GREAT FALLS AREA FISHING REPORT
April 25, 2025
Summary
The weekend weather is looking phenomenal--partly cloudy with light chances of rain. This weather trend is looking like the spark of the BWOs. We have been seeing sporadic hatches, but for those true buggy clouds to kick off I believe this to be the necessary step. Low wind, cloud cover, temp in the 60s, the so-to-say “perfect storm” for dry-fly fishing to kick off. Overall, the weather in the next week is stable in the mid 60s. I will defiantly try and get out and hit some hatches!
Lower MO (Pelican Point-Ulm)
BWOs are going to pop off. Using a 9- to 12-foot leader with 3x-4.5x is how I will be fishing the BWOs. Some of my favorite BWO patterns are the Sparkle Flag and the 401k Baetis in sizes 16-20. We have them here at the WGF shop. It is looking good, and continue to be, so get out there and fish!
Trout spey was getting ‘em this weekend for me. I was fishing lower river upwards to Mid Cannon. I stopped by The Trout Shop, where Caden suggested I throw “The Trout Spey Bugger” in black. Hit the nail right on the head and caught some browns, and one probably 14-inch feisty rainbow. In most of the runs I swung a full float, medium MOW tip, with about 5-7 feet of tippet off the end. I threw that Trout Spey Bugger, as well as a size-8 Chicago Overcoat. In low water I like to fish a full float and longer leader paired with a fly that has some weight to it so I don’t hang up every cast and I can still be in the money zone.
Mo River Temp At Dam: 42.2 degrees
Cascade Mo River CFS: 4,680
Ulm Mo River CFS: 4,730
Great Falls MO River (Ulm-Black Eagle)
Pike reports are still coming in. I like to fish for pike where the main current of the river pushes and is either blocked physically by things like a peninsula or an embankment, or where a slough creates pockets of slow water. Remember pike are opportunists--get something tempting in their face and they’ll jump on it.
Prime carp time is still out a ways in terms of water temps. I have not made it down around Great Falls to see what they are up to. I am sure with a bit of patience you could get one this time of year.
Stillwater
Still getting great reports on many of the stillwater fisheries. Holter is being productive, and it’s typical lake fishing for this time of year--close to shore, indicator with a Balanced Leech of your choosing. Green body, chartreuse bead is hitting hard and as mentioned we still have some of those at the shop. Other fly reports are buggy style flies, such as a Pheasant Tail, Prince Nymph, and Hare’s Ear in larger 8-12 sizes. Other fisheries in the area are hitting good. In fact, if you can get out towards Augusta on a relatively calm day it can be excellent.
Stillwater fisheries that have pike and muskie should produce just like the Mo. Predatory fish are beginning their spawning season, just as they are in the river. Staying above the weed lines and imitating baitfish patterns, such as perch, proves effective. As the weather continues to warm don't rule out topwater for these toothy fish.
An overlooked fish when the ice is off? Perch. Whether you like to eat them or just want to get into some “on the fly” action, their spawning season is coming up. When I target perch, I just use a 5- weight and add a longer, 12-foot leader with either a size-10 Chicago Overcoat, or a Balanced Leech. I'm sure a variety of flies would do the trick, and for our fly-tying enthusiasts there's a lot of creative potential there. Shallow weedbeds, whether in a marina or a bay, is where you’ll find schools of perch getting ready to spawn. Catching perch can be a bit tricky as they like to “pick” at the fly. When you feel a hit, let them inhale it then set the hook, or even better sight-fish them off the docks.
Freestones & Creeks
I fished the Missoula area last week and found it a little tough. We had some runoff and cloudy water that made it hard to figure out where the fish were holding. But I was still able to pull a couple out, using a dry dropper. Dry being a Water Walker in the nocturnal stone. Not a true “Skwala” pattern, I know, but eh, close enough. The dropper was the Blow Torch in black, and a P.T. with a CDC collar. Mornings can be tough for dry-fly activity, so running a dry/dropper is best for the mornings. As the day progresses swapping to that solo dry rig, or tandem dries can help. On some of the more favorable water, especially mid-day, you will want to fish a solo dry. The money zones for the fish usually come with the price of brush, snags, shallow water etc.
Shop Happenings
Fly Fishing 101 Class is happening this week, stay tuned for the next one!
Our incredible Scientific Anglers “BOGO” sale is going strong—take advantage of this rare opportunity to buy any “Absolute” tippet or leader in a buy one/get one free scenario. It’s a great way to stock up on all your spring, summer and fall tippet/leader needs at one time . . . and it’s a great product that stands up to our western trout, salmon, steelhead and warmwater species.
We have our Simms Sample Sale still going on in store, with 30 percent or more discount off of retail. Lots of good deals here. Bajio sunglasses are new in the shop this week. My favorites are the violet glass mirrored, which are perfect for salt flats fishing or stalking heads-up sippers on the MO.
We sold through a lot of green bodied, chartreuse headed Balanced Leeches, but we do have a few left in the shop. I'm still working on getting our pre-season flies out and it should be done in May. Lots of new patterns from a variety of tying wholesalers. Highlights coming out:
Bloom’s UV Candy Stripper, gray, black and olive sizes 18, 20.
Gallop’s Mirco, and Mini Barred dungeons Variety of colors.
Henneberry Hoppers, about 120 dozen, Variety of colors and sizes.
MISSOURI RIVER WEATHER FORECAST
OTHER REPORTS WE LIKE TO FOLLOW
Missouri River fishing reports aren't always the same. One stretch of the river may fish better than others which is why we like to check a number of different fishing reports from other shops in the area. We've gathered our favorite fishing report sources in the links below.