Missoula Area Fishing Reports

Dry Fly 🔥 Prime Conditions

The Skwalas Are Here

Water temperatures slowly ticking up into the mid-40s have finally woken up the Skwalas. We've seen solid dry fly action from 1pm to 4pm over the last three days. Fish are podding up in the slow walking-pace water — look for foam lines against the far bank and shallow tailouts below riffles.

Best setup: Size 10–12 Skwala pattern on the surface, or a Skwala dry/Nemoura Stone dropper combo for the fish not quite committed to rising all the way. Barbless, obviously.

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Nymphing ✓ Good Conditions

Spring Nymphing Remains Solid

The Blackfoot is fishing well subsurface. Double nymph rigs with a San Juan worm or Pat's Rubber Legs trailed by a small beadhead pheasant tail or zebra midge have been the ticket. Depth and drag-free presentation matter more than pattern selection right now.

Streamers are also turning a few large fish in the canyon stretches — sink tips and 6wt rods recommended. Water is still cold so slow down your retrieve and let the fly hang at the end of the swing.

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Streamers ✓ Good Conditions

Pre-Runoff Streamer Season

Visibility is starting to decline just a bit as snowmelt begins, making it prime time to strip large articulated streamers tight to the banks. The big rainbows are aggressive — we've been running Dungeon and Circus Peanut patterns in olive/black on sink tips.

6wt and 7wt rods recommended. Fish the inside seams and bank structure hard. Flows are rising slowly — watch the USGS gauge at Milltown; once we break 3,500 cfs the visibility really drops and we'll shift strategies.

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