Flyfishing Fans

[kburjr]

My wife and I got into flyfishing about 8-10 years ago. We have any flyfishing fans here? Taking a trip to Montana, leaving July 14 for 10 days. Going to fish the Upper Missouri River NE of Helena. Anybody with experience on this water? Fished the Yellowstone 2 years ago outside Bozeman and had a blast.

Also, any fly tiers?

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

I do a little in late summer to early fall when the redbreast start feeding up top, but I don't use traditional flies. I normally tie on a popping bug or glow bug. In the past I would tie the popping bug on the end of a 12 ft or 14 ft bream buster and fling it under the willows on the river, but my reach was limited to about 20 ft, so I started using the fly rod to reach out there a bit further so I didn't have to get so close to where the fish are. I think this year I will use a more traditional fly because the popping bug catches to much air and doesn't extend the line to it's fullest length before falling, so I'm left with a "curl" in the line and it makes it difficult to get the slack out of the line and hook the fish when I get a bite. I've missed a lot of fish because of it. My uncle recommended some type (category) of fly, but I can't remember what it was now.

With all that said, I love catching redbreast on it. They are super fun on ultralight gear and even more so on the end of a fly rod.

 

[kburjr]

I fill 'gills and bass on a pond at hunt club I belong to. Top fly for me has been a Chernobyl Ant. But they will hit caddis flies, Adams and other light colored patterns.

 

[handicappers]

I fill 'gills and bass on a pond at hunt club I belong to. Top fly for me has been a Chernobyl Ant. But they will hit caddis flies, Adams and other light colored patterns.

hey kburjr,

If fishing the Missouri around the three forks or Helena area, try using 1/8oz. marabou jigs in some of the deeper pools you find OR just below one of the many dams around Helena.

It'll be easy to match the hatch up there this time of year so I'd tie plenty of nymphs and caddis flys

 

[kburjr]

hey kburjr,

If fishing the Missouri around the three forks or Helena area, try using 1/8oz. marabou jigs in some of the deeper pools you find OR just below one of the many dams around Helena.

It'll be easy to match the hatch up there this time of year so I'd tie plenty of nymphs and caddis flys

Thanks. I have 35-40 cadis patterns tied fro, 10-16 in size and an equal amount of Adams Parachutes 1-20(I want to join the 20-20 club. 20" fish on a size 20 fly. I bought a couple colors of scaupins that should match what marabou looks like

 

[NEhomer]

I fish for trout here in the East and have been tying for many years. We have a fly fishing restricted area of the Housatonic river that also has a good hold of smallies. That river's swelled up right now but it's a great fishery.

Then I'll use my 5ft 3wt on a smaller stream and do well mid summer when they're showing no interest in baits and lures. My favorite hatch of the year is the September blue winged olives.

I fish sage rods, what rods do you guys wield?

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

I fish for trout here in the East and have been tying for many years. We have a fly fishing restricted area of the Housatonic river that also has a good hold of smallies. That river's swelled up right now but it's a great fishery.

Then I'll use my 5ft 3wt on a smaller stream and do well mid summer when they're showing no interest in baits and lures. My favorite hatch of the year is the September blue winged olives.

I fish sage rods, what rods do you guys wield?

I just have a cheap Pflueger combo from dicks. I think it was around 60 bucks or something. I really do enjoy it though. I should probably get into it a little more. We just don't have rivers that you can wade and most of the places I go, the banks are lined with willows and cypress.

 

[kburjr]

I just bought a Cabela's RLS+ 5 wt combo for the trip to Montana. Timing was great. I just lost my baby, an 8 1/2 foot Cortland. Been fishing with her since the beginning

 

[kburjr]

I just have a cheap Pflueger combo from dicks. I think it was around 60 bucks or something. I really do enjoy it though. I should probably get into it a little more. We just don't have rivers that you can wade and most of the places I go, the banks are lined with willows and cypress.

That Pfleuger combo is great fr the money. That's my wife's gear. She casts better than I do and it pisses me off

 

[kburjr]

hey kburjr,

If fishing the Missouri around the three forks or Helena area, try using 1/8oz. marabou jigs in some of the deeper pools you find OR just below one of the many dams around Helena.

It'll be easy to match the hatch up there this time of year so I'd tie plenty of nymphs and caddis flys

Do you mean like a standard crappie jig or a beaded nymph style?

 

[beardown07]

Do you mean like a standard crappie jig or a beaded nymph style?

They will both work.

 

[kburjr]

They will both work.

Thanks

 

[NEhomer]

Way too much is made of flycasting.

Once the angler reaches a competent level, that's all that's needed. The proper approach with the proper pattern is far more important.

 

[beardown07]

Way too much is made of flycasting.

Once the angler reaches a competent level, that's all that's needed. The proper approach with the proper pattern is far more important.

Casting can make some difference with Natives, very clear water, and tiny-ass flies.

Anything else, and I agree completely.

 

[NEhomer]

Anyone who is cleaning a gun and doesn't know it's loaded deserves to lose a finger. What a dumbass

Sure but that's sometimes a gear issue, no?

A properly constructed leader down to at least 7x will pay big dividends. You certainly can't flail the water with a 5wt with a trico tied to 4x.

 

[kburjr]

Way too much is made of flycasting.

Once the angler reaches a competent level, that's all that's needed. The proper approach with the proper pattern is far more important.

Define competent.

Fly fishing is a zen activity. The simplicity of the cast is what's important. To make the perfect cast is a goal in itself. Remember, it's called fishing not catching. The activity is the goal

 

[NEhomer]

Define competent.

Fly fishing is a zen activity. The simplicity of the cast is what's important. To make the perfect cast is a goal in itself. Remember, it's called fishing not catching. The activity is the goal

Not for me. It's all about the taking of the fly...whichever's the most effective is what I'm about. I can fly cast in my front yard if the goal isn't to hook fish.

Competent means that you can lay the fly where you want with the line falling lightly upon the water. Beyond that, the other stuff I mentioned trumps casting. It's like woodsmanship in the pursuit of spring turkeys outweighing the need to be some champion caller.

 

[kburjr]

Not for me. It's all about the taking of the fly...whichever's the most effective is what I'm about. I can fly cast in my front yard if the goal isn't to hook fish.

Competent means that you can lay the fly where you want with the line falling lightly upon the water. Beyond that, the other stuff I mentioned trumps casting. It's like woodsmanship in the pursuit of spring turkeys outweighing the need to be some champion caller.

I understand where you are coming from. There are times when catching is the goal.

Your mention of turkey hunting sharpens the point that I am saying. I deer hunt and used to do a lot of bird hunting. It's the process of hunting that was my satisfaction. There is an elation to bagging the game, but I have gotten to the point that the whole deer camp experience is much more important than killing the deer. I view fishing that way.

To me, it's the process not the bagging that has become more important.

 

[NEhomer]

...and I understand where you're coming from~

 

[handicappers]

Do you mean like a standard crappie jig or a beaded nymph style?

Both

the marabou jig looks similar to a "streamer" but has a lightly weighted jig hook.
they sell them at all the flyshops around the upper Missouri. get the one with the pink in the pattern and you're sure to catch some rainbows in the deeper water.