Statewide MT Fishing Report Compilation 11.30.22
By angelamontana

Posted: November 30, 2022

Please let us know if you would like to see your weekly fishing report included in this Montana fishing report compilation by emailing your report to us before the end of the day on Tuesday of each week here along with your business website/email address.

Please check the fishing regulations before fishing.

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Hell Creek Recreation Information (November 30, 2022)

Bighorn River Fishing Report via Bighorn Angler (November 23, 2022)

We hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!  There is some nice weather on the way to the Bighorn valley, at least for a few days.  We were hoping the water would clear up by now, but doesn’t look to be the case.  I was on the Upper 3 a couple days back and clarity remains about 2′ at best.  There is still a fair amount of drifting grass as well.  I would say the river is about half way cleared out from this past Summer’s growth.  Fishing was pretty decent, but not what it will when the river cleans up.  Give it another week and we’ll see what happens..

Streamer fishing is still the thing to be doing.  Smaller bugs over bigger bugs.  Same ol’ Thin Mints, Grinches, etc..

For the rest of the Winter nymphing should be the same bugs.  Sowbugs, Scuds, Midges and some worms here and there.

There are some fish starting to show up to spawn, so please steer clear of those areas.

Yellowstone in Billings Fishing Report via MT Fishing Addicts 2.0 (November 27, 2022)

John M.: Give it a shot. I crossed on Thanksgiving. Lots of ice. Hard to say what you might catch. I know, the browns are spawning on the bighorn. Or, maybe, just finished spawning. Beautiful colors on those fish.

Walleyes Unlimited Yellowstone Chapter (November 29, 2022)

Our next chapter meeting is tomorrow Dec 1st at 630 at the Elks in Livingston. We will be continuing our planning for our cornhole tournament this spring. Hope to see you there!
(NOTE: The date of the meeting is actually today, November 30th)

Cooney State Park Information via FWP (November 30, 2022)

Hauser Fishing Report via MT Fishing Addicts 2.0 (November 27, 2022)

Joe C.: [Bite was] not bad. Half dozen topside before noon.  CLICK HERE

Bitterroot River Fishing Report via Grizzly Hackle: 2/5 (November 28, 2022)

It’s getting cold again this week, but the Bitterroot is sill fishable for now.  Look for afternoons to be the best time to get out there.  There’s going to be a bit of shelf ice and slush coming down in the mornings especially.  Sub-surface will be the best way to get into fish.  Nymphing Rubberlegs, Double Bead Stones, Perdigons, Jig Duracell’s, Jig Princes and San Juans.  Streamer fishing deep and slow is always a good way to get into a bruiser this time of year.  Brown’s are off the spawn and looking to eat right now.  Black, Olive and White are our favorite winter colors.  Skiddish Smolts, Sparkle Yummies, Chicago Overcoats, Mini-Dungeons, Baby Gonga’s and Lil’ Kims.Lot’s of downed trees in stretches this summer.  Give us a call for up to date information.

1/2 off Friday’s are still happening, every Friday all year long. (1/2 off your first dozen dries or nymphs)

Missouri River Fly Fishing Report by Headhunters Fly Shop (November 21, 2022)

Holiday Week Report Montana’s Missouri River

Flows just under 3K. Water temps continue to fall at 42.5F. Boat ramps are usable, but with variable weather this past couple weeks, and ahead, you should check any of the steep ramps for exit possibilities before you float.

Open this week for your fishing pleasures. Really the first weather that has been fishable for at least a week. Looking better for the holiday week with air temps reaching above the freezing mark and the normal amount of snow, rain, wind, and Rocky Mountain weather ahead for the week.

Pack accordingly for your trip to the river and enjoy. Some hunters out there as well rousting a few waterfowl about.

Nymphers are on the sow game. Worm, pink lightening bugs, Firebead sows, and scuds are the game. Shallow waters out there with no pressure. GO to the best runs and fish there. Those who search around all day long will not find the success that the glory seekers will. Go to the good stuff. Nobody around and why not fish the cream.

Strippers love this time of year. Not many anglers, none, and wide open runs wade without the nymphers around. Fish the skinny waters and strip it. Leeches and light flies can move the fish in those shallower habitats. Come by the shop and sift through the many bins of streamers appropriate for the week and month ahead. Really a nice time to be steamer fishing the Mo.

We do have lodging available this week as well. Not much for food in Craig but we hear that the outfit in WC is open and the Missouri River Inn at Prewitt Creek is keeping it real daily. Food in Cascade at the Angus and the Driftwood. Izaak’s is closed for the year.

Not much for the dry fly angler out there. But, keep your eyes peeled.

The swingers rejoice this time of year. Wide open spaces with not many anglers to interfere with the long swing runs. Larger wets and leeches are the most common fare along with smaller streamers with some flash if you wish. The water temps are seeing many fishing the Skagit Lines with tips this week. Any Q’s about what to do out there this week? Call or stop in while in the area and we can set you out on a successful mission.

Your Trout Spey Destination including the Mighty Mo and Headhunters of Craig. Open all week for fishing needs, gifts, warmth, friendly faces, and more!

Gallatin River Fishing Report via The Rivers Edge (November 23, 2022)

350 CFS @ Gateway – Ice. Slush. Snow. So what, temps are expected to rise this weekend so get out there and walk off the “Big Meal.” Midge activity has been inconsistent up top, but usually a couple make a showing in early afternoons. Nymphing with a healthy dose of split shot is your best bet this time of year, so look for the slowest water.

GO-TO FLIES:

– Slush Egg Pink #14
– Zebra Midge Black #18
– Pat’s Rubberlegs Coffee/Black #8
– Sculpzilla Olive/White #8
– Hi-Viz Griffith’s Gnat #18

Chancy and Dave’s Fish Camp Fishing Report (November 26, 2022)

❄️ Smith Lake- 5-7” of ice, lots of small pike, some good perch action north end. Try ratfinkees or tear drop jigs topped with grubs or wax worms.
❄️ Lower Stillwater- 5-7” ice, try mouth end 6-12’water for perch and pike. Try near island for lake trout.
❄️ Dog Lake- Good numbers of perch 7-10” range.
❄️ Island Lake- 4-5” ice, lots of perch 7-12’ range.
❄️ Rodgers Lake- 4-6” ice some nice grayling and cuts early morning.
❄️ Blanchard- 3-5” ice, pike and perch action early morning.
❄️ Church Slough- 3-5” ice, nice pike early morning.
❄️ Flathead River- Still lots of white fish in river.
❄️ Lake Mary Ronan- No ice
❄️ Echo Lake- Froze, NOT SAFE
ICE EXPO DECEMBER 10th 9:00-3:00

Flathead Valley Fishing Report by Snappy’s Sport Senter (November 23, 2022)

Lakes are starting to cap over, be safe when checking ice and use your safety gear.

December 10th Snappy’s Fish on Ice special, seminars and in-store specials all day! Details Coming – Stay Tuned.

  • Flathead Lake – Reports of good schools of perch being caught in East Bay.
  • Lake Mary Ronan – Reports of Ice Cap forming, not safe!
  • Smith Lake – 4-5in of Ice being reported, with a few pike and perch being caught.
  • Lower Stillwater – Up to 5 inches of ice being reported. No fishing report though.
  • Murphy Lake – Lake is capped no reports of thickness yet.
  • Rogers Lake – Reports of up to 3-4in of ice. Be safe and use your spud bars. Cuts and Grayling both being caught. Try Northland Forage minnows
  • Dog Lake – Reports of up to 3-4in of ice. Bring your spud bars and be safe!

Fishing Report by Yellowstone Country Flyfishing (November 10, 2022)

This Montana fishing report is valid from November 1 until the first run of daytime high temperatures in the high 30s or 40s. Normally that’s called “most of November,” but it has been bitter cold and snowy all month.

Fishing is very poor right now and we do not recommend it. Water temps are in the low to mid-30s everywhere except the Paradise Valley spring creeks, and air temps are in the teens for highs. Significant ice formation is already underway.

Beware of spawning brown trout and don’t bother them. It is best to avoid areas of gravel on up to cobble-sized rocks in 1-4 feet of water for the remainder of the fall unless you see rising trout (which will almost entirely be non-spawners). Avoid clean shallow gravel at all costs: don’t fish there and don’t walk there. Our trout are all wild and the browns need to be left to make the next generation in peace. There are PLENTY of other fish in the sea (or trout in the stream), including those sitting in the bouldery or silty pools downstream of spawning areas, where they’ll be eating eggs and bugs disturbed by spawners.

The Yellowstone River is rapidly icing up and will fish poor. Near the mouth of the Gardner River, fish a stonefly nymph with a midge pupa dropper. That’s probably your only realistic shot.

The lower Madison River is largely in the same boat as the Yellowstone, exacerbated by its shallowness.

The Paradise Valley spring creeks are now on winter rates of $40/day. This is probably the best option in the area until at least early February, since the water never drops under about 45 degrees. It will be cooooollllld fishing, though. Fish midge pupae, eggs, and streamers. If it ever warms up, there might be limited BWO and midge emergences.

The Missouri River is a long way to drive, but will not ice up for a while yet. Scuds, sowbugs, BWO nymphs, and midge pupae will produce the numbers. Swung streamers may produce some bigger fish.

Yellowstone Park’s fishing season is now closed. Moving forward, we expect October 31 at sunset to be the permanent closing date. It used to be sunset on the first Sunday in November. They did get the replacement North Entrance Rd open on October 30, so at least you can drive in to LOOK at the water.

Note: Montana Outdoor‘s website is the only commercial external site authorized to use this content. Please let us know if you see it anywhere else (Parks’ Fly Shop’s report is similar, since Walter writes that one too).

Kootenai River Fishing Report by Linehan Outfitting (October 31, 2022)

-No new report-

This Kootenai River Montana fishing report is being brought to you by Orvis Endorsed Linehan Outfitting.  This report will be updated weekly to provide current conditions, weather, hatches, patterns, and flows to our local waters and across the state.

Flows from Libby Dam:  4000cfs

Water temperature at Libby Dam: 42 degrees

Hatches: midge, baetis

patterns:  zebra midge, parachute Adams, parachute pmd, Rosenbauer’s olive rabbit foot emerger, purple haze, purple chubby, red chubby, olive sparkle dun,bh prince, soft SJ worm, bh pheasant tail, bh rubber legged stonefly, big streamers in white, pink and olive, circus peanut, black conehead buggers

It’s not quite spring up here in Kootenai River country but we have good news.  Flows from Libby Dam have been reduced and will be stable at 4000cfs through the end of March for now.  That means there’s some great early season fishing available right now.

Expect more clammy cloudy weather through the weekend and into next week.  March continues to come in like a lion and we’ve yet to see the lamb.  Rain and snow mix will dominate forecast.  Fortunately daytime temps will ooch into the forties which is at least a small sign of spring around here.

At the moment the river is clear and in good shape.  Don’t expect much in the way of dry fly fishing and insect activity until we get some substantially warmer daytime temperatures.  The water is still cold but trout will start to feed a bit in the coming weeks.

This is always a good time of year for nymphing.  With low flows you don’t need a heavy rig.  You just need to get the flies down in softer runs and pools where trout are most likely to be holding this time of year.  Don’t spend a ton of time fishing fast riffles.

Streamer fishing is also productive this time of year especially since bigger fish will be hungry after laying low for a couple months during the dead of winter.  Keep in mind they will not necessarily want to move too fast or too far to get a meal.  Get your streamers down and fish them slowly and erratically.  Nothing like a wounded minnow to get a big rainbow interested in at least a sniff.

In Boston Red Sox news, it’s PLAY BALL!  After several weeks of a lockout the players union owners have finally come to an agreement.  Spring training will start immediately and while opening day was and remains delayed until April 7, the season will still be 162 games.  For now the Sox have managed to keep essentially the same playoff roster they had last season.  Infielders Dalbec, Arroyo, Bogaerts, and Devers are key players.  In the outfield Jackie Bradley Jr. has returned to Boston and Kike Hernandez and Verdugo will anchor the deep green.  Ace Chris Sale will hopefully be healthy and other starters from last year will hopefully pick up where they left off in October.  Go Sox!!!

Give a call anytime if you need more Kootenai River details or information on any of our hunting or fishing adventures.  And please check out our e-commerce site for all Linehan Outfitting branded swag and Orvis gear. https://linehan-outfitting.myshopify.com/

We look forward to hearing from you.  406-295-4872

Yellowstone River Fishing Report by Bozeman Fly Supply (November 26, 2022)

As we move more into late fall, the fishing on the Yellowstone will be hit or miss. Don’t let that discourage you, if you hit it right you could have a stellar day! Indicator rigs can be effective especially on sunny day, try a bugger followed by your favorite midge pattern. Try stripping streamers on cloudy days and if you’re more into dry fly fishing throw baetis and midge dries on the cloudy days as well! Try larger streamer dead drifted if they aren’t willing to chase and always add more splitshot if you aren’t hitting the bottom. If you plan to fish the Yellowstone, be sure to check FWP’s Restrictions and Closures page for up-to-date information regarding closures.

Suggested Fly Patterns

  • Dry Fly

    Missing Link Caddis (14-18), Parawulf Dennis BWO (16-20), Thorax BWO (18-20), Parachute Adams (14-20), Purple Haze (16-20), Film Critic BWO (16-20), Smoke Jumper (16-20), Extended Body BWO (16-20), Griffith’s Gnat (16-20), UV Sparkle Midge (18-20), Chubby Chernobyl Olive/Royal/Purple (8-12)

  • Streamer

    Woolly Bugger (4-12), Mini Dungeon Black/ Natural/ White (6), Complex Twist Bugger (2), Kreelex Minnow (4), Sparkle Minnow (4-8), Double Gonga, Urchin Bugger (4), El Sculpito (2), Sculpzilla (4-8), Sculpinator (4-6)

  • Nymph

    Pat’s Rubber Legs (6-12), Zirdle Bug (6-12), Woolly Bugger Black/ Olive (4-12), Perdigon (14-18), Pheasant Tail (14-20), Jigster Baetis (14-18), Prince Nymph (10-18), BH Hare’s Ear (12-18), Sisslin’ Hot Spot Squirrel (14-16), Zebra Midge (16-22), San Juan Worm, Matt’s Shagadelic Mop, Hare’s Ear (14-18), Dirty Bird (12-16)

Blackfoot River Fishing Report by Grizzly Hackle: 1/5 (November 28, 2022)

Winter is here to stay on the Blackfoot.  Shelf ice and slush will make for hard to impossible fishing. Time to break out the vise, wax the skis or watch Netflix.  Lots of slush in coming down in the mornings and some ice starting to build up.1/2 off Friday’s are still happening, every Friday all year long. (1/2 off your first dozen dries or nymphs)

Yellowstone River and Livingston Area Fly Fishing Report by Dan Bailey’s (November 26, 2022)

Hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving! Now we’re in the midst of the holiday season, Christmas will be upon us in no time. It’s kind of a blessing that this is about the slowest time of year for fishing – life is busy enough with all the holiday stuff. But if you do need to get out of the house and find some peace and quiet, here’s what’s going on.

YELLOWSTONE RIVER

Things are pretty icy these days. There’s a fair bit of the Valley that is locked up with ice, and there are quite a few chunks and slush floating down as well. If you’re wading, watch out. With the colder temps in the forecast, expect a lot more ice coming up.

From here on through the colder months, except the wind to be a constant companion. Hold on to your hat and try to find shelter if you do go out. In the colder temps it dies down a bit but holy wind batman it’s been breezy.

Honestly, at this point, either fish the spring creeks or stay home and tie flies if your only option is the Yellowstone.

MADISON RIVER 

The Lower Madison is a solid winter fishery that is close enough to town to be worth the drive if you only have a few hours to get out and go fishing. The ice isn’t too bad in Bear Trap and down to Black’s Ford, and the fishing has been decent. Things are moving slow, so fish the deep buckets and slow water. If you’re streamer fishing stick to swinging or dead drifting under an indicator.

Crayfish and attractor nymphs have been producing as a point fly, with a midge hanging off the back. Zebra midges, Rainbow Warriors, and Ice Cream Cones are all good options. A double nymph rig is your best bet at this point. Things get windy this time of year down on the Lower Madison River, but if you can find a sheltered spot or get lucky and have a calmer day look for midges hatching.

The Upper Madison has been getting a bit icy in the lower stretches, but up by Three Dollar and Reynold’s Pass you can have some really good fishing. The Three Dollar area has well earned reputation as a really good winter fishery, if you feel up to the drive.

GALLATIN RIVER

Winter has set in on the Gallatin. It’s a fun winter fishery in the canyon, at least below Big Sky. The river stays reasonably ice free below Big Sky with the town’s runoff. Fish the deep, slow water with attractor nymphs and midges.

Down in the valley, you’ll find a bit more ice and a few less fish. Less people also, so it’s a trade off. Be willing to walk a ways from any access point and you’ll do pretty well. It’s a great option for just getting out when you need a breather.

SPRING CREEKS 

The Spring Creeks are a solid option for local fishing for us right now. Their constant flow and water temp keeps them reasonably ice free and the fish somewhat active this time of year. Right now you can access them with reduced winter rates. If you’re after technical fishing and your best local chance at dry fly fishing, this is where you want to be. Fish long leaders, small flies (midges), and get sneaky.

LIVINGSTON AND THE SHOP 

There is always a lot going on around town this time of year. This evening the 26th we have the Light Up Livingston event at the Depot Park where the Christmas lights get switched on by Santa – always a great event for kids and families. There are a host of festive events for the rest of the year all over town.

For us, we are hosting our annual Ladies’ and Men’s Nights shopping events again. It kicks off with Ladies’ Night on the 8th, and Men’s Night a week later on the 15th. Save 10% on the entire store with an additional 5% off anything on your gift registry! Stop by the store and talk to us for more details on that. There will be snacks, libations and some fun games to save even more.

We’ve got a ton of great clothing and gear for all tastes, activities, and budgets. It’s never too early to finish up your Christmas shopping!

Tight lines this week.

Missouri River Fishing Report via Headhunters Fly Shop (November 14, 2022)

3210 CFS @ Holter – The Missouri continues to fish really well. However, it’s cold up there, and it doesn’t look like it will break freezing until potentially Thursday. So ice off those guides, grab some bobbers and your favorite size 18-20 nymph, and go to work. Midges, scuds, or eggs, with some solid midge/baetis action during cloudy afternoons.

GO-TO FLIES:

– Tungsten Sunkist #16
– Pill Popper #16
– Zebra Midge Red #18
– CDC Baetis Emerger Pink #18
– Euro Jig Silver Fish #10

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