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 and other Montana rivers.. Without this river, we’d likely never have taken two-handed fishing as far as we have. You will not find a better venue to swing flies anywhere, with a nearly year ‘round swing season and resident trout large enough put a deep bend in Spey rods from 2 to 6 weight.
Why Spey?
There are several reason you might choose to use a spey rod while fishing the Missouri River. The most likely is that you just dig it. If you’re a speycaster, you know what we mean. And the Missouri has runs as wide as nearly any river you’ll fish, along with lies in the center of the river, making it the ultimate swing fishing destination.
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.
