Montana Angler's West: May 11 Paradise Valley Spring Creeks Fishing Report

Like everywhere, the consistent fishing means is nymphing. Think small, skinny tied flies and light tippets. Nymph rigs don't necessarily have to be very deep. Certainly not like on the bigger area rivers. 2-3 feet from a very small pinch on indicator to fly is sometimes all that's needed. Be ready to adjust though as conditions and place warrant. Baetis are very much present and on good overcast days without much wind (that's been the key it seems...), the hatch has been solid. Fish are definitely looking for the bugs now and dry fly fishing can be had during the hatch time. However, once the hatch subsides (or the wind cranks-which it has lately) that "magic time" quickly disappears... A real day saver at times especially when the wind comes up or you've just had enough of nymphing--- try stripping a fair sized weighted streamer through the structure and deeper runs on the spring creek. You might be surprised by what attacks!

Hatches: midges baetis

Hot Patterns:
Dries: Q's sparkle stacker. Harrops midge emerger, Capt whitehead, CDC smokejumper, Harrop's BWO CDC emerger, BWO sparkle dun,

Nymphs: sawyer pt, Downey's Wonder BWO, Quasimodo PT, tungsten zebra midge, tailwater tiny, micro may, WD-50s, disco midge, small soft hackles

Streamers: black, olive, or natural wooly bugger or rabbit strip streamer ripped through likely looking haunts may produce a jolting whack from Mr. Bruiser Brown. Suggest you don't do this within visual of tweed wearing DFO guys..