Great Falls, Montana Fishing Report 05.16.18

Missouri River

Well, the water level hasn’t gotten any smaller. The only question is how big is she gonna go? Eighteen-K, 20K, 22K? Only time will tell. The upper river from the dam to Stickney Creek is by far the busiest section, with anglers trying to stay in the cleanest water. The Dearborn to Cascade is pretty quiet. If you float up top and are not going guided, go later in the day. Many guides are off the water by 5 p.m.

Nymphs

It’s primarily a nymphing game right now and you can forget the 5X. Two X and 3X are the tippets of choice. The primary combinations are to run worms and scud/sows, worms and BWOs, worms and March Browns, or worms and caddis pupa.

Look to the banks or to the shelf-lines where the banks used to be. Focus on the inside softer flows and the seams that come off island points and channels. Big eddies are good too. In some places, you will need to run those leaders long with several BB’s. In others, you can go short and lighter, because fish are sitting in the shallows on top of where the banks used to be.

Dry Flies

Midges, BWO’s, March browns and caddis are hatching, as if the fish care. Fish will rise occasionally, but it’s hard to find steady feeders to target. If you want to be a hero, fish dries all day and then go into Izzak’s and tell everyone.

Streamers

It’s been awhile since I heard a good streamer report, but that’s because very few are fishing them. Streamers are always a viable technique and if you want that big brown or hungry post-spawn rainbow, fish your favorite articulated stuff on a sinking tip like you mean it.

Stillwaters

The lakes are clear and the fishing can be really good. I got a call at 7 a.m. the other day from a customer who’d already caught a pile of fish. He was going home before most folks had finished their breakfast. Nilan, Willow Creek, Pishkin, Bynum and Antelope Butte are all fishing great. Holter has slowed down a bit, but it can provide good action. Pike fishing is also picking up. If you need flies, pike leaders, wire bite tippet, a pike fly line or information on chasing the water wolf, swing on by.

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