Many of Montana's trout are having a crappy year. Most of our drainages had below average snowpack last winter, we lost said snowpack early, and we've had another dry, hot summer. These conditions have led to low flows, high water temperatures, restrictions, river closures, and most recently, a gnarly disease outbreak and fishkill in the Yellowstone River. There isn't much else I can say besides,
this sucks!
However, you don't need to quit fishing. In fact, you can fish harder and become a better fisherperson while you are at it. God bless the carp. Southwest Montana is a carp fisher's paradise. We have great flyfishing for carp in both still and moving water.
Last week we loaded up the boat with camping gear and headed out on Clark Canyon Reservoir to claim Armstead Island for ourselves.
The reservoir is low and the Beaverhead is nasty again but the carp fishing was great. Water clarity has been getting worse over the past few weeks but it is certainly clear enough to sight fish all day.
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| McTage's Trouser Worm |
Fly fishing for carp has also led me to tie a bunch of new fly patterns. Carp eat a lot of the same things as trout but sometimes you need specially designed flies to match the carp's feeding behaviors.
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| Montana's Hybrid |
I've been having so much fun exploring this great fish and the flies and techniques to catch them. I'm sure that the stressed trout in my area are rejoicing at my absence.
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| Fiesta Mexicana |
Carp + Dillon's taco bus = paradise!
