Great Falls Fishing Report 03.15.18

Missouri River

Spring can be an ephemeral thing in Montana and while the calendar says it’s almost here, some days are spring-like and others remain wintery. One thing is inevitable, however. The days are getting longer and the higher sun will continue to work its magic, even when the thermometer dips.

One curious thing about spring on the Mo, is that the sunny days are often marginal for fishing. The cloudy days reminiscent of winter can be downright legendary. If you want to enjoy the bright days of spring, by all means, get out there. If you want to catch a bunch of fish, layer up and get after in on the cloudy, rainy, or even snowy ones.

Trout spey season remains in full swing with a variety of small streamers getting it done. Scandi or integrated floating lines and long leaders work great in slower flows. Skagit heads with sink-tips work best for dropping flies off shelves. Now is also a great time to work the single-hand spey game with a short head on your favorite streamer rod. Flash will always pick off a few fish on the sunny days. Go natural when the sun is off the water.

Upcoming Events

March 17 – Presentation on Fly Fishing the Missouri River@North 40 Fly Shop

May 4th and 5th - Trout Spey Clave on the Missouri River (Mid Canon FAS)

 Click here to see past Great Falls reports, or here to view all northwest regional reports.