Clark Fork fishing report and the Dude Rig

The fishing is completely back on in western Montana!!  The streams are still pretty big so your going to need a boat or know where the fish are safely accessible.  Here's some things I saw yesterday fishing right near Missoula:

• 2 adult salmonflies ovipositing (in town!!)
• Caddis all over the place
• Trout rising to dry flies
• 4' or so of visibility
• A cloud of PMD spinners
• Golden stones
• Lots of big healthy trout as well as some little guys

The Dude Rig for streamers

For the past couple of weeks, one of the most productive setups in western Montana has been the double streamer Dude Rig.  This is a rig that guides use for clients because in the hands of a beginner, it is dummy proof.  Dead drifting streamers is super effective on the down side of runoff and this rig makes it so anyone can nail em.  Got a friend new to fishing, who can't mend or maintain a good drift?  The dude rig is perfect!  Bad mends just jig the fly.  Dragging it also can trigger a strike.  Similarly, in the hands of an effective fisherperson, the dude rig should be illegal! 

The Dude Rig:

Your going to need the 1" Thingamabobber to float your 2 weighted streamers.  You'll be fishing this rig right up against the banks so your flies should not be too deep.  More than 4' to the first fly is usually too much.  You can use whatever two streamers you want but the JJ Special/ Big Hole Crawler has been the bee's knees for the past couple of weeks, on every stream I've fished.  You can also trade out the bottom fly for any nymph, say the worm.   

Wood's rose - Rosa woodsii

The wild roses have bloomed and the snow is off Snowbowl.  Get off your ass and go fishing!

Madman Across the Water - The Rusty Spinner edition

The Rusty Spinner

Hook: 18-14 to match your local PMD size
Thread:  8/0 rust
Tail: Microfibetts (3)
Body:  Rust colored Antron dub.  Hand blend something into it always but maintain the overall rust color you see on the natural spinner.  You can tie these entirely in white for greater visibility at dusk.
Ribbing:  6/0 rust or brown colored thread.
Wing:  White or clear Poly yarn

Those big, PMD spinner sipping rainbows on the lower Clark Fork giving you a hard time even though your Rusty Spinner usually whacks em? Take your nippers and cut a good amount of material from the Poly wings so that the fly loses the ability to float well.  Soak the fly purposely.  Grease your leader up to about 6-4" (15-10 cm).  Keep a tight as line as possible while maintaining the fly in a dead drift.  Watch the tip of the fly line and or look for the boil at the right time and place.  Super fun and effective!!