I call September the Hybrid Month.

Some hunting seasons start during the month, which includes bowhunting, backcountry rifle for elk and deer and grouse hunting. The weather is usually spectacular, not to hot or cold during the day, and then cools down nicely into the 40s at night.

Although hunters are starting to do their thing, the fisherman who don’t put their rods away can enjoy some of the best fishing of the year.

That is what makes this month so unique. It’s a hybrid meeting of great hunting and great fishing.

The wet weather that we have received and continue to get in Western Montana makes fishing on the local rivers excellent. The waters cool down enough so the bigger fish start to comes out from their deep hiding holes that the hot summer drives them to.
With hatches of BWO’s, Mahogany Duns and October caddis, fly fisherman can enjoy some nice days of active fish. “Nymphing is really god right now with orange serendipities, princes, and copper johns all taking fish,” Doug Persico recently put in his fishing report on www.rcmerc.com
Persico also reports that he received a report of a good size brown trout that was caught in the Valley of the Moon part of Rock Creek.

So with the change of weather, the browns are already starting to move for their fall spawning areas from the Clark Fork River to Rock Creek.

All the area rivers are fishing well right now and the best thing about is you can enjoy some solitude while fishing because not very many anglers are taking advantage of the good fishing.

Kokanee salmon are being caught below Hauser Dam on Holter Reservoir according to Woody Shuler from Townsend.

These salmon are gathering to spawn and are turning bright colors for the occasion. They even have the famous hook nose. For a picture of one log onto www.montanaoutdoor.com.

The reservoirs over by Helena are also starting to produce some nice catches of rainbow trout. Trollers are having some good luck as most of the trout caught are in the four to five pound class. Fish in 25 to 35 feet of water on any of the lakes and you should catch fish.

Fishing reports out of the area are also indicating that the Missouri River below Holter Dam has produced some nice 14 to 15 inch small mouth bass. During the middle of the day seems to work the best.

Closer to Missoula, Georgetown Lake is still producing some nice trout for shore anglers. Use some trout or salmon eggs if you have them, or Berkley Power Bair. Throw it out with a bell sinker on a swivel and wait for them to bite.

The Flathead River is doing very well for smallmouth bass. Use a white jig or a spin and glow and tip both with a nightcrawler or Power Bait.

And, finally, the Lake Superior Whitefish are still biting on Flathead Lake. Six of us enjoyed a great day last week in Ski-Doo bay. We were fishing in 60 feet of water using Zimmer’s Rattle-D-Zastor.