Current weather:
Shuttle Companies:
Beaverhead - Frontier Anglers - 683-5276
Beaverhead - Uncle Bob's - 683-5565
Henry's Fork - Henry's Fork Anglers - 208-558-7525
Missoula Area - Kingfisher - 721-6141
Missoula Area - Grizzly Hackle - 721-8996
The 411 on what's going on around the area from the reliable sources...
Missoula Area - Pretty much what you would expect up here at this time of year, good attractor dry fly fishing on nearly all of the rivers, all the high mountain creeks, nearly anywhere there's water up here. You can't float Rock Creek anymore, but you can certainly wade fish nearly all of the offerings up here. There are lots of great small creeks and rivers around the Missoula area that beg exploring (see Trapper Badovinac's Book Exploring the Solitude for some suggestions) The standards like the Bitteroot and Clark's Fork have been good and they reportedly eat a Chubby up here too...
Ditto over the weekend again, except that Terrestrials are going good down lower on the Beav. It's really difficult to wade fish the Beaverhead, but that makes for some great float fishing over here right now and there isn't a better stretch than from the dam down to Pipe Organ. That holds some great fish, and guys have been roping into a lot of nice healthy fish on PMD's and PMD nymphs. Caddis are going as well, but fish seem to be eating the PMD's better according to the reports we've had. If you are more adventurous and prefer less people and less fish, then head down lower and pitch grasshoppers, we've heard from the boys at Tollet's that it's been good early hopper fishing!
The Ruby below the reservoir has been hit or miss, a few less people than you might think. Unfortunately this isn' the hidden gem it used to be and it's been a bit busy with outfitters and travelers this year. Above the reservoir access can be a bit more difficult, but despite landowners cries to the contrary, you can enter and fish it wherever you find a bridge, we suggest caddis larvae and caddis in the evenings along with some hoppers up higher in the mid afternoons.
Big Spring Creek has dropped and flows have cleared and things are in good summer shape over here. It's attractors, and terrestrials time now. A fun little getaway, if you don't mind throwing in on $4 gas...
Hearing that the Henry's Fork is a tad bit more frustrating right now, PMD's are waning and nearly done, Tricos apparently aren't going gangbusters yet from reports we've been getting and terrestrial fishing can be ok, but it's not what you would call easy. You might want to have your fishing game together over here right now.
If you have something else in mind, then shoot us an email, I'm always willing to tap a few resources and make a few phone calls. It's about being your friendly local information resource!
Last Updated: 08/14/08
Willy's reports...
We'll Ask Willy For Another Report This Week, If He Has Time...Ruby Reservoir Willy fished Ruby Reservoir over the weekend (the weekend of 8/10) and said the fishing was pretty darn good and that fish ate his bugs pretty darn well, want details? He says to give him a ring or stop in.
Canyon Ferry
Walleye and trout are in the deeper water now, around 20-25 feet for trout and 40-45 for the walleye, so its time to go deep and get a sink tip for the trout and a full sinking line for the walleye if you're interested in dinner. Been fishing big black sex dungeons, some black micro leeches, mega princes and caddis deep. Lots of algae with the warming weather, so be prepared to pick off gunk!
Hauser/Holter Reports from both Hauser and Holter have been very similar. Still fishing well with olive streamers, zonkers and sink tips getting the flies down to the fish that are hanging somewhere in the 15-18ft range. Lots more boats up here now, the inlets have been good and the carping is getting better now with warmer temps.
Dailey Lake
Well worth the trip according to Willy right now, with damsels, leeches, scuds, and callibaetis. Time to be finding the weed beds and structure though. Sounds good to me, a great lake with some big fish and not too far and you don't have to hike, even better.
Hyalite Reservoir Starting to finally fish really well now! It's been a bit slow getting going this year because of the reservoir level, but the shallows in the early mornings and late evenings have been good. Deeper in the heat of the day with sink tip lines only, or lots of split shot and really long leaders. Mostly using your tyipcal Hyalite nymphs and leeches and buggers. Dry fly fishing getting going on ants and beetles and evening and morning gulpers eating the darn Para Adams...
Cliff/Wade Lakes
Early mornings and late evenings in the shallower water for cruisers and the occassional risers, the rest of the day you're going to need to go deep! Midday with midges, streamers, buggers and crayfish fished quite deep.
Quake Lake Take along a sink tip, Quake has really started to pick up now that it's clear. Chironomids and leeches and buggers will pretty much do it (and I like a wounded baitfish minnow along the tree structure).
Clark Canyon
Haven't had a solid report on this one lately, sorry!
Hebgen Callibaetis are now starting on Hebgen and the gulpers are getting going, wooohooo!!! Try the periscope cripple or the RS2 that we carry, chironomids are still active as well. Fish are also eating leeches and buggers with my favorite beign olive and brown micro leeches. In the shallows they've been picking up some good fish on the smaller articulated rainbow and brown trout streamer patterns (by smaller I mean 2 size 4's hooked together...) in the mornings, by the afternoons fish have moved to the deeper 20-25 feet in the lake and you'll need a sinking line to get to them properly.
Harrison Lake
Most of the fish now are in the deep water except in the real early mornings (talking sunrise folks) and then again in the evenings. Watch out for the recreational boaters, they don't look out for you! Pattern wise, its callibaetis and damsels.
Ennis Lake Really warming up now with hot sunny days, I'd love to see em dredge this thing out and install a bottom draw dam, good luck on that multi million dollar project ever getting done though. Until then it's fishing deep if you can get deep, most of the lake is really shallow so find the drop offs and deeper portions and troll streamers. Gulpers are going in the mornings and evenings on Ennis as well, lesser known than Hebgen, this is a great place to take a boat with a motor and move around on the lake and follow the feeders.
Ponds Around Town
The ponds are still a great place to get out if you want to test some homemade patterns and are short on time. Rather than list them all off, Willy would love it if you'd stop by and he will point you out to where to go.
A Note from Willy
I wanted to say, if you have any questions, please give me a call. Mountain lakes are fishing really well now, the Golden Trout Lakes, Lava, and may other destinations, just give us a call! If you're willing to hike or bike then give me a call or stop in and I'll show you where to go - if you stop in with my access to Google Earth I'll dial you right into GPS coordinates and where you need to go. Heck, I'll even show you where you can camp! I would love to hear from you on how your lake adventures are going and I won't share unless you want me to.
We offer guided trips on the lakes as well, so in case you are feeling a bit intimidated we have a couple of lake experts on staff that can show you the ropes, which is a nice option.
Tie bugs, Live long, Fish Well
Willy
Last Updated: 08/14/08 
