Remember those days? I think we are done with that stuff.

Report:

The flows are now about 4200 cfs (normally ~4760). Water temps at the dam are ~45, a bit warmer down river. BWO are showing up in better numbers, fish are starting to see them more often now and fishermen are starting to catch more fish on BWO patterns. Stop by the shop for the hottest patterns. Watch out for the W ot came up a bit more than forecasted yesterday, could be a trend. The March Browns are coming off a bit. This year may not be like the last but we have yet to see that “day” of really good MB fishing so who knows. Streamer fishing can also be pretty darn good at times and you will find some big fish with a big streamer. A sink tip will help out when chucking buggers. The trick these days seems to be slowing your retrieval down as slow as you would like to go and then cut that in half, thats the rate you should retrieve it at. That rate should start to pick up as the fish warm and the water warms. (I hate throwing out cheap shots for promoting items but….when I like something this much its hard to stay quite about it.) Keep at it and check out the new Bank Shot line from Orvis, it will be the best $95 dollars you have spent in a while. Lets just say throwing the entire line out with a 6 wt rod without double hauling is impressive.Please be careful wading as to not step on the rainbow trout redds (spawning beds).

Spring Fishing Tip: For streamers try using a sink-tip line of a Versi-Leader to get down deeper.

For nymphs, set your indicator at twice the depth you are fishing, add at least one BB shot above your top fly (see fly list below) and get that rig to drift drag free.

Hauser (or “LOG”) is happening now big time- both in terms of number of fish up there and the number of anglers as well. You will catch fish on streamers and nymphs. Try a Pink Lightning Bug behind a Firebead Czech. PLEASE be careful not to step on any redds and please don’t be greedy and fish directly over spawning trout. You wouldn’t like it if someone busted into your bedroom at the heat of the moment so let the trout do their thing too!

You can keep an eye on Canyon Ferry Reservoir levels, weather and of course, streamflows on our Streamflows page.

See our Schools & Instruction Page for more information on our Fly Tying Schools and our 3-Day Fly Fishing School.

(We are posting river, weather and fishing conditions throughout the day on our Twitter feed. That is a great way to keep up with the dynamic conditions of the Season. If you use Twitter, please sign up to follow CrossCurrentsMT and you’ll get the latest, up-to-the-minute information. Please keep up with us on our Facebook page -give us a like! Thanks.)

See our News & Events page for information on upcoming events and info on the Trout Populations on the MO & Smith. Also read about it in the article from the Helena IR this March.

Check out this TV news report on Craig, MT that aired on TV a while back -it’s still an interesting segment..

Hatches:

Baetis (BWO), Midges, few March Browns, few Caddis (lower river) and Fiberglass Floatilla

Dries:

-#18-#20 Parachute Adams

-#18-#22 CDC Hanging Midge

-#18-#22 Sprout Emergers

-#16-#18 Buzz Ball

-#16-18 Film Critic

-#18-20 Good Old Griffith’s Gnat

-# 14-16 Para Pheasant Tail
Nymphs & Streamers:

-#14-#18 Firebead ____ (something -they all are working)

-#14-#16 Tungsten Weight Flies (Rainbow, Purple, Bloom’s Stuff)

-#16-#18 Lightning Bugs (Pink, Silver, Gold)

-#18-#22 Mirage Nymphs

-#16-#20 Superflash PT

-#18-#20 Zebra Midges (Black, Red, Purple)

-#18-#20 Love Bugs

-#6-#10 Buggers (Black, Black & Grizzly, Olive)

-#4-#6 Conehead Kiwi Muddler