The following report is by CrossCurrents Fly Shop in Craig, MT:
Current Flows: 3,700+
Weather Forecast: 80s with a late week cool down.
Hatch Report: Tricos, Grass Hoppers, Caddis
August, oh sweet August. You are a challenging one. Always have been through out my nearly decade on the Mo’. It’s hot which means you have to wake up early. Something I don’t mind but it’s something my friends can hardly ever do. As years passed, I used to get so frustrated not being able to catch anything dry fly wise on the Mo’ in August. I didn’t know what I was doing wrong. My casting is pretty good. Not perfect but pretty good. I always have been able to get a good drift. But year after year, nothing. Until, this year. I started using 5x tippet and it changed my life. Now you may wonder, why the heck hasn’t he been doing that in the first place. First of all, great question. I’ve heard Chris Strainer talk about it incessantly but I chalked it up as not being important or the reason I wasn’t getting results. But it was the entire reason so take it as a lesson. In August, you too can have fun fishing especially dry fly — just use that 5X tippet.
Nymphs: Frenchie, Green Machine, Black/Olive Military May, Blooms Flying Zebra Midge, Blooms Weigh Fly, Warrior Perdigon, ZIRDLE!!!!, Duracell
The zirdle bite has been crazy this August. Who knows what’s going on but we’ve thrown double zirdles and they’ve really produced. For nymphs, focus on blow torches, zebra midges, love bug, frenchies. Mostly setting indicator 4 to 6 feet. Not necessarily short leashing until a little later in the day. Hopper dropper in the afternoon!
Dry Flies: Hi-Vis Trico Spinner, Drowned Trico Spinner, Cluster Midge, Yellowstoner, Chubby Chernobyl, Elk Hair Caddis, Hi-Vis Rusty Spnner, Corn Fed Caddis
The morning is still where it’s at but bring a jacket. The cool temps have you wearing waders these days. Maybe we’ll get a Fall unlike last season! Tricos are good if the wind doesn’t blow by mid morning. Hopper and terrestrial bite starts around 11A on.
The hoppers/terrestrial game is beginning. In the afternoon, do a hopper dropper or some floating terrestrials with a dropper. It’s not prime quite yet but we’re almost there.
Streamers: Heisenberg, ThinMint Bugger, Sex Dungeon, Sparkle Bugger, Lil Kim, Kreelex Minnow, Skiddish Smolt, Gamechanger
People are throwing some streamers. You justt have to deal with the weeds. It’s not the thing of choice right now but those that know how to do it are catching fish.
