Crisp mornings are finally creeping back into the forecast, and while the dog days of summer aren’t quite done messing with our water temps, the Mighty Mo is starting to show some fall promise. Whether you’re dodging late-season weed soup for trout, chasing pre-winter walleye, or looking to get your arm pulled off by an aggressive pike, here’s the latest from Jonathan Miller with Montana Outdoor Approved Capital Sports in Helena, Montana on what’s working from Toston down through the falls.
Missouri River (Toston to Canyon Ferry):
With the cooler evenings the water temps should hopefully be coming down to where it’s ethical to fish again. Walleye usually bite fairly well about this time of year before retreating back to the lake for winter. Small jigs and drop shots in slower moving water is the best tactic. Anything that looks like a bug is effective or a hair jig. I would encourage morning fishing as the days still get warm and can get the water warm enough to stress the fish. Especially the handful of brown trout that show up in that stretch.
Missouri River (Holter dam to Great Falls):
Fishing has been fairly rough overall. Mainly due to the weeds and where the fish want to hide. There has been some hopper action but it is still mainly a nymphing game if you can get a clean enough stretch to fish. Pheasant tails, scuds, prince nymphs and hare’s ear mainly.
In the lower stretches the pike have been more active and chasing streamers. So if you want to try something different, pike on a fly is a lot of fun! But a good jerk bait if you want to stay conventional is a good option too. Perch or trout patterns for jerk baits. Overall, my best luck for streamers has been with black or a brown and white pattern.
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