Clean, clear and just fine. The answer to many phone calls today.
Yes, this is normal. Normal happens here on the Missouri River, and probably your home river too, so rarely that sometimes we forget that river flows int he 5K plus range are historically average fro the spring. We as anglers have short term memories. A pretty common trait for participants in the attainment of trouts on the fly. I meant to say trouts.
So Clean, Clear and just Fine is the answer. Enjoy the changing conditions. The medium and long term resident anglers remember many years upon the average winter flow was 5000cfs. But, not as common as of late.
The snow is still falling from the skies daily. Little to no accumulation here in the tiny fishing ‘burb of Craig Montana. The ground is certainly moist though. Feels like winter most of the days too. Yesterday’s hi of 23F. Pretty chilly. Today we are looking at light snow and 37F. Call for the up to the minute weather and fishing report. We’ll pick up the phone.
[forecast]
The flies that are hot for the tail end of March as per our customer purchasing tracking include…
- Nymphs: Tungsten Lightening Bug Pearl #18, Ray Charles Gray #16, Rainbow Czech Nymph #12, Tungsten PT #18, Tuttle’s Scuddle Sow #16, Mason’s Peep Show Dark #16, Little Green Machine #16, Caviar Scud #12, Jake’s Flash-a-midge Red #18, Tungsten Rainbow Warrior #16, BH SJW Red #12, BH Poxyback Rainbow Sowbug #14, Hot Belly PT Purple #18, Magic Fly Tungsten BWO #18, BH Midge Pupa #18, Tungsten Ju-Ju Baetis #16, BH Zebra Midge #18.
- Streamers: Galloup’s Sex Dungeon White #2, Stay Hungry Streamer Chart./White or Shiner Flavor #2, Home Invader in Olive/Griz or White #6, Poodle Diver Flesh/Cream #4, Haymaker Sculpin Psychyodelic #4, Foxy Clouser #4, Coyote Clouser #4, Yuk Bug Black #6, Tak Mini Minnow Rainbow #8.
- Dries: G-Man, Quigley’s Cluster Midge #16, Buzzballs, Reneball by Domonick, GT’s Triple, Parachute Adams #12-22 and many more…
Water temperatures have climbed above 37F. Nice. The flows are waning at 6320cfs. Looks, feels, and fishes well at these flows. The river is breathing a sigh of relief as it is double the flow of the last 18 months. The 6K’s feel good.
Shop open at 8am daily with guided fishing trips for cheap, shuttles, your Craig MT lodging source, the most complete fly selection on the river, helpful staff, friendly free coffee and smiles…and the honest scoop on all things Missouri River.
