Caddis are around for sure on the Missouri River between Helena and Craig. They are not gangbuster yet....but....with forecasted temps in the high 70s and possibly ticking to 80 in the Banana Belt that is Craig (when compared to Ennis and the Upper Madison) expect to see some caddis this weekend.
Fish have mostly been chowing subsurface--trout are lazy creatures by nature so they aren't going to walk all the way across the room for a kernel of popcorn when there's Doritos right in front of their face. Just saying...
If the BWOs are hatching, look for fish rising to them in slower water near the banks or in seams. Most Missouri River BWOs are size 14 or 16 and hatch between Noon and 3 pm. BWO nymphs can be active much earlier, which is why a tandem nymph rig can be very successful until mid day or later when adult mayflies are plentiful on the surface. In addition to BWOs, midges can be be thick and a few sporadic hatches of skwalas can occur as well. Flows are hovering around 4,000 CFS which is a great level for floating and wading. That level is about 1,000 CFS below average for this time of year, but not enough to cause a change in tactics. The only real uncontrollable factors right now are weather and wind. The star of the hatches for Missouri River fishing right now are Blue Winged Olives (BWOs)....and they are hatching and fish are feeding on them. Because the Missouri River has a relatively warmer climate than many of the rivers near Bozeman it is possible some early caddis can be seen on the lower reaches of the river towards Great Falls.
All the local fly shops are now open, the bars and restaurants are open and staffed, so the shuttle drivers should be well fed and ready to move your rig. We are gearing up to open our Missouri Cliffs Lodge here in a few weeks and welcome our first guests of the season.
Where to Find Trout on the Missouri:
Throughout the day, trout are actively moving from holding to feeding lies on the Missouri River as they adjust to the current hatch. Before a hatch occurs trout will hold in deeper, slower runs. Missouri River trout prefer holding lies in river currents that are medium speed and not too slow. Deeper areas next to faster current are good places to focus with a tandem nymph rig. As a hatch develops trout may move to bankside structure or slide into shallower water. Anglers interested in fishing streamers can also find success on the Missouri River at the moment. As trout become more active in longer, deeper runs, swinging for trout with spey rods is increasingly popular as results can be good.
Trout populations on the Missouri River consist mostly of rainbow trout and now is the time of year they spawn so be cautious of targeting spawning fish on redds. Quickly land any hooked fish and release any fish that look to be in spawning mode.
Favorite Flies for Fly Fishing the Missouri River Right Now:
Para Adams in sizes 18-22
Sparkle duns in sizes 14 to 22
Captive duns in BWO in sizes 14 to 22
Beadhead Pheasant Tail nymphs in flashback and natural in sizes 12 to 20
Firebead SJ wormies in sizes 10-18
Buzzballs in size 20-22
Little Green Machines in natural or olive in size 18-22
Zebra Midge in black, olive, or purple in sizes 18-22
Tungteasers in black, grey, or red in size 18-22
Firebead or hot bead SJ worms in size 10-14
Jujubee midges in black and purple in size 18-22
Scuds and sowbugs in various colors in size 16 to 22
Sculpzillas in black, olive, or purple in sizes 2 to 6
Home Invader in any contrasting color scheme in size 2 or 4
The Month Ahead:
As the weather warms in the coming weeks the fishing on the Missouri River only gets better. The peak of the rainbow trout spawn is over so more fish return to the river from the Dearborn River and Little Prickly Pear creek--the main spawning tributaries--every day. The next month has the potential for some of the strongest BWO hatches of the year so dry fly anglers should be prepared to head to the river IF the forecast calls for overcast, light rain, and calm winds. Streamflows often remain consistent as well making for a recipe for consistency that anglers and trout enjoy.