With the unseasonably hot dry weather that we’ve been having, FWP has instituted hoot owl closures on the Blackfoot to protect the fish from over stressing. So starting at 2pm anglers need to stop fishing and pull up their line for the day. It looks like the rain didn’t do much work up on the Bitterroot, which has bumped just a couple cfs. For dries, use PMDs, Small baetis, purple hazes, tricos, drakes, yellow sallies, caddis, Golden stones, hoppers, and other attractor patterns. For nymphs, use pheasant tails, caddis pupae, mayflies, small micro stones and Pat’s rubber legs. For Streamers use dark bodied buggers and sculpin patterns.

Given the historically hot conditions, FWP has enacted the hoot owl fishing closures. Since the water temperatures on the rivers have been in the mid 70’s by mid afternoon, the survivability of the fish drops dramatically from the low oxygenated water and high stress levels. It’s mandatory but also in the best interest of the resource to stop around 2pm and give those little fishes a break. Thanks for your cooperation.

HATCHES/Flies: Caddis, BWOs, Golden Stones, Baetis, PMDs, yellow sallies A Review of the Winston Fly Rod For more info on the Winston Nexus Fly Rod