The Troutshop Missouri River report

Four Pictures Worth Seeing PMD's and Caddis. Yum. Tis the season.....

So, where did the last 12 days go? Whew..... who knows? No breaks were available at The Trout Shop. Bustling. So, how about the next 12 days. Crystal Ball says that it won't be quite as hectic for about 10 days. Crystal Ball, however, can't read Mother Nature's mind. Just guessing, you'll...

Most rivers in the state are suffering from runoff. The Missouri has no worries. Parking could prove interesting. Cool weather will keep the tributaries at bay. Ample storage room in Canyon Ferry Lake will keep flows from Holter Dam moderate. Who knows? You might catch one of these. For...

9:00 PM MDT Yep, you're seeing clearly. Did you bring your snowmobile? The Canadians must be on their way.

The lower river has enough Mother's Day Caddis to get your attention. Lots of Blue Wings, some March Browns and Midges keep the food factory flowing. Sunny days are pleasant, but not for catching. It will be bright over most of the weekend and back to the clouds all of next week. Stay out late...

Yep, it can be done. Take Friday off and enjoy the clouds. Saturday could be good too. Sun doesn't help.

From soup to sun and back to the soup. That's what this week will bring. You can hear the grass growing. You'll need shorts and fleece in your bag if your headed this way. Your white legs will beg for sunblock. Nymphing by day and dry fly by evening. Regardless of the clouds, that's what...

Lots of bugs. A few fish rising. The Dearborn River is kicking out some mud. It doesn't matter. Most of the action is on the upper river anyway. Very low pressure, drizzle and a bunch of bearded guides are on the river. Welcome to the Mo. The season has begun in earnest.

Put your white legs away and break out the fleece. Summer is gone. Winter is returning. So is the fishing. Reports are solid mostly with nymphs, scuds and zebra midges. Expect dry flies to be added to the success stories for about the next week. Steady cloud cover is on its way. Blue Wings...

Cabin fever struck lots of anglers this weekend. Montana showed her charm. If you were here, you know that Mother Nature shined on the Mo. Perhaps too much. Lots of white legs. Lots of bugs. Not many fish. A great time was had by all. More of the same is in store until next weekend. Bring...

Pretty close to perfect conditions now: Blue Wings in droves Midges 4200 cfs 45 Water Temp Fish eating on top Fish eating below The river is not a zoo

Words you like to hear: Blue Winged Olives Words you want to hear: Are Here The fish in the river will eat them about the time our Canadian friends arrive next weekend. Promise.

Missouri River seen through Tim's lens. We appreciate you, Joanne (& Tim, Sean & Jeff). See you very soon.

From the Helena Independent Record Caddis conundrum: Study looks at potential shifts in Missouri River's aquatic community by Tom Kuglin Pete Cardinal has outfitted anglers on the Missouri River below Holter Dam for more than three decades. In that time, he has noticed changes in the aquatic...

4,500 Big Trout per Mile near Craig. 6 Pictures are worth more than 6000 Words.

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Anticipation Common: Being enthusiastic is an emotion involving pleasure, excitement and sometimes anxiety in considering some expected or longed-for good event. Summer was way too long. Desire: Anticipation is the central ingredient in sexual desire. Sex has a major cognitive component the most...

If you want the river to yourself, early and late hold the keys. At 8:00 AM, the troops are gathering their gear and getting ready. By 5:00 pm the river is empty. July bugs return after that. Cool and longer nights perk the 4100 cfs, 59 river (almost perfect). Pseudsos Ants Hoppers #14 -...

You should take your vacation this week. If you are Missouri River Fly Fisher, you take exception to these guys. We enjoy being temporary pluviolphiles. The Cloud Appreciation Society is a society founded by Gavin Pretor-Pinney from the United Kingdom (an avid fly fisherman) in January...

You know what this means. Yahoo (not the search engine). 40% today, 90% tonight, 70% Friday, 100% Friday night, 90% Saturday, 80% Saturday night........Yahooooooo....oooh...ooh (yodel intended). What smoke? More good news: Today will be a cool, wet, fall-like day across much of the west as a ...

The irony of it all..... As the weather cools and the smoke drifts out of sight, a blaze has taken off near Holter Lake. Spooky fish didn't know what to make of this scene. Look out from above, anglers and fish both. Weather forecasts are boring. You'll like this one. Thursday Showers...

Original article by David Keene http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jul/20/david-keene-american-values-in-the-midwest/ While few admit it, the Washington, D.C. area has about as much in common with the real America as John Phillips Sousa's marches have to do with rap music. We live in a...

We're a fortnight into August, and the typical hustle and bustle of Craig has shifted. The month of August brings warmer temperatures, lower flows, and the increased chance of smoke in the hills. That being said, there is definitely fishing to be had; however, The Missouri, in mid to late...

Don't let the evenings slip away. If your schedule obliges, enjoy the sunset and good dry fly fishing. PMD's and Caddis are still on the menu. The Trico hatches have concentrated in the upper river, so keep a watchful eye, in the mid to late morning for the noses to start coming up.

The spinner haze has returned to Craig, so if you find yourself higher on the river, make sure to bring the Trico box. Early starts and later evenings have been prudent, especially if dry fly fishing is on the docket. With the PMD's saying farewell, Trico's and Caddis have filled the gaps...

Upstream from Cascade two days ago... This fire was not started by an angler carelessly looking for rising fish eating PMD's and Caddis. Wind fueled it; not sure what started it. No bugs could have survived the fire or the wind. Today, at 4600 cfs and 56 , the river is in perfect shape. Odds are...

3 Miles South of Craig @ 9:00 AM for days. Tropical Montana; not quite. Summer is knocking, however. Caddis like the 55 water temperature. 4,180 cfs......Cooler days ahead will likely slow them down. You have time. Not much. How about that Dearborn? Worms make fish fat.

Smile Finally, Boston sent us some weather.... Streamers and nymphs fit. BWO's and March Browns turn into PMD's and Caddis in June. Fewer dimples will be seen for the short term. Boats will fill the Dam to the Dearborn with good reason. Thank you, Boston.

Steady clouds on the upper river keep the spot lights on Blue Wings. Dearborn River Confluence @ 3:30 PM Tactics change here. Break out the 6 to 7 weights. Streamer junkies thrive on the clouds and murky water. They dominate the canyon section. Craig is packed.

His chip disappeared along with his smile. Tension increased with every crunch. "I heard the river fished good today," he said. "Fished streamers all day. So did everyone else. Hooked up on a big guy with the Skittish Smolt". "Awesome, I floated in chocolate all day. Why did I listen to you...

Pelican Point Boat Ramp @ 8:30 AM Jealous?

May 19, 2015 10:00 AM below Craig. Wet and cool slowed the pace - in Craig and on the river. Clouds will be your companion for days. Wind will not. Moderating temperatures will suggest the river to you. Pack a few BWO's, March Browns and Streamers.

Some hung out anxiously in local bars waiting for the Caddis Festival to start. Some bailed out entirely. Some bailed out their boats. Some changed their shuttles. Some reversed their shuttles. Some turned pretty cold. Some turned the flows up at the Dam to 4070 cfs while others dropped...

Mid Canyon Boat Ramp @ 6:30 PM Imagine how good it was today. Expect more of the same for days. Blue wings continue, but require Banker's hours. March Browns bring the canyon to life. Rumors surround Caddis. Cool temperatures will likely keep the rumors at bay. Nymphing yields numbers below...

Fishing Fishing will make time pass by, like many other events. To fish, use: Shiroku Pub Bread Crumbs Shrine Bugs Green Machines (Hal's Favorite) Pheasant Tails One Tatsuhime Ladybug for one Bread Crumb each evening. See the Catching Bugs Quest for more info on that. Skittish Smolt Black...

Purple Haze comes from many sources: Jimi Hendrix's guitar Abita Brewing Company Manic Panic Vegan Hair Dye Colorodo Dispenseries Art Studios You Tube Videos Bait Shops Fly Shops Camera Lenses Trout see exceptionally well in clear water. Jimi Hendrix did not. Tightly wound Purple Haze perform...

Time matters. Maximize yours - 800-337-8528.

Cool pic. Wouldn't you rather see a fishing report? Giant beavers eat #16 BWO's, Midge Clusters, March Browns, Green Machines, Pheasant Tails, Midge Larvae and humans. Guide trips cost $500 / day if you can find one. Waste your time fishing (on the Missouri River). Paint your own report.

Blue Winged Olives violate the Constitution Plaintiffs Arguments: Blue Wings must be erradicated. Blue Winged Olives invade nearly every type of flowing water habitat. Found in streams at sea level to over 10,000 feet ...

Herman Haupt Legendary Inventor Acknowledgements Herman Haupt, a brilliant design engineer, was an invaluable asset of the Northern Railroads. Fly fishing motivated him. His inventions are still used today. Look at his eyes. Seriousness beams. Achievement was in his blood. Worked part-time...

Having S.A.D. is sad. Alaskans are 10 times more likely to have S.A.D. than Floridians. S.A.D. people turn here. You're welcome. No cure is available. Your symptoms will be relieved. S.A.D. people are a subset of Snowbirds. They're all over Montana highways. These birds are likely to be good...

"Good morning, The Trout Shop, this is Jeff" "Hi, Jeff. My name is Oprah Winfrey." Jeff's heart skipped a beat. His guilt rose to the surface for laughing at Oprah's photoshopped image in The Trout Shop's last blog entry. "Oprah. How can I help you?" "Two things, she said. My friend, Brooks...

OK, This is not funny. Oprah suffered from a phobia that trout will never overcome. She says she found her cure by walking through it. We're not so sure. Something is fishy. Trout exhibit the same symptoms: Rapid or shallow breathing Heart palpations Shaking, trembling, sweating and...

The Bull is free. Sentinal Rock Ranch House is for rent. Both are available at The Trout Shop. No Bull. Angling success is increasing along with the rising water temperature. Slowly, but surely, the river is heating up. Don't worry. At 38 you still need to wear waders. Dry fly...

What lurks below isn't pretty. Devouring lesser species is only the beginning. When the lessers are cleared out, they turn on younger versions of themselves. Brutality rules. Beheading may be required. Empty stomachs drive them. As trained killers, they flash out with quick bursts and...

What do you see in this picture? Look closely. You can see the Wolf Creek Bridge. You've seen that before so it doesn't count. How about the railroad tracks? Seen them before too. Clouds, trees without leaves, the river, mountains; none of them count. It's what you don't see that...

Optimism fills the air. The sky fills this picture. It's not the limit when you can see footprints on the moon. Last weekend's wind blew all but the bound-and-determined off the river. Even the geese glided for cover. Few anglers rejoiced in what can happen when the chop lifts off the water. ...

Chaos Theory A field of study in mathematics, with applications in several disciplines including meteorology, sociology, physics, engineering, economics, biology, and philosophy. Chaos theory studies the behavior of dynamical systems that are highly sensitive to initial conditions....

Bobby Drake is the original Iceman. He can freeze anything around him. Even though he is an Omega-level inductee, he has not tapped into his full mutant potential. Unable to morph into Richard Kuklinski, the notorious contract killer (AKA: Iceman), he has settled into his role as proud...

Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it. Mark Twain Weather reports are boring. Can a fishing report be complete without at least mentioning the weather? For sure, but not this time. Weather is taking the headlines. Wednesday Partly sunny, with a high near 61....