The Hibernating Montana Fly Fishing Guide Awakens
For many Ennis Montana fishing guides, spring is the clear favorite time of year. Many things happen to get these famed Montana fly fishing guide’s off their barstools and away from their fly tying desks. The first of which is an increase in temperature. Montana can be cold and brutal throughout the winter. Ice gorges form and most angler’s fall into a lull of skiing and tying flies. However, similar to most plants and animals, Montana fishing guides can come out of this lull with a few days of warm sunshine. This increase in temperature doesn’t just warm the angler’s up. An increase in water temperature can drastically impact a trout’s behavior. After being in a lethargic state all winter, trout are eager to get to eating. This increase in appetite will cause fish to become more optimistic andactive in their eating patterns. Especially in the case of large hatches and big meals.
A Spring Spawn
The second reason for our Ennis fishing guides to go hang up their skis and go fishing, is the sought after rainbow trout spawn. Rainbow’s get into pre-spawn mode around early to mid march. This means fish will get more aggressive and territorial before their annual trip either further up river or into the river from the lake. This is a critical point in time for the ecosystem in many of our waterways across the state. Many river fish will pod up in troughs below skinny stretches of water. These troughs will become a holding point for pre and post spawn fish throughout their reproductive cycle. Often times larger fish can be found feeding just outside of these troughs. If you are fishing during this period of time it is crucial to avoid any redds. Redds are built up piles of cleaned gravel found in skinny stretches of water. These precious mounds contain hundreds to even thousands of precious eggs.
Gold at the End of the Rainbow
Fishing for these aggressive fish, especially during pre-spawn can be some of the best fishing you can find all year. Aggressive fish are known for reactionary grabs to flashy streamers. When targeting these rainbows, the actively feeding fish will not be sitting in the trough but normally downstream of it. If you are going fishing during this time, it is important to know that eggs from these redds provide a great food source for large brown trout and even rainbows. Therefore targeting pieces of water a ways downstream of a series of redds is your best shot at hooking into fish gorging themselves on eggs. Using this tactic is also a good way to make sure you are not disturbing any spawning fish. Throwing streamers through these stretches is a great way to find aggressive fish and your best shot to hook one of the elusive giant golden brown trout that reside in the Madison River. Proving that there is always gold at the end of a rainbow.
The First Mayfly Hatch of the Year
Another reason for guides to break out the oars is the increase in bug activity. After a long cold winter, the first set of baetis are ready to hatch. Blue Winged Olives are a crucial part of a trout’s diet in the springtime. They can provide angler’s with plenty of shots both sub surface and on the dry fly. Known to be active swimmers the BWO nymph is a prime target for rainbow trout in their aggressive pre spawn mode. Using an attractor nymph such as a pat’s rubber legs followed by a BWO nymph is a great setup for this time of year. Large amounts of BWO dries will lay their eggs in calmer sections of water. Pods of fish will set up in these calm sections to feast on emerger, adult, and crippled BWO’s. Therefore, varying your patterns and throwing tandem adult – emerger or adult -crippled rigs is a great way to target rising fish.
Calm Before the Storm
Summer can be a crazy time for most Montana Fishing Guides. Although a lot of fun, summer brings in crowds of people and lots of work. Sometimes spring is the only season guide’s can consistently get to fish for themselves without worrying about clients. Finding long stretches of open water, great fishing, and nice weather truly makes spring Montana fishing guides favorite season. Although it doesn’t last long it sure is nice to enjoy the calm before the storm.
