Fishing Report for 6/14/2010
Clark Fork
* General: 4,010 cfs. @ Turah, 14,900 cfs. @ Missoula, 18,600 cfs. @ St. Regis. The clark is on the drop like all local rivers. The river is still up and off color but expect conditions to improve each day! There is still some high country snow to come our way but we have seen peak runoff and it only gets better from here. So...the fishing on the Clark Fork is still pretty terrible but there are some fish to be caught if you know where to look (mouths of feeder streams, color seams). If you go out it will be mostly a nymph fishing day, or rip streamers off the bank. One option is heading up to Warm Springs. It's one of the only places where you can still catch fish, and they are huge in there. Try san juan worms, and big stonefly nymphs on the inside of the the Double Tree riffle as well because there are fish eating in there. Once again, just nymph.
* Hatches: a random Stone Fly or three.
* Fly Patterns:Stonefly nymphs like rubberlegs and double-bead stones, big princes, san juan worms Try the Hanna Montana in Pink or Red!!! Gummie Stones, pheasant tails, buggers, Dbl Bead Pepperoni yuk bugs, sculpins, JJ specials.
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Blackfoot
* General: 3,520 cfs. @ Bonner. The river has been dropping for days now, and has started to fish. We might be looking at the light at the end of the tunnel at this point. Most of the rivers are showing the same pattern. Mostly nymphing with a worm and a rubberlegs. Ripping big streamers to scare the fish into eating could work as well. The lower river is your best bet do to all the tributaries dumping clear water. Fish slow inside seams and pound the bank as close as you can to find fish that are trying to escape the faster currents.
* Hatches: Caddis, Some Salmon Flies are out but not the main attraction (they will be very soon).
* Fly Patterns: Rubberlegs, big princes, san juan worms, copper johns, pheasant tails, buggers, yuk bugs, sculpins, JJ specials.
* Other Information: MISSOURI RIVER REPORT: 16200 cfs @ Holter Dam. There were lots of fish eating nymphs on the mid to upper river, but that was before they bumped the river up. The fishing has slowed down considerably so wait a few days for the river to level off before rolling to Craig. Nymphs are still the easiest way to catch fish. With cloud cover and little wind BWO's and Caddis will be out, but the fish will be picky. Try little nymphs like a red headed step child, but as always, scuds are probably your best option.
Bitterroot
* General: 853 cfs. @ West Fork, 3,250 cfs. @ Darby, 6,260 cfs. @ Florence and 7,320 cfs. @ Missoula. The Root has been slowly dropping for about a week now and the fishing has gotten very good again. You're going to have to nymph, but fish will eat. Nymphing with red worms dangeling off the back of natural colored stonefly nymphs will be a good choice. If that doesn't work, swallow your pride and put on two different colored San Juan worms and it will pay off for you. Try out some of the tributary streams that dump in to the Root as well. All tributarys are open to fishing at this point. The West Fork is also an option, and Salmon Flies should be out in force just as the water clears so stay positive because we might be fishing again soon, and when we do it could get a little crazy. We are expecting a PROLIFIC Salmon Fly hatch.
* Hatches: Blue Wing Olives, Salmon Flies Caddis.
* Fly Patterns X caddis, san juan worms (HANNA MONTANA PINK), copper johns, Double Bead Yuk Bugs, Black Stone Flies, Bank Robbers, Carnage Salmon, Cat Pukes.
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Rock Creek
* General: 2,040 cfs. The Creek is like a rollercoaster right now but flows have been dropping. That being said, the fishing isn't that terrible really. Fishing the mouths of feeder creeks or inside bends of slow water could actually produce some fish. Fishing in flooded scrubs or grasswill get you into a few fish as well. Big Black or Brown Stone fly nymphs, Rubber Legs and the san juan worm's going to be the option, and some salmonflies have started to move around (adults on lower river). Don't be afraid to put on a Salmon Fly with a dropper off the back. We actually saw fish rising, and had some eats on top despite the fact that Rock Creek looks like the Mississippi. In a week or so we could start to see some big bugs in significant numbers doing Helicopter imatations. For now be VERY careful wading Rock Creek because it is big, fast, slick, and there are a lot of trees (bring a lot of nymphs because you will lose a lot of flies). THERE IS TREE DOWN ABOUT TWO MILES BELOW GILLES BRIDGE! BE CAREFUL FLOATING ROCK CREEK THIS NEXT FEW WEEKS BECAUSE THERE WILL BE MORE TREES SOON. AS OF NOW YOU CAN NOT FLOAT AROUND THE TREE! CALL THE SHOP WITH QUESTIONS.
* Hatches: Salmonflies are out, but when the rain finally stops it's going to get silly. Goldens are also moving pretty well, and Green Drakes have also been spotted.
* Fly Patterns: Stonefly nymphs like rubberlegs and double-bead stones, Gummie Stones, big princes, san juan worms ( Hanna Montana RED), Big copper johns, pheasant tails, black buggers, yuk bugs, sculpins, JJ specials
