Mid-Week Fishing Report Montana’s Missouri River
Good mid week day to you all out there in trout fishing land. All is well here in central Montana as we move into summer it seems with the season nudging its way in approx 2-3 weeks ahead of schedule. Some early indications that the summer bugs are arriving earlier than historically expected. PMD’s just peeked their antennae out. Mother’s Day Caddis early. March Browns early. Both the former two bugs showed well this year. Midge still present of course. BWO’s still present as well.
Flows currently 3150cfs. 53F water temps. Forecast to be higher by about 20% according to the water managers in their last May ‘26 water projection sheet. June and July at 3500cfs would be agreeable to us and all anglers. Forecast as you see below for July, August, and September.
Include the weed mass growing daily and you will see a higher river level, in appearance mid summer. Will water, actual water flows be too much higher? No. The volume, mass, of the weeds will displace the water creating a higher than actual water flow feel. If you get my drift. Add a can of soda to a bucket of water and the water level will rise. Did the actual water volume increase? No. Displacement. Weed growth along with a projected bump in flows, 10%-20%, will give us some hope. If not only fabricated or fantasized.
Current Water Projections
Most commonly anglers fishing two nymph rigs on the Mighty Mo. You can rig them many different ways. Most fish them in-line. But, lots of ways to fish nymphs here and beyond. Water levels low and lightly weighted or un-weighted rigs are common.
Nymphs: Two Bit Hooker, Frenchie, Blow Torch, Spanish Bullet, Little Green Machine, Psycho May PMD, Throat Lozenge, Tailwater Sow, Pill Popper, Weight Fly, Split Case, Pheasant Tail size 12,
Blind fishing dry flies has become popular again as last year was as good as it gets fishing the blind caddis fly. So, many are on that train again. Dry Dropper always an option. Remember that the dry fly is hindered by the drift of the nymph below. And conversely the dropper is impeded by the speed of the dry fly. Two different water speeds. The surface is a different speed than just below. Albeit small, it does make a difference. And, yet the dry-dropper rig is favored by many, and is fished effectively on a daily basis.
A reach cast or a slack line presentation best for casting dry flies at rising trout on anchor or on foot. Straight line presentation styles do not fare as well as the preferred alternative.
Dries:: Translucent Emerger, Film Critic, BWO Spinner, Harrop Olsen PED Blue Wing, Griffth’s Gnat, Adams, Buzzball, Corn Fed Caddis, X Caddis, March Brown Parachute, Mini Chubby’s.
Many tossing the dry line for streamer fishing. Many fishing the intermediate streamer fly line too. Some even scraping the bottoms of the exposed center river lanes with heavier flies and lines.
Streamers: Thin Mint, Squirrel Leech, Kreelex in all colors, Goldie’s, Montana Intruder, Sparkle Minnow, Skiddish Smolt, Fruit Roll Up red or black, Finch’s Red Delicious.
SOL’s Streamer Sushi Roll
Lots of anglers in the neighborhood for the next 6 weeks. Be polite out there. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Not preaching…just sayin’. We can co-exist. Yes we can. The best tip I have is communicate with other anglers. IF you, or they, or both of you have situational concerns, questions…just ask them what the plan is. Way easier to ask and converse and communicate before tension or abrasion or conflict occurs. Communication is key.