Montana Fishing Report by Montana Troutfitters 9.10.18
By angelamontana

Posted: September 11, 2018

Beaverhead-  Flows are good on the Beaverhead, and the reports have been good from that area. Scuds and worms are always a good bet over this way, but don’t be afraid to swing a small streamer around too. Hopper/terrestrial time is starting to ramp up, it should just get better and better out this way! Watch out for rising water temperatures this way, especially around Twin Bridges.

Bitterroot/Blackfoot/Clarkfork/Rock Creek: Everything is fishing well! Attractor dries, hoppers, and droppers are the name of the game. These rivers seem to have some awesome fish being brought to the net this year! Skating a hopper rig is attracting a number of eats. Try pink, tan or gray. Dropping soft hackles under the hopper will get into the fish that won’t come to the surface. 

Canyon Ferry –   Carp are still a fun option especially with the warmer weather we have been having. Clouser and deaddrift crayfish are always good flies out this way. A good rig to start out with is a tan super bugger with a clouser crayfish dropper. Try blind casting these flies with a slow strip if you aren’t seeing any fish. If you do find tailing carp, let your flies sink in front of the feeding carp, and wait for them to suck them up. If you’re interested in the carp game, swing by the shop and we can point you in the right direction. The Rainbow fishing has been tougher, but a balanced leech and a chironomid can find a few if you get lucky.

Hauser/Holter – Your typical lake patterns such as a bugger/leech/streamer should get the job done pretty well. A balanced leech is always a good bet for fishing lakes. 

Dailey Lake- Fishing has been inconsistent but on the good days it has been great. Try a leech and a pheasant tail under the indicator.

Hyalite- Hyalite is fishing well.  Putting a leech or bugger with a choronomid trailer under a bobber near the points could pick up some fish on the resevoir. The creek will produce using any shiny beadhead like a nymphicator or copper john under a chubby or stimulator.  Throwing a purple haze or small purple chubby is also a good option. 

Cliff and Wade –  Cliff and Wade are open and fishing well. Balanced leeches, small streamers and small beadhead nymphs such as hares ears or flashback pheasent tails have been the best way to pick up fish. If you are looking for some dry fly action, the damselflies are the way to go! 

Quake Lake – Quake lake is open and fishing is well. Try streamers worked tight to the dead trees and off the drop offs.

Clark Canyon – No Reports

Hebgen- This is a great time to be on the lake  when the fish are high in the water and in near shorelines. Early mornings and late evenings will offer some dry fly fishing. There are Alder flies, a big lake midge, and the Callibaetis are appearing. The middle of the day is sub-surface. A Chironomid and a leech under an indicator is one way to fish the middle of the day. A more active way is to strip a streamer on a good wind-drift. 

Harrison Lake – Harrison is in good shape and fishing well. Leeches and chironomids will find a few fish about 8 feet under the indicator. There have also been large midges hatching and fish are up eating them in the mornings. Hitting the lake early or late is paying off with eager and hungry trout.

Ennis Lake – The lake is settled out and its Callibaetis time! The water temperaturesd a really hot for trout, so if you’re going out this way think of sunrise fishing. 

Ponds Around Town – Bass and bluegill fishing is heating up here in town. Now is a great time to throw streamers or poppers for aggressive largemouth up in the shallows. The mall pond and Bozeman beach are both good places to start but dont be afraid to try other small ponds throughout the area. 

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