Missouri River - Wolf Creek, MT June 23 - July 05

[wbranch]

Very low water. Lowest I had ever seen it in 24 years. Level was 3250 cfs when I arrived and 3100 cfs when I left and 64 degrees. No water in the channels I prefer to fish and the brown trout numbers are very low.

To put my 2021 trip in perspective in prior good years I would of caught as many big trout, 19" - 22", in two days that I did in 13 days of this trip.

 

[wbranch]

A few more - and still living the dream at 78.

 

[larkmark]

Very nice Rainbows. Did you get them on top?

 

[wbranch]

Unfortunately no. I must admit that I had to dredge these rainbows up with a #16 PMD split back nymph as a bottom fly, a #16 red BH Hares Ear top fly, a "B" split shot and the indicator 5' - 6' above the bottom fly. I did get half a dozen same size on dries but no one was around to take my picture.

I booked a guide, for the first time in 31 years, and stared blindly at an indicator for 10 hours. The guide netted 29 rainbows, one brown, and two whitefish. He kept count, I was having a good time and lost count after ten. About half were dinks 9" - 11", a quarter were 12" - 18", and the rest 18"+ to 21".

 

[Acristickid]

Did you run into DaveS , albatross and crew?

 

[wbranch]

Yes, I did at Wolf Creek Angler. Four nice gentlemen.

 

[wbranch]

Landmark,

The 3rd rainbow where the rod is under my arm was on top. That fish would of spooled me had I not chased it. I netted it 500' down from where it was hooked.

 

[larkmark]

wbranch- Wow! Super fish! I gotta get out there. I would want to spend at least a month.

 

[wbranch]

Landmark,

I would want to spend at least a month.

A month is a good trip if you want to really explore the rivers. I would start at the Big Horn the first tail-water. It is full of fish and has a good PMD emergence, Tricos in July, and a black caddis that provides very good evening dry fly fishing.

Then head west to Livingston and float the Yellowstone, try to get on one of the three spring creeks (reservations are required months in advance). Then head west towards Bozeman and fish the Gallatin and the Madison. Head further west and fish the Ruby. Drive over to Dillon and you can fish the Beaverhead in a few minutes or the Big Hole in half an hour.

Then drive north to Craig and try your luck on the Missouri and Blackfoot. As many of you know I used to spend June, July, and August living and fishing in Montana from 1968 to 1972. I fished everyday until I got sick of it and then would drive to a new river and fish some more.

 

[larkmark]

Awesome tip. Much appreciated.

 

[Dave_W]

Great to see.

Wonder how the other PAFFERS did? Anyone wanna lay bets that wbranch outfished all of em? 😎

 

[wbranch]

Dave wrote;

Anyone wanna lay bets that wbranch outfished all of em?

It was a difficult trip even for the most skilled anglers. The first three days there were good PMD emergence's and spinner falls at night. Those three days had nice low to mid 80's temperatures. Then the heat came on with a vengeance, It was 90 degrees by 9:00 and mid 90's before noon. At least four days were so windy that it made proper dry fly fishing virtually impossible. I had large fish rising 20' away and I could not get the fly in the lane to cover the rise form.

I'm quite sure we all experienced some difficult casting challenges and have all learned that while we like to think we have most of the answers and are pretty good at the game, the trout and the weather, have the final voice in the matter.

 

[Acristickid]

wbranch- Craig now has a fire , you picked the right time to go

 

[DaveS]

The other PA fly fishers are not noobs. We can and did hold our own on the MO. It was great to finally meet WBranch in person. Not the worst place to make an acquaintance.

It was a busy week on the river and tough conditions as Matt said. But I didn’t go to the MO for easy fish, I enjoy the challenge.
I’ll add a few pics later today.
Good times!

 

[wbranch]

Yes, there is a very big forest fire in the Craig area. Many of my Delaware friends are still out there. They sent me a photo of a huge smoke cloud to the SE of Wolf Creek. They saw flames 25 feet in the air! Helicopters, with huge scoops, are flying low over the river to scoop up water to drop into the fire region.

I just looked at the extended weather forecast and other than this coming Tuesday everyday for the next ten days is forecast to be 92 - 100 degrees. One of our friends was staying at a private rental home just down river of Craig on a gravel road. That road is in the immediate proximity of the fire and is currently closed. Luckily our friend left for home on Thursday.

 

[DaveS]

Some Pics from W PA Group"

 

[wbranch]

Nice, all solid fish in difficult conditions. There was a time when Missouri fish were more plentiful and pushovers. Now they are easily as hard to take as the toughest Delaware riser.

You were lucky to get a nice brown as the brown trout count is very low on the Missouri. Additionally most of the bigger browns like to hang out in the various channels off the main flow but with river flows of 3100 cfs those channels are just too low, slow, and warm to hold any trout.

 

[DaveS]

I didn’t mention this before, but I did get several smaller browns, here and there throughout the week. I was encouraged by that b/c it seems brown trout numbers are falling all over MT.

And here’s hoping this is one relatively small fire and no more. And some rain would be great out there too! Gonna be a long hot Summer in MT.

 

[wbranch]

I looked at the extended forecast and other than tomorrow with a high of 78 degrees the average temperature for the next eleven days is 94.5. No significant rain other than "possible T-storms" are in the forecast. Out there when the areas are already so dry a lightning strike is almost surely to cause another wildfire.

 

[timmyt2]

Man, i'd be really dissapointed if i traveled all the way out there and the same disgusting hot weather from here followed me