Current weather:
The 411 on what's going on around the area from the reliable sources...
Missoula Area - The Missoula area is seeing all of the rivers drop, flows are subsiding and things have all cleared up at this point and attractor dry fly fishing has been prime. You can't float Rock Creek anymore, but you can certainly wade fish nearly all of the offerings up here and we hear that the attractor dry fly fishing is starting to kick in up here as well. If you can stand the hippies walking around town, even the river right through town has fished well. There are lots of great small creeks and rivers around the Missoula area that beg exploring (see Trapper Badovinac's Book Exploring the Solitude for some suggestions)
It's still really difficult to wade fish the Beaverhead, but that makes for some great float fishing over here right now and there isn't a better stretch than from the dam down to Pipe Organ. That holds some great fish, and guys have been roping into a lot of nice healthy fish on PMD's and PMD nymphs. Caddis are going as well, but fish seem to be eating the PMD's better according to the reports we've had. If you are more adventurous and prefer less people and less fish, then head down lower and pitch grasshoppers, we've heard from the boys at Tollet's that it's been good early hopper fishing!
They spiked the Ruby for irrigation last week and it's still coming down a bit - clarity is fine for nymphing and we haven't heard and really good reports on dry fly fishing to speak of, but you can bet there are caddis and PMD's over here coming off like the rest of the state. Fishing should be good as flows stabilize and right below the dam is always good over here.
Big Spring Creek has dropped and flows have cleared and things are in good summer shape over here. It's attractors, caddis and PMD's over here for the next little while. A fun little getaway, if you don't mind throwing in on $4 gas...
The place to be this year in Idaho is apparently the Henry's Fork. They are seeing some of the best hatches in years on the ranch, with flavs, PMD's, Drakes, Callibaetis, and Flying Ants. But make no mistake, this is a technical fishery, heck if Renee Harrop made it his home fishery you know it wasn't because you catch fish on size 8 Lime Trudes (those don't work over here sorry). But up in Box Canyon, attractor dry or hopper dropper has been good, with most fish eating your droppers. A nice change of scenery for us Montanan's if you would like to visit Idaho.
If you have something else in mind, then shoot us an email, I'm always willing to tap a few resources and make a few phone calls. It's about being your friendly local information resource!
Last Updated: 7/23/08
Willy's reports...
WILLY IS ON VACATION UNTIL 7/27 AT WHICH POINT I AM GOING TO STRAP HIM DOWN AND FORCE A PEN INTO HIS HAND TO UPDATE HIS DARN REPORTS!
Ruby Reservoir Reservoir is stil full, don't have a great solid report so if you have one, Help Me Out! It should be fishing with the normal nymphs and leeches and buggers. This doesn't get heavily fished at all so it can be a great afternoon place to try, if you go give Willy a ring.
Canyon Ferry
According to Willy's buddy at the Bent Willow in Townsend, the Walleye's are still in the shallows and the trout are hangin out a bit deeper in the 12 to 15 foot range. Larger nymphs, delektables, princes, midges and leeches, leeches, more leeches and buggers are the ticket. Long leaders and sink tips right now are working best to get down to the fish.
Hauser/Holter Reports from both Hauser and Holter have been very similar. Still fishign well with olive streamers, zonkers and sink tips getting the flies down to the fish that are hanging somewhere in the 12-15ft range. Nymph fishing has also been pretty darn good, using black and red leeches as well has been quite productive. All of the report we've been hearing from up here have been great.
Dailey Lake
Taylor got back to us a while back and reported on some good fishing on Dailey in between wind gusts, fish aren't hanging too far off shore yet and are eating scuds, leeches and damsels and chironomids. If the wind/weather cooperates up here this is a fantastic little fishery to get 5+ lb rainbows on and you don't have to pay to fish it either.
Hyalite Reservoir Wow, been a bit since we updated this one huh! The reservoir is full, plum full and over its banks in most places. Fishing is best in the early mornings and late evenings, even after dark... On bright sunny days they are going deep, and by deep you're talking 20-25 feet so only sinking lines need apply at this point. Use buggest, Little Bit of E's, Lightning Bugs, big hares ears, leeches in olives and blacks. Soft hackles have also been picking up a few fish now and again. The homo sapien hatch is also on according to Willy so be kind and don't crowd your neighbor!
Cliff/Wade Lakes
Willy fished Cliff on Sunday last week and the fishing in the early morning was great. Late evening also on the flats was pretty decent. Midday the fish are 15-20 feet deep and been pickin em up down there on buggers. Chironomids were doing well suspended below an indicator for a change of pace. Can be slow and frustrating at times, but hey that's lake fishing at its best! Congrats to Renee on her monster 21" brown - check out the pic in the photo gallery, thanks Renee!
Quake Lake Quake has really started to pick up now that it's clearing a bit more. Fishing at the inlet has been good, lots of high water still, but starting to fish some wounded minnow patterns and other leeches and zonkers and picking up some fish around the structure.
Clark Canyon
They are absolutely draining the reservoir over here faster than it is coming in. Thanks for the email John, it has been fishing quite well. Crane fly's, regular assortment of nymphs, hares ears in olive, and midges as well. Be on the lookout for damsels here shortly and always try some leeches!
Hebgen Hebgen has been fishing really well on flashbacks and zuggys. Leeches and midges have been productive as well. Fish are staying in the 15'+ deep water on the hotter days and no reports or signs of gulpers yet, but it's still early. Another good bug over here is a feather duster...
Harrison Lake
The reservoir is full, Willy has no clue what an amber damsel is, but hey he wrote it in his own report last time!!! But damsels and brown leeches have been the go tos' along with midges. Willy has also picked up some really nice fish on olive streamer patterns - the stinger streamer in olive has been a hit over here. Callibaetis are going in the mornings and fish are feeding on them around the weed beds. Watch out for the recreational boaters, they don't look out for you!
Ennis Lake Been a bit since we've heard of anyone going out on Ennis lake, I'm sure it's been good, but with it being so dirty at the inlets, you may want to find the clean pockets and fish streamers in there. That is a blast!
Ponds Around Town
The ponds are still a great place to get out if you want to test some homemade patterns and are short on time. Rather than list them all off, Willy would love it if you'd stop by and he will point you out to where to go.
A Note from Willy
I wanted to say, if you have any questions, please give me a call. Mountain Lakes around the area should start to ice off some and fishing will pick up for the lower elevation lakes, beware of snow though on the high mountain ones, there's still quite a bit in the mountains! If you're willing to hike or bike then give me a call or stop in and I'll show you where to go - if you stop in with my access to Google Earth I'll dial you right into GPS coordinates and where you need to go. Heck, I'll even show you where you can camp! I would love to hear from you on how your lake adventures are going and I won't share unless you want me to.
We offer guided trips on the lakes as well, so in case you are feeling a bit intimidated we have a couple of lake experts on staff that can show you the ropes, which is a nice option.
Thanks to everyone for their response on the website and lake reports, I'm glad that you all like reading them! Mountain lakes are really getting ready to fish well, so give me a call with questions.
PS - Georgetown lake is fishing really well... send fish photos if you got em!
Tie bugs, Live long, Fish Well
Willy
Last Updated: 7/8/08 
