Great Falls, Montana Fishing Report 07.04.19
If you’ve been waiting for the waters to drop, wait no more. All local streams and rivers are fishable, and the Missouri River is in great shape. Happy 4th of July!
Current Conditions
Missouri River below Holter Dam - The Missouri River is below 5K cfs and lots of wading opportunities are available. Pmds and caddis are hatching daily along with yellow sally’s, callibaetis, and a few brown drakes. Nymphing remains best in the morning. Pmd spinner falls also bring fish to the top in the morning. Afternoons are generally best with dries or dry dropper rigs. If you fish to rising fish, respect their wary natures. They will not suffer poor casts or splashing anchors and oars.
Creeks and Smaller Rivers, Belt Creek near Monarch, MT - The hardest thing about the current conditions is picking where to fish from with so many great options. Afternoon thunderstorms with rain and hail can cause brief disturbances, but all local waters are in excellent shape. Pmds, brown drakes, caddis, golden stones, nocturnal stones, and ants should be in your box.
Ponds and Reservoirs - Damsels, callibaetis, water boatmen, leeches, minnows, and crayfish can all be on the menu. Get out early for topwater chironomid action. Fish deeper during the day with a float tube. In some bodies of water, the fish will be 10 to 25 feet deep by late morning.
Smith River near Eden, MT - It’s really good right now, but the water is falling fast, and the primary floating season is nearing the end. If you have a permitted trip planned this spring, check out our Guide to floating the Smith River. Then stop in for your supplies. We’ve got you covered with camping gear, bear fence, and bear approved coolers.
Pike - Pishkin has been producing lots of smaller Pike. The lower Sun and Marias Rivers are producing fish around 30 inches. Tiber and Ft. Peck are full of giants.
Match the Hatch
Rusty pmd spinners are one of the most reliable flies for morning and mid-day hatch matching on the Missouri River. Mercer’s profile rusty spinner and the hi-vis rusty spinner are go-to patterns.
Tips & Techniques
Sometimes matching the hatch is not the best way to get a fish to eat your fly. If the water is covered in pmd spinners and the fish are ignoring your hatch-matching offering, try something different. Fish a caddis, callibaetis, or yellow sally instead. It does not always work, but if your presentation is spot on, it can be a day saver.
Need to fill the box before you go? Order flies online here.
Did you know...
If you are traveling through Great Falls, you can visit the legendary Sip ‘n Dip Tiki Lounge. It was once named the #1 bar on earth worth flying in for by GQ Magazine. It’s got character, the legendary Piano Pat on organ, and a glass window behind the bar showcasing mermaids in a pool.
See past reports from the Great Falls region here, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.