Kelsi Sandoz fires off a cast during mid-winter near Pelican Point.

Montana Trout Spey

We’ve done a lot to popularize the use of spey gear for trout, because it’s one of our favorite ways to fish the Missouri River. Without the Missouri, we’d likely never have taken two-handed fishing as far as we have. It’s definitely more than a novelty to us. It’s an important part of our fly fishing lives. You will not find a better venue to swing flies anywhere, with a year ‘round swing season, and resident trout large enough put a deep bend in Spey rods from 2 to 6 weight. We started spey fishing while chasing Steelhead, but now we focus mostly on the trout in our backyard. We’re proud to have introduced hundreds of anglers to Montana spey fishing over the years. There are plenty of places to swing flies for trout on a two-hander, but very few places where you can find the gear and information that can be found at Headhunters.

WhAT IS Spey?

If you haven’t tried spey fishing, you’ll likely ask “why”? If you have, you understand that it’s both challenging, fun and productive. Challenging in that you’re learning a new - and very different - casting technique. When we talk about “spey” fishing, we’re talking about swinging flies. We never dead-drift flies, and never use an indicator on a spey rod (some folks do in some places).

When to Swing?

You can “swing” flies on the Missouri River all season, but we definitely find there are certain times that are the best.

What Equipment?

We generally use spey rods in the 2-4 weight range (180-330gr), and find no need to use anything heavier on the Missouri River. And if you don’t own a spey rod and aren’t interested in learning a new casting technique, just use a single handed rod. There is no reason you can’t swing the wide open runs on the Missouri with a 5 or 6 weight single hander.

Which Flies?

Streamers and soft hackles are the main fly choices for the Missouri River. While big, flashy, articulated streamers work, we tend to favor smaller more realistic patterns on the Missouri.

TROUT SPEY EQUIPMENT

When we started swinging the Missouri, there wasn’t any dedicated “trout” spey gear, so we used lighter 6 and 7 weight “switch” rods. Tools that were really designed more for summer Steelhead than for trout. Fortunately, things have changed and we now have a nice selection of rods, reels and - most importantly - lines for spey rods in the 2-5 weight range (180-350gr).

We use 2, 3 and 4 weight rods for spey fishing here on the Missouri. The 2 weight is for swinging small soft heckles during the summer months. The 3 weight is our all-around, and the good ones perform 90% of what we ask of them. $ weights are generally reserved for deeper and heavier sink tips, combined with larger flies. Some angler like the feel of the 4 weight more than the 3, and it can also be used as an everyday rod, though protecting lighter tippets can be tricky.

Things of the 2-3-4 weights as equivalent of 4-5-6 weight single handed rod. Which one do you like the most? Chances are you’ll feel the same about fishing with a spey rod.

Any reel will work, and we generally use reels designed for 6 weight single-handed rods. A full cage prevents skinny shooting lines from slipping between the frame and spool, so we do prefer those types of reels, but they are not required.

Lines are where it all happens in the spey world, and we use and carry both Scandinavian and Skagit style shooting heads, in both integrated and non-integrated versions.

If we were going to recommend a spey rod for someone new to the Missouri, we’d choose a strong 3 weight, and line it with a Scandi head from June through December, and a Skagit head (with sink tips) from January through May.

WHEN TO SWING?

We swing flies most of the year on the Missouri, but there are a few times that are best, and a few that aren’t.

  • Typically very cold water temperatures require swinging slow and deep on big drop-offs. Leech patterns and buggers work the best, with the occasional flashy streamer thrown in the mix. You’ll likely be using a 10-12’ sink tip. Sometimes hard to find a run where two or more anglers can have success, as the trout are pretty bunched up this time of year. More important than flies is warm layers and socks. Hardcore spey anglers wear boot foot waders during the winter months.

  • March is transition time. The water temperatures will remain very cold, but early spring midge hatches will get fish moving into the shallows and a bit more active. Rainbow trout will begin moving to spawning areas as well. Stick with leeches, but lighter tips and shallower presentations will become more productive as the month rolls on. Small baitfish patterns will begin to work as Brown Trout and Whitefish fry emerge.

  • You’ll still want to wear plenty of layers and wool, but the temperatures will creep up into the 40’s and eventually 50’s in late May. Mayfly and caddis hatches begin to occur, and soft hackle patterns come into play, especially in the afternoons. Flashy streamers are popular as well. If the weather warms early late May can bring high flows. Sometimes too high for wading.

  • Hard to recommend June because of the likelihood of high-water. Above 600 CFS, it can be hard to find runs to wade. You can find them better with a boat, but it’s still tough and potentially dangerous. Flies will be a mix of buggers and leeches, and soft hackle that imitate Caddis and PMD’s. If it’s pumping and off-color, you’ll want a deep tip and big flashy streamers.

  • Get rid of the tips, it’s time to swing soft-hackles on a floating line. Possibly using an intermediate tip, but there’s no need to go deeper unless you like to toss bug stuff. You’ll need to fish lighter tippet with small soft hackles by the middle of July. Biggest problem this time of year is all of the boats and crowded conditions. It can be difficult to find a run that you can fish all the way through. It’s a great month to go swing some freestones streams as well.

  • Drifting and dying weeds can make swinging tough in August. Some runs will probably be unfishable. But, big flashy streamers can be deadly when swing on a deep tip in the fastest water you can find. The kind of water that is usually weed free. Use heavy tippet when you’re doing this. you make hook into a good one.

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  • The best time to spey fish and swing flies on the Missouri River. The weather won’t be as cold as you think. It’s often the wind that’s the issue. October Caddis keep fish staring at the surface, and leeches, large soft hackles and small baitfish keep the fish chasing. Floating lines rule, rarely with more than an intermediate poly-leader attached. Everyone is hunting so the river is quiet.

Lt. Dan with a nice Brown swung up in early autumn.

FLY PATTERNS FOR TROUT SPEY

Nearly all of our spey patterns for the Missouri are wet flies. Usually with some movement so they look enticing on the swing. We don’t often weight our flies, but rely on sinking leaders and lines to achieve depth.

TROUT SPEY VIDEOS

James makes the first pass of the day through the fog.

THERE IS NO “OFF SEASON”

We used to call it the “other” season, but November through March is considered primetime if you swing a two-handed rod for trout. Trout Spey fishing has become the method of choice for some anglers, and we even know a few who no longer fish single-handed at all. For these devoted swingers, fall and winter provide some of the best fishing of the year. On the Missouri River, we fish floating lines until Christmas, and our trout are big, hungry and aggressive as winter sets in. You need the right kind of water for consistently productive spey fishing, and we have it. Check out the great selection of spey gear we carry, and if you have any questions contact our staff. They can answer any questions you have, and get you rigged right.