Jammin' June

The year is half over, have you been fishing?

June is jammin'. Peak season is upon us, and it's pretty much peak season everywhere in the Rocky Mountains. Rivers are in shape in many areas, bugs are hatching, temps good, fish happy.

Some areas in MT / ID / WY are still in runoff with a delayed start because of late season snow, rain, then a later warm-up. That's okay though, lots of options out there and it's good for the rivers to get a delayed start.

This immediate region which is the Spokane River, North Fork Coeur d'Alene River, and St. Joe have been fishable all spring. Lighter snowpack and gradual runoff kept them in shape all April, May, and now June. There will be no more increases in water levels.

Our salmonflies have been mostly wrapped up for a bit now, though you might see a random one on the upper St. Joe, and our guide Randy Dingman saw some on the lower Spokane this past weekend. The big bugs are popping on the western and southwestern Montana rivers like the Blackfoot, West Fork Bitterroot, Big Hole, etc.

PMD's, goldens, yellow sallies, caddis, and drakes are the main players here. Depending on the river, which stretch of river, and other factors like air / water temps will dictate what you see.

If there isn't much hatching prospecting with a chubby (or stonefly dry) with a 24-30" dropper is the way to go. Droppers like perdigons, spanish bullets, tungsten caddis pupa, tungsten jig patterns, etc will cover you. A smaller pats rubber leg dropper can be good too.

Aside from the crazy amount of wind we seem to get anymore, I'd say spring has been great. The cooler in the upcoming forecast will keep it plugging along, though a little rain would be nice.

Take advantage of the great spring fishing, go now.