Hunger strikes fish on the Mo

It’s windy, it’s December, its cold, the fisherman are few, and the fish numerous. Central Montana doesn’t get much better than this, in one guys’ opinion. Fishing the Mo has been ultra-productive as of late. 

Do you like to nymph? Than you will like our world class tail water. 

Do you like to launch streamers? I do to, and the fish are on them. 

In this wind, you will be hard pressed to find much for other fisherman once you get over a quarter mile from any access points. You can post up on froggy water and touch a dozen fish pretty quick. If you want to work on the long cast, pull the anchor and watch the guy on the bow light up the banks, and many times, the middle. 

Strip fast, swing long, twitch, it’s up to you, and it’s all working. It’s been exciting fishing a highly visible streamer just to see fish follow it. Stop it, and it will often disappear. Fun. I lined up the six weight with an 8 wt rated sink tip. This has been the savior many an occurrence. Cast, strip to the color change, lift, and shoot. The fewer false casts you have to make, the better off you will be in this wind. I have heard that a plane ride will take you to a hot place, with amazing fishing. I want that just as bad as you, but enjoy being 'stuck’ in central Mt right now. I love it here. If you can make a solid cast in this wind with old man winter biting off your fingertips, you will be better prepared when a grey ghost or big black tail is cruising the flats at 2 o’clock, 20 meters when its 80 degrees out. 

The wind here is one of the best teachers I have fished with. You will quickly learn the concept of line control. If you are planning on going to Cabo with us this spring, go with the confidence that you can fish long, and well. It’s hard to perform on a high level late in the season when you have been riding the bench all year. Take the opportunity to treat yourself to this beautiful piece of water. 

Elk hunting guide, and fly caster Tom Isaacs joined me for a quick float down the Mo yesterday. He was efficient at raising many nice bows, and farmed a fish that would have been placed near the top of the size curve in this section of water. The fish ate a big bug on a slow retrieval across a deep trench in the middle of the river. It bent the rod into the reel seat, turned towards us, shook the hook, and giggled its way back into the depths. 

It was pegged solid and we thought for sure one for the net. Super entertaining. Big fish don’t come easy, and it will always keep us coming back for more.

-PB