Mid June Fishing Report
Big Rivers
If you’ve spent any time around the Flathead Valley lately, you’ve probably caught yourself thinking about a certain Led Zeppelin song. You know the one, the one about all the rain.
It has been a wet start to June around Glacier National Park and, judging by the conversations at boat ramps, the fly shop, and around town, folks are starting to get a little tired of it. Every time it looks like we might string together a few sunny days, another storm system seems to roll through.
The funny thing is, this weather is actually pretty normal.
When I moved to this valley, I was told that June is one of the wettest months of the year in Northwest Montana. The abnormal years have actually been some of our recent Junes, where hot and dry conditions showed up early and runoff disappeared surprisingly fast. While the rain can make for some miserable days in the moment, we’re happy to see it.
Every drop that falls today is potentially water we’ll be thankful for later in July and August when river temperatures rise, flows drop, and fish begin feeling the stress of summer.
This runoff season has produced some of the highest water we’ve seen on the Flathead River system in several years. That’s a good thing.
High water acts as nature’s reset button. It scours spawning gravels, flushes fine sediment, moves woody debris, reshapes channels, and creates new holding water for trout. Some of the best runs you’ll fish later this summer may not have even existed a month ago.
The big river has finally dropped enough that we have started fishing it again. Conditions are still far from summer levels, but anglers once again have an opportunity to spread out and enjoy some of the larger waters around Glacier National Park.
The fishing has actually been pretty good.
Dry fly fishing has been excellent on cloudy days when fish feel comfortable enough to move to the surface. When the bugs aren’t popping or fish slide deeper, the bobber rig continues to account for plenty of fish.
The river remains large, cold, and powerful. Continue to use caution while boating and wading. Water temperatures are still cold, side channels continue to change, and mistakes can become serious quickly this time of year.
The river is improving every day, but it still deserves your respect.
Dries
Cloud cover has been your friend on the big river.
Parachute Adams, Purple Hazes, cripple patterns, and various emergers have all produced fish when conditions line up. Fish are beginning to spread out and can often be found feeding along softer seams, slower banks, and inside corners.
Keep your eyes open. There are plenty of fish willing to look up.
Bobbers
The bobber rig continues to put fish in the net.
Stoneflies, mayflies, worms, and attractor nymphs have all been productive. The water is still cold and many trout remain deeper than they will be later in the summer.
Don’t be afraid to lengthen your setup and get your flies down.
Small Water
The small water game continues to be an absolute blast.
Flows remain slightly above average but conditions are excellent. Anglers willing to walk a little and cover water are finding hungry fish and plenty of opportunities at rising trout.
We are still seeing a few of the larger bugs flying around. Salmonflies and golden stones have not completely disappeared, but the mayflies have unquestionably become the dominant hatch.
Guides have been observing several different species of mayflies throughout the day in a variety of sizes and colors. There have been periods where fish seem willing to eat nearly anything that resembles a mayfly.
Morning water temperatures continue to be ideal and fishing should remain strong for at least another couple of weeks before warmer summer conditions begin changing the equation.
The water still has some push to it, so continue using caution when crossing streams and wading. There is no reason to take unnecessary risks.
Dries
Dry fly fishing has been outstanding.
Mayflies have been king, but salmonflies and golden stones are still producing fish in certain stretches.
Successful patterns have included emergers, duns, spinners, Purple Hazes, Parachute Adams, PMDs, and a variety of attractor patterns.
The trout have not been terribly picky. Match the bugs you see and have fun with it.
Bobbers
Most of our nymphing has been happening beneath larger foam flies.
General mayfly nymphs, frenchies, girdle bugs, and attractor patterns continue to produce fish. Mornings have generally been the most productive time for subsurface fishing before hatch activity ramps up.
Do not overthink fly selection. Presentation and putting your fly where fish live matter far more than the specific pattern.
Stoneflies: Black, brown, and yellow in sizes #8–12
Mayflies: Sizes #12–16 in a variety of colors
Worms: Wine and red in sizes #8–14
Streamers
Streamers continue to move fish.
Olive, yellow, and natural colored patterns fished along cut banks, woody debris, and deeper structure have all produced. We have seen a few aggressive brown trout leave their hiding places to chase down a well-presented streamer.
Smaller patterns have generally outperformed larger articulated flies recently, but your mileage may vary.
Stillwaters
Stillwater fishing around Glacier National Park and the Flathead Valley continues to offer some of the most consistent opportunities available.
Grayling fishing remains productive but has become a bit tougher recently. We suspect increased fishing pressure has played a role as more anglers search for alternatives while waiting for larger rivers to settle down.
Balanced leeches and small stillwater nymphs continue to account for the majority of our grayling and trout.
Pike fishing remains good.
The afternoon bite has started slowing down and we are finding ourselves launching earlier and earlier. Before long it will become a true dawn-and-dusk game.
We continue to find large pike cruising shallow flats, holding near weed beds, and laid up around structure. One of our favorite ways to target these fish is by quietly poling the flats like a Florida guide searching for tarpon or redfish.
It’s a bit of a novelty in west of the Mississippi and occasionally earns us some funny looks from other anglers, but it can be incredibly productive.
Sight fishing large pike from a boat remains one of the most exciting things we do all year.
Large flies in orange, yellow, pink, and blue have all produced. At the end of the day, profile and presentation seem to matter more than color. The trick is finding the right fish in the right mood.
Bass fishing has also been productive.
We are finding bass cruising shallow water where they can be led and coaxed into eating. Others are holding around structure and can be targeted effectively with streamers and poppers.
Looking Ahead
We are incredibly fortunate to have the diversity of fishing opportunities that we do around Glacier National Park.
While many regions are locked into a single fishery this time of year, anglers in Northwest Montana can choose between trout, grayling, pike, bass, and several different styles of fishing depending on conditions.
The big river is finally coming back into play, small water continues to fish exceptionally well, and the stillwaters remain full of opportunity.
An angler could realistically target multiple species in a single day right now, and that’s something pretty special.
As always folks, stay safe out there and let us know if you have any questions or would like to get out on the water with the best guides around the Glacier National Park area.
