Lower Mo 

Dam Temps: 61.9°F 

Cascade CFS: 3,720 cfs 

Ulm CFS: 3,560 cfs 

Morony Dam CFS: 4,220 cfs 

Fort Benton CFS:  4,720 cfs 

Missouri River Pelican Point Down 

This weekend has rain, cold, and wind in the cards. But don’t let this stop you from getting on the water. With the colder weather fish will definitely be getting turned on to Baetis flies both subsurface and there will most likely be a decent hatch of BWO’s at some point during the day this weekend. If you are going to fish this section of the Missouri, be aware that the weeds will still be coming down rather steady from the upper section of the river. Nymphing will be tricky, keeping the weeds off your flies in the most difficult part of it. But trying dark mayfly patterns 4-6ft below an indicator can work. If you want to be adventurous, give a wooly bugger a ride below the indicator with one of these nymphs in tow. When those BWO’s start hatching, a go to would be a 16 or 18 Rocky Mountain Mint in purple, or Todd Smith’s Brianne Dunn in similar sizes.  

Recommended Flies 

Todd Smith's Brianne Dun size 16-18; Kris Keller's Rocky Mountain Mint size 16-18 in Purple; Eric Paramore’s Thunderthigh’s size 8-12 in Peach, Yellow, or Tan; Kris Keller’s Henneberry Hopper size 10-12 in Yellow, Pink, or Green; Arrick Swanson’s Arrick’s Ant size 16, 18; Kelly Galloup’s Ant Acid size 14 or 16 in Black and Red or Cinnamon; George Daniel’s Gasolina Perdigon size 18, 20;Greg Garcia’s Darth Baetis in grey size 18, 20; Fred Telleen’s JZ in Tan 

Cascade Downstream 

This weekend looks even colder and rainier than last. This kind of weather will definitely make fishing for pike much more productive throughout the entire day. In the colder mornings, slowing the retrieve down on a sinking line might be necessary. Just like with trout, a darker day will require a darker fly. Fishing the eddies and slow water from Cascade down to Great Falls, and even below Morony Dam, will be where they sit. Where there is slack water and structure, there is most likely pike. An under-the-arm two handed retrieve has been successful lately. However, going slow and pausing in those deeper holes can trigger a reaction as well.  

Pike Flies 

Tommy Lynch’s Drunk and Disorderly; Dan Soltau’s Wild Thing Diver; Matt Grajewski’s Yardsale Black, Chartreuse/ White, Olive/ White; Satkowkis Devil Tail 

Carp 

The water here in the Black Eagle Reservoir has finally gotten back up to full capacity, or at least close enough. However this cold and rainy weather will have the carp cold and slow as well. But give it some time and during the next batch of warm, sunny weather, the carp could be back up on the mud flats feeding away. 

Carp Flies 

Andrew Grillo’s Carpholio Brown or Olive size 4; Chase Smith’s Carp Nugget Olive or Craw; Fulling Mill’s Carp Worm; Dick’s Carp Magic; Detroit Mop City 

Blackfoot 

With the rain in the forecast this weekend, be prepared for a little color to be added to the river. Especially if you are fishing below any of the smaller feeder creeks, that add a few more CFS to the river. With the cooler weather, be ready for batches of bugs to come back. There is potential to see caddis, Baetis, and even some larger mayflies in the mix. Fishing flies like the Purple Rocky Mountain Mint in a 14 or 16 will work for a dry fly, and trying some darker mayfly nymphs will be productive when those temps drop. Don't be afraid to throw a small jig streamer or Micro Dungeon around, especially in the mornings. 

Clark Fork 

Be prepared for flows to change a bit this weekend and into the next week with rain in the forecast. A standard dry/dropper rig will rip, but don't be afraid to change that nymph around a bit. Larger Montana Prince's or a #14 Blowtorch could be the ticket with that cold weather. It seems that streamer season could be on its way, so in the mornings a Dungeon or Sparkle Minnow could produce a healthy fish. 

Creeks and Lakes 

Flows are low right now for most of our area's creeks and lakes. The frontage lakes are incredibly low, and there is a significant weed edge that can be hard to fight fish through or get a kick boat out past. Fishing these lakes can be rewarded with large and feisty fish but getting to them is the trick. A kayak or drift boat would work better if you can get the boat down to the water. 

The creeks will see a flow change and probably a color change as well this weekend with the weather forecasted. A hopper/dropper is still the preferred method of fishing, but trying a small jig streamer could produce a large fish this weekend. 

Flies For Freestones 

Eric Paramore’s Thunderthigh’s Hopper in Pink or Yellow size 8-14; Kris Keller’s Henneberry Hopper Yellow or Tan size 8-12; Kelly Galloup’s Ant Acid Black and Red size 14; Doug Prince Purple Prince Nymph size 16; Brita Fordice's Sir Sticks Alot in Brown, Olive, or Black 

CURRENT HOOT OWL RESTRICTIONS: 

https://fwp.mt.gov/news/current-closures-restrictions/waterbody-closures