the spring and early summer continues to wane. Knowing that can give you an alternative to the oft packed upper river experience. My answer to all of the flack anglers get for crowding, too many guides, too many floaties, too much of whatever is, you ready; We all know not to go to a popular restaurant at 630 or 7pm on a weekend eve? Nope. You’d be stupid to do that. We all know it will be full to the brim and busy AF. Same with the peak times on the Mo. Yes, boat ramps busy 7-9am. Boat ramps busy 3-5pm. Be smarter than the rest, man. You have the opportunity to be the captain of your own western dory. Be the captain, man. Make a plan, execute plan.
But, never hurts to have an alternate plan either.
Headhunters Fly Shop open daily, early.
Most anglers will be focussing on the morning show. Out early and off shortly after the noon hour. Use the best part of the day to catch fish in cooler waters, lower sun angles, fresher fish lips. I can draw a straight line between preparation for the moment and getting the net wet.
Siesta time when you make it. I like an Anejo after it has swam around in ice for a few moments. Beaching my drifter on the boat ramp 2pm is about right.
Enjoy the month ahead. Great dry fly opportunities out there. Great nymphing to be had with a rower that cares about the two on the opposing ends.
Stop into the shop and say hello. Of course all your needs like Sunscreen, fishing licenses, HH Swag, shuttles, the Headhunter Fly Line, the Best Flies Under the Big Sky…lots and lots of the cool flies for the Mighty Mo, free maps and info, the friendliest fly shop on the row.