Rains refresh Bitterroot….
The past week we have seen some rare and much needed rain. The Bitterroot has been running above normal all summer and river levels have actually risen thanks to a few days of rain… Releases from Painted Rocks reservoir continue and are keeping the river in great shape… Hatch activity is light and the terestrial bugs are providing most of our dry fly activity. Most of the bigger fish are being caught on nymph droppers and occasionally on hopper patterns. We are getting some big fish on top if we can get our hopper in the out of the way dark spots that aren’t getting hit. Flies to use are PMD’s in the morning then on to hoppers, ants, and spruce moths as the day progresses…. Tricos are beginning to emerge on the lower Bitterroot and will provide good technical dry fly fishing into September… See ya on the river…………………………