Headhunters Fly Shop Fishing Report 4.22.24 Montana’s Missouri River

Pretty killer out there on the river right now. Flows are good, temps are good, fishing is good.

Water Temps: 44F. Rising.

Water Flows: 3560cfs. Stable.

Nymphers: Lots up at the dam and WC nymphing. The primary region with lots of rowing around. Firebeads, sows, scuds, midge pupa, worms, and BWO nymph patterns. Fish in winter waters, and medium speed winter/spring waters. Water temps increasing daily and you will find the fish spreading out into more common spring lies. Canyon nymphers looking for BWO nymphs and caddis nymphs, brown or dark, larger March Brown nymphs too. Try our Euro selections for a killer combo. Headhunters is the education source on the Mighty Mo. Or a large t-Headed PT. Soon PMD nymphs subsurface will be all the rage, but not yet.

Streamer Strippers: Black or White, buttony on the Olive Train. Thin Mint and traditional Buggers working well. Articulated patterns going out of the shop at an alarming rate. If that tells you anything. Still slow stripping and essentially keeping tight and keeping the flies in the ZONE for a long period of time.

Do Not Step or romp around on REDDS. Clean, super clean, larger than average gravel beds with trout acting “funny” on them. If you like to beat up on spawning fish…well?

Consequently lots of Brown Trout coming to the net as the Rainbow population is busy producing more rainbow trout.

Swingers: Enjoying the spring. Weeds not an issue, wide open lower water flats available for the trout spey contingent, and the option for wither the Skagit or Scandinavian system lines. Enough fish rising in the pm for the Scandi Set-Up! Soft Hackles and Wet Flies in the Fly Bins at House of Headhunters. The small fly shop owned locally and operated by the friendly fly shop staff in Craig. Truly your info stop on the way to the river.

Loomis IMX-PRO Short Spey Rod Demo this weekend at Headhunters 9-5 Saturday, 9-2 Sunday. Come by and see us for a demo of this staff favorite trout spey rod at HH, this weekend!

Dry Fly Flickers: Very good spring being witnessed currently in 2024. Midge action in the afternoons into the evening very good. Yes, quite good. Some dumb ones out there too. Midge Clusters galore, Buzzballs, Harrops’s, Quigley’s, Stalcup’s, Hanging Midge, CDC Emergent Midge, Reneball.  Try a small black soft hackle off the back if you wish. But the bite has been terrific and we generally have not had to add the dropper as of late. The afternoon into evening sesh is good. 2-3pm til dark. Have the river to yourself, and lots of rising trout to join you!

Enjoy the spring goodness on the Mo. The fish have spread a bit as the spring will do that. Sometimes it is hard to find them nymphing as the water temps and season creates indecision and wandering of our trout populations. Just a reminder that this is trout fishing, and even on the Mo, it can be difficult for the wet fly gang. Keep your head high and keep on, keepin’ on!

See you in Craig this week at Headhunters Fly Shop. Open daily 8am.