I was able to get out with some fishy friends the other day for a short float on the upper main stem of the Flathead River. Getting into the House of Mystery put-in is still a pretty interesting endevour.
You cant quite drive down there yet but you can push your boat all the way down to to the river if you are willing to go through the efforts of doing so. Fishing was a little slow for most of us but we did see some fish eat some smaller, flashy nymphs. The fish that were hooked were found hanging out in inside bends with a shallow riffles above. It seemed to me that the 4-6 feet of water in these inside bends are holding more fish than other depths. Water temperatures are still pretty cold and I believe the majority of fish in the Flathead system are lower in the river. Talking to a fellow guide at the boat ramp, a low toned fish Guru, helped bolster this view. He said they have been catching some nice fish (20+ inches) low in the system and have been catching them on a semi consistent basis. Another guide said she was fishing mid way up the river the other day and spotted more trout hanging out in good runs this week compared to last week. So, if the wind allows, fishing lower on the river will probably be the most productive way to find some quality fish. Flies such as Pat’s rubber legs, Rainbow Warriors, Mop Flies, and small streamers should “get em” if you put them in the right places. The upcoming weather looks to be pretty similar to what we have seen this past week with temperatures staying in that mid 40’s range with a mix of sunshine and clouds with the occasional rain/snowstorm. Remember treat them well and keep em wet, you’ll be happier in the long run.
