Report:
The flows are now about 3,800 cfs (normally ~5200). Water temps at the dam are ~50, a bit warmer down river. Run Off has started for real on almost every river but the Little Prickly Pear. The Dearborn is mildly muddy but the MO below there is fishing just fine. With higher water temps we are now seeing a few more bugs species out there, including the much waited upon, Caddis. The fish should look up for them this week. There are still plenty of Midges, BWO’s and March Browns to get fish up top as well and the nymphing is better as well when you see more bugs out. I’ve been doing well on streamers so if you love to pull bug uglies you too will be rewarded with big trout. Mr. W will be in question today, it should blow.

Please be careful wading as to not step on the rainbow trout redds (spawning beds).
REMEMBER- you need a 2013 Fishing license starting on March 1st!! Pick one up in our Helena or Craig store before you go fishing.
Hauser (or “LOG”) is past the peak but you’ll still find lots of fish up there albeit some tired trout. There are still lots of people fishing it and it will be goo for another few weeks. Try a Pink Lightning Bug behind a Firebead Czech. PLEASE be careful not to step on any redds and please don’t be greedy and fish directly over spawning trout. You wouldn’t like it if someone busted into your bedroom at the heat of the moment so let the trout do their thing too!
You can keep an eye on Canyon Ferry Reservoir levels, weather and of course, streamflows on our Streamflows page.
See our Schools & Instruction Page for more information on our Fly Tying Schools and our 3-Day Fly Fishing School.
(We are posting river, weather and fishing conditions throughout the day on our Twitter feed. That is a great way to keep up with the dynamic conditions of the Season. If you use Twitter, please sign up to follow CrossCurrentsMT and you’ll get the latest, up-to-the-minute information. Please keep up with us on our Facebook page -give us a like! Thanks.)
See our News & Events page for information on upcoming events and info on the Trout Populations on the MO & Smith. Also read about it in the article from the Helena IR this March.
Check out this TV news report on Craig, MT that aired on TV a while back -it’s still an interesting segment..

Hatches:
Baetis (BWO), Midges, March Browns, Caddis

Dries:
-#18-#20 Parachute Adams
-#18-#22 CDC Hanging Midge
-#18-#22 Sprout Emergers
-#12-#16 March Browns
-#16-#18 Buzz Ball
-#16-#20 H&L Varient
-#14-#18 CDC Para Caddis

Nymphs & Streamers:
-#14-#18 Firebead ____ (something -they all are working)
-#14-#16 Tungsten Weight Flies (Rainbow, Purple)
-#16-#18 Lightning Bugs (Pink, Silver, Gold)
-#18-#22 Mirage Nymphs
-#16-#20 Superflash PT
-#18-#20 Zebra Midges (Black, Red, Purple)
-#18-#20 Love Bugs
-#6-#10 Buggers (Black, Black & Grizzly, Olive)
-#4-#6 Conehead Kiwi Muddler
-#4 Skiddish Smolt
-#2-#6 Fish-Skull MO-Minnow