FLOWS:

• Clark Canyon Dam –  388 cfs
• Barretts  – 550 cfs

VISIBILITY:

• Perfectly clear and very good at 4+ feet.
  

Plenty of rain during June limited the call for water from irrigators but The Beaverhead River flows are on the bump after dropping during much of June. It’s Pale Morning Duns in the morning and Yellow Sallies in the afternoon on the Beaverhead and fly fishing is excellent! Dry flies, dry dropper and nymphing are all catching trout. Clark Canyon Creek has not had a ‘blowout’  and Grasshopper Creek has cleared making the fishing all the way down to Barrett’s (FAS) very good as well and it’s nice to have angler’s more spread out. Check out our Montana Fly Fishing Packages to book your trip now!

TACTICS & PATTERNS:

DRY FLIES:

• We are catching trout on Pale Morning Duns in the morning when the temperatures are still a little cool. 
• I also like a Limestone or Flash Cripple or emergers such as a CDC Still-born size #16 as the hatch gets going.
  
• Once there are more duns on the water my favorite is a Sparkle dun with a rust colored trailing shuck. 
• Try a Rusty Spinner or Drowned Spinner if the hatch the day before was heavy or right after an afternoon rain.
  
• Trina’s paratrooper PMD size #16-18 is great PMD pattern.
• Expect to see Yellow Sallies a little later as the air temps rise.
• Gould’s Half-Down Yellow Sally, Stimulators in yellow, olive or royal. Goldie Hawn, Kyle’s HFH Yellow Sally, size #14-16.

NYMPHING:

If number’s are your goal nymphing with two fly’s and a drop shot leader with a bobber will be your mot productive method.

• Burk’s Hunchback Infrequens, Pheasant Tails, Mitchell’s Split Back PMD and BWO, Mercer’s Trigger PMD, Half-back Emerger PMD.
• Psycho May’s in brown and olive, Barr’s PMD Emerger, Mercer’s Micro Mayfly in brown and olive, Size #16-18.
• Psycho-prince in orange or dirty pink, Kyle’s Yellow Sally nymph, Silverman’s BeadHead Epoxy-Back Red Tag Sally, Goldie Hawn. Size #14-18.
• Trina’s PMD Angel Case emerger, Kyles BeadHead Superflash Pheasant Tail in yellow. SIze #14-18.

STREAMERS:

The streamer fishing has been hit or miss unless it is cloudy.

• Patterns such as Wooley Buggers in black or olive, Zonkers in natural/pearl and natural/copper and white. Size #4-6
• Mini-loop Sculpin in natural and olive. Size #4.
• Bow river Bugger’s in brown or olive, Zuddler’s in olive or white. Size #4-10.
• Check my TOP STREAMERS FOR SW MONTANA for a more thorough list of streamer patterns.

TIPS: Bring a lot of water and sun-block as well as preparations for that afternoon thunder-boomer. Happy Angling!

For more information on Montana fly fishing and guided fishing trips on the Beaverhead River please visit Fishtales Outfitting.