April is a great time of year to fly fish in Montana. It may take bringing some extra clothes and layering up, but the results are worth the extra effort. In April, the rejuvenation of bug life coupled with hungry trout coming off of a long, cold winter results in some extraordinary opportunities to fly fish in Montana.
In April, the trout spring to life
Montana winter’s are long and can drag on well into spring. Colder temperatures and snow are a possibility all the way through May. However, as the days get longer, water temps begin to warm, and the trout spring to life. In April the rejuvenation of bug life coupled with hungry trout coming off of a long cold winter results in some extraordinary fly fishing opportunities.
All of the usual fishing locations offer advantageous conditions during April. Most rivers are experiencing warming water temperatures, but the spring runoff has yet to start. The Paradise Valley spring creeks are moss free and start to deliver consistent hatches. The surrounding lakes are experiencing ice off so the fish are hungry and eager to grab a fly. The best news, most trout have seen little pressure during the winter months and are ready to play.
A typical April day on the Yellowstone River involves nymphing or streamer fishing in the morning followed by dry fly fishing in the afternoon. Depending on how cold the water was the night before, the morning fishing can be very good. April nymphing is a good way to have many shots at many different sizes of trout, while the streamer fishing diminishes shots while increasing the chance of getting “the big one.” After a nice lunch break, the fishing usually really turns on in the afternoon. Some of the best dry fishing of the year for the Yellowstone River happens pre-runoff. Baetis, March Browns, midges, and caddis are all part of the menu.
The Paradise Valley spring creeks stay “moss free” until June. The lack of vegetative growth offers cleaner drifts and makes it easier to land large trout on light tippet. During April the spring hatches start and offer consistent dry fly fishing to rising trout. Both midges and baetis are prevalent in the spring and are often larger than their summer and fall counterparts. Cloudy April days can offer heavy baetis hatches and make for some unforgettable fishing experiences.
The ice on the lakes and ponds around the area usually dissipates somewhere between mid March or early April. Just after ice off is a great time to fish the stillwaters. The trout are hungry and are more than willing to chase searching patterns. There are also good numbers of midges available, with some lakes witnessing the start of the callibaetis hatch. Trout that have been under ice for 5 months are actively searching for food and are not as discerning as they are later in the year.
April is a great time of year to fly fish in Montana.
It may take bringing some extra clothes and layering up, but the results are worth the extra effort. If you’d like help setting up an April fishing trip contact us at Nelson’s Guides and Flies and we’d be happy to assist you. Spring is quickly approaching, let’s start it off with some unforgettable fly fishing!
