"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

This is prime dry fly time with lots of rising fish in the mid-morning and throughout the day now. The trout are mostly eating emergers and then move on to the spinners if there is a spinner fall. You also really need to get the fly to the fish first -meaning downstream casts and drifts or some really good curved/reach casting if they are upstream from you. Be prepared to be humbled by a creature with the brain the size of a pea! Lots of midges. Caddis and BWOs are around, too. Tan caddis small BWO patterns will work. Look for more BWO action starting to happen in almost all of the river sections! Also, October caddis!!! Deep or Short-Leash Nymphing and the Hopper-Dropper are the way to go after the feeding freezing frenzy peter out about noon or 1 on most days. (Or when the W rears it's ugly head.)

Cooler temps and winter weather started moving in, but the fishing is still amazing. Perfect weather for those dry fly fisherman who are looking to chase noses eating BWOs! Sign up for on of our Fly Fishing Schools this Spring in our Helena shop. Call or stop by our Downtown Helena Store for more info or to put your name down for a class! Open Tying every Saturday in our downtown Helena shop! Come on down, bring a vise (or demo a new one) and hang out, shoot the breeze, twist up a few flies -we'll show you some cool patterns, drink some delicious Firetower Coffee Roasters coffee and snack on sweet treats that Larry "The Urban Legend" provides! It's a good time!