Fall Fishing in Missoula

Fall fishing in Missoula has finally arrived!  It was a long and painful fire season with hot temperatures and smoke filled valleys.  That all changed with a big cold front that brought cool and rainy weather to western Montana.  The forest fires are not out yet, but the smoke is gone and this new weather pattern has kicked our fall hatches into high gear.

We have a smorgasbord of mayflies on tap with tricos, hecubas, mahoganies, and blue-wing olives all coming off right now.  There are big October caddis in a few spots and the trout are still willing to look up for hoppers, ants, and other terrestrials.  The next few weeks promise to offer some of our best dry fly fishing of the year.

All the local Missoula rivers have turned the corner with the Blackfoot, Bitterroot, Clark Fork, and Rock Creek all producing solid fishing.  Just a week ago we were meeting early to beat the hot, smoky conditions, but the best fishing now is an afternoon affair.  Anglers can sleep a little longer as the dry fly bite doesn’t really get going until a little later in the day.

The other main draw of fall fishing in Missoula is big brown trout and streamer action.  Since the weather change we have noticed more good browns on the prowl and that will continue through the month and into October.  For those anglers willing to throw the big junk, there has been some good action and great visuals in the crystal clear flows of fall.

Fall is the anglers’ season.  The reach cast, strip set, and good dead drift all play a huge part in our success this time of year.  Those who know how to execute are able to reap the rewards of the finest season Montana has to offer.