The great outdoors rarely gets better than fishing with a beautiful landscape around you. The pure relaxation, the ability to focus solely on casting and luring while clearing your mind of other problems, makes it a great way to stay active. Fly fishing has become a part of life around Missoula. The best time to fly fish is in the spring and fall with better average catches. Locals and guides alike understand what are the best dry flies for trout to improve their likelihood of hooking a number of fish. Most locals even have their favorite flies and spots that they keep close to the vest so they can return for years on end without crowds spoiling it. Here are some things to keep in mind when preparing a fly fishing expedition in Missoula and planning where to cast your favorite dry flies for trout.
Fall Offers a Great Experience
Fall offers one of the best experiences if you like to wade or float fish. The changing colors of the leaves offers a truly majestic setting. Fishing in the fall is no secret to visitors or locals so make sure you do not wait until it is too late to try out the new dry fly patterns you got this year. Going too early won’t yield the results you desire and too late could result in a less than stellar trip. Visitors are usually down during this time of the year even though the climate is moderate. Many people simply do not comprehend the true weather of Montana during this period of the year.
Create a Checklist to Ensure You Are Prepared
There is a chance that you decide to venture to a fly fishing spot that takes a bit of hiking to reach. The last thing you want to do is to look for a necessary dry fly pattern or tool only to find you left it at home. Fly fishing trips are all about preparation so when the day of the trip arrives you can focus on practicing casts and testing what patterns are popular with the trout. Bring warm clothing just in case since the weather can change drastically from early morning to late afternoon. The temperature during the fall will range from 40 degrees to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Waders are essential if you want to have the most flexibility to move spots. Creating a checklist can help alleviate the worry that you are forgetting something important.
Expect Isolation and Relaxation
When fly fishing with a guide it’s not uncommon that you will not see another boat or people fly fishing the entire day. With countless rivers to traverse in its vast landscape, Missoula offers a myriad of opportunities to cast dry flies for trout. And so many lightly fished areas compared to other states such as Pennsylvania where fly fishing is also popular. Considering the Blackfoot River or Clark Fork River could be your go to’s if another is slow is convenient, to say the least.
Adaptable People Maximize Their Catch by Varying Dry Fly Patterns
If you adapt to the environment by switching techniques or flies, it can result in larger yields for the day. If you’re not catching anything, but refuse to adapt or didn’t bring a variety of dry flies for trout, chances are you’ll keep getting the same result. Adaptability will rely on preparation as you never know what the weather and water will throw at you. Having a greater variety of dry fly patterns in your tackle will help you overcome any adversity you encounter. Guides can also be incredibly helpful as they should bring the inside expert knowledge of the area and season.
Trout Fishing is Plentiful
A number of trout species call Missoula home so take advantage of the healthy trout population. You can have luck whether you are fly fishing for Brown or Rainbow Trout. The Missouri River in particular has a massive trout population which includes Bull Trout and Cutthroat Trout. This is due to its high insect population and insect eggs that hatch throughout the river’s span. The river is said to have around 7,000 trout per mile which is up sharply from earlier this century when the trout number was estimated at 2,000 per mile. Bull Trout are a rarity throughout the rivers in Missoula, and seen as a prized catch. Dry flies for trout are recommended as the hatching insects tend to float on the top of the water. All fly-fishing enthusiasts understand the importance of their dry fly patterns mimicking the behavior and appearance of the main source of food for a particular type of fish.
Fly fishing in Missoula can be a great pastime for both locals or visitors. The best aspect of this is arguably finding – and fishing – your own way amongst the countless intersecting rivers. Take the time to plan your trip carefully or opt for a guide to take care of this for you.