Fishing was very good this past week with decent dry fly fishing with blue wing olive mayflies hatching throughout the day. The river is flowing at 2770 cubic feet per second (CFS) and the water temperature is still holding around 40 degrees. There has been some moss breaking free and can sometimes be thick the further down river you go. Water clarity is very clear though. For best success focus your fishing on the first 6-7 river miles below the dam.
Nymph fishing the riffles has been very productive with small baetis nymphs and emergers in size 18-20 and sow bug patterns in size 16-18. Try varying your depth from the indicator to the splitshot until you can bounce the bottom and keep your flies deep. If you are boat fishing shorten up your indicator rig to 4-5 feet and ad extra weight to get your flies down quickly to avoid the floating moss. Cleaner water will be right off the banks and in the faster riffles.
Springtime in Montana will bring us some less than desirable weather this week. We have rain forecast for the next few days with 2-3 inches expected to fall. Fish will still be eating and this could bring on a great hatch if the winds stay down. Again, the cleanest water will be the first 6-7 miles below the dam.
Feel free to email me for the latest up to date fishing conditions at matt@forrestersbighorn.com or call the lodge at 406-666-9198. See you on the river!