This is very good time on the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks with the annual PMD emergence occurring right now. The spring creeks are on fire this time of year with daily hatches of pale morning duns bringing nearly every trout in the spring creek to the surface. The hatches begin between 10am and 11am and last until around 3pm most days. Make sure to have patterns from size 18-14 and also imitations of the nymph, emerger, cripple, dun and spinner as the trout are very selective. Open rods are hard to come by if you don’t already have a date booked during the hatch.
The two main creeks we fish are Armstrong's and DePuy's spring creeks near Livingston and Bozeman, Montana. These creeks are private and do require a rod fee, but, if you enjoy sight-fishing to rising or shallow water feeding trout, this is a very good time to be fishing these creeks. Make sure to have patterns from size 18-14 and also imitations of the nymph, emerger, cripple, dun and spinner as the trout are very selective. Open rods are hard to come by if you don’t already have a date booked during the hatch.
As a rule we often use yarn indicators on spring creeks – generally custom cut to be just big enough to not sink. These indicators allow you to detect very subtle disturbances resulting in more hookups. Most trout are going to be selective and eating midge pupa or emergers or mayfly nymphs, emergers, or dries if you are lucky. The exact fly isn't always key, but something that is tied well, sparsely tied, and the right size is more important than making sure you have "that one hot pattern." Where you fish and your presentation is much more important than changing out lots of flies. Because the water is crystal clear
If you are looking for some places to fish this spring near Bozeman or Big Sky that offer consistency when some of the larger rivers do not, consider the spring creeks. Additionally, the creeks can also offer a respite from the windy conditions that can be prevalent during March and April. The consistent flow of the spring creeks mean water temps are the most conducive to find feeding trout when other rivers and creeks may fluctuate on a daily basis. The consistent water temps produce a higher metabolism in spring creek fish than trout in other waters and gives anglers a better chance to hook up.
Visit Our Shop for These Top Spring Creek Flies Right Now:
PMD Captive Dun in size 16-22
PMD Sparkle Dun in size 16-22
Para Adams in size 16-22
Juju Baetis size 22
Wondernymphs in black in sizes 18-22
Beadhead Zebra midge, black or red, size 22
Mole Midge size 20
Scuds, sowbugs like Ray Charles in natural or pink in sizes 18-22
Midge larva in red or purple in size 20-22
The Month Ahead:
PMD’s persist on spring creeks longer than other locations and will be the dominant insect for most of July. Once the PMD hatch tapers off in late July things become a bit tougher. Weed growth also increases and makes nymphing more difficult on several of the creeks but the terrestrial season is always enjoyable, just a bit more technical than earlier in the summer.