Will You Do The Trick?

This is a great song from Dr Dog's Be the Void album.  If you plan on fishing the streams around Missoula anytime soon, you may need something that does the trick.  It's tough out there right now.

Bitterroot River:
The flow is pretty huge for this time of year.  The river is closed from Woodside to Tucker due to the dangers of that low head dam.  I'm sure you could get into some fish on the Root but your going to need a boat, some nymphs and split shot, and long drive up to the forks area.

Blackfoot River:
Again, you could probably get into some fish here but it will be very difficult.  The Blackfoot is also carrying a bit of color as well.  All standard nymphs and streamers fished on inside bends and right of the banks (if your in a boat).

Clark Fork River (near Warm Springs)
The folks that run the gate opened it up last week.  The water was as big as I've ever seen it there and was carrying a bit of color.  Mill Creek was low and clear.  Weird.  The fishing was tough but I did hook into some giants.  The river becomes pretty silted by the time it gets to Deer Lodge.  Stay tuned to the RBM Chronicles as I will be posting a report on the toxic sediment mediation and bank restoration that is taking place up there and closing part of the river.

Clark Fork (around Missoula)
Huge and colored.

Rock Creek
Even the Creek got huge with the push of flows starting last week.  I bet a bunch of big Clark Fork trout moved on in with these great spawning conditions.  You'd be very limited for fish-able water if your wading but it should shape up soon, I hope.  You can go way up high.

Area Lakes/Ponds
Beavertail is fishing great.  I caught another 30+" rainbow last week and had fun losing others and getting those hits that feel like you stuck into a log.  For fat old hatchery fish, they are really fun to catch.  One of the larger ones I caught actually did a double tail-walk like a brown trout on the MO.  I yelled and laughed, more because I was surprised that the fish could do it, rather than the fact that he did.  You better go to the pond soon though because the bait fishers clean it out quick.  By the time the weather gets warm enough for swimming, Beavertail Pond should only be considered if you are physically handicapped or want to take a kid out.

I don't fish Frenchtown pond and now that it has thawed, I've got nothing to tell you until it freezes in the fall. There's ditch pickles bass in there.

Harpers Lake has to be thawed by now.  I've been meaning to get up there but it has been so windy it hasn't been worth it.  Harpers is managed just like Beavertail so, look for huge brood stock and throw a variety of buggers at them.  Harpers lake is a macrophyte dominated system so it is very clear.  It is also a natural lake and is quite pretty.  It is in a deep pothole so the wind isn't as bad down in there.  Sometimes, when it gets too windy at Browns Lake, Harpers Lake shines as a less windy alternate.

I imagine Browns is ice free too but the wind up there must be horrendous.  You got to fish early before the wind starts.  Browns Lake has always been a bit of a puzzle for me.  I want to work on that puzzle; maybe this week.