It's Terrestrial Season Around Glacier National Park!
Big Rivers
We have had a wonderful summer fishing season so far at Wild Montana Anglers. Fishing has been pretty good but our clientele is what really makes our job fun. We have shared some incredible moments and landscapes with our clients and for that we are grateful.
We have transitioned into fishing our “home water” which encompasses several of the rivers that drain Glacier National Park. The big river and the forks that make up the big river have seen a wide variety of fishing conditions throughout the last month and that leaves us relieved and apprehensive. Warm weather patterns have been countered with lingering moisture system that have brought day time high water temperatures up to above 67 degrees and as low the high 50’s.
Much like the weather the we have seen around the Glacier national Park area, the fishing has fluctuated from tough to down right good. All sections from the Mainstem through the forks have had good and bad days but the one consistency has been the terrestrial fishing. Although, aquatic invertabrates have been present in several of our favorite waters.
Several different patterns have shined from dark hoppers to multicolored ants with tan and brown moths also playing an important role in the diet of our beloved cuththroat trout. Trout are searching out deep cold water and fast shallow water depending on the time of day and availability of their food source. Personally I have been finding trout deep early and shallow as the day progresses. With water temperatures rising into the highest they have been all year. Our trout appear to be searching out spots that offer them what they need most outside of food. Cold and oxygenated water. Keep that in mind when you go out on your next trout quest.
Dries
Jakes trigger bellies, Plan B, Morrish hoppers will get ya covered in the hopper department. Also ants in variety of colors and beetles are also a great option this time of year. If you find yourself in and around the famous Spruce moth hatch, makes sure you have some size 14 nad 16 drab colored caddis and moth patterns.
Bobbers
Hard saying not knowing. It has mostly been a dry fly game. If there has been a nymph thrown, it has been behind a dry fly. Think fast sinking perdigons and tungston beaded nymphs in a variety of colors.
Small Water
Our normal small water has been off the table due to low and warm flows. However, we have had several folks talk of really good fishing from our small tributaries to the Flathead system. Trout haven’t been picky. Most folks are sneaking around to avoid spooky fish in skinny water and throwing bushy stimulators and attractor patterns. This is a great time of year to get out the tried true patterns that have been around since any of us were old of enough to even think about how great fishing is. Search out cold water that will hold trout and have a steady food source. Plunge pools and tailouts are all great places to throw the fly. These smaller tributaries are usually overgrown and tight quarters so it is probably best to throw the smaller, shorter fly rod in the pack to help ease the casting dilemmas these types of waters offer. Also, make sure you are being bear aware in these areas since they can sometimes be the coolest zone in the area during our hot days.
Dries
Kaufmann stimulators. chubby chernobyls, parachute adams, and royal wolfs should all fish well in the small water.
Stillwaters
We are still seeing pretty good bass and pike fishing in our stillwaters and lower big river sloughs and channels. The early morning bite has been key for most anglers but afternoons can be good as well. Shaded structure has offered some dramatic bass eats on top water flies and lures. Deeps weed lines have produced some nice pike moving out of the vegetation to smash large streamers, crank baits, and swim baits. Your mileage may vary so let us know how you are doing out there chasing the warm water critters that inhabit our local waters.
