After a mild fall, winter is finally settling into the Bitterroot. Snow pack is beginning to build and we are at 90% of normal already. Hopefully the snow will continue and provide good stream flows in 2013. I haven’t been doing much fishing lately, mostly hunting and now skiing. If you are into winter fly fishing there are some opportunities on the river. Most of the action is subsurface with streamers and nymphs fished deep in the slower runs. On warmer afternoons you may get a very narrow window of dry fly activity on midges and BWO’s. I will update my report throughout winter with river conditions and snow pack levels ..

Not much has changed in the Bitterroot since my last posting in mid September. Warm dry weather continued and we have gone for the longest spell without any rain, over 40 days.. That is all about to change. A front is moving into the mountains and could drop close to an inch of rain with snow above 6000′ …If the forecast is correct this should spell the end for one of our longest fire seasons. That should end the smoke that still lingers in the valley. Fishing throughout September and into October has been excellent. Abundant may fly hatches have been bringing the fish up for dries. Tricos, Hecubas, and Hoppers have now given way to the smaller may flies. The predominant hatches are Mahogany duns #12-14, and Blue Winged Olives #18-20. This is one of my favorite times of year to fish the Bitterroot. Casting to large risers can be challenging and quite fun and rewarding. The best fishing is afternoon in the warmest part of the day now that the nights have turned cold. Good dry fly fishing should last throughout October so get out on the water before the cold drives us off the river and to other sports. See ya on the river…….  ~><(((*>