You're hearing it here first folks, winter has arrived in Missoula, and with it the fishing has naturally slowed down. With the spawn fully wrapped up, the river is shifting into its steady winter pattern. Flows remain on the low side for this time of year, but clarity is excellent. Now that post-spawn fish have settled back into deeper wintering water, expect them to conserve energy and feed more selectively throughout the day.

Dry-fly opportunities are now few and far between. Terrestrials are long gone, and the last of the fall hatches have faded. While the occasional BWO might still trickle off on a mild afternoon, winter dry-fly windows are short and sporadic—mostly tiny midges, and even those are limited to brief mid-day periods. Because of this, the focus has shifted almost entirely to subsurface tactics.

Nymphing remains the most dependable approach. Indicator and tightline methods are both producing, provided you’re getting down into the slower, deeper runs where fish are holding for the winter. Stonefly patterns, small mayfly nymphs, beadheads, PTs, perdigons, and Rubber Legs continue to do the heavy lifting. With the spawn finished, still be mindful of any shallow gravel or side channels, but the majority of fish have moved into the main river’s winter lies—deep runs, soft buckets, and drop-offs.

Streamer fishing continues to be effective, though at a slower winter pace. As trout settle into their colder-water rhythm, they’ll still eat a well-presented streamer, but they generally prefer a slower retrieve and a deeper presentation. Modest-sized sculpin and bugger patterns remain solid choices, especially darker patterns on overcast days. Swinging through entire runs with a heavy sinking tip has been proving succesful even as the temps drop. Even with the reduced winter metabolism, a heavier streamer swung or drifted low and slow can still move a fish looking to bulk back up after the spawn.

Bundle up, slow your pace, and focus on the deeper structure—winter fishing rewards patience and persistence. Bundle up and get out there while you still can!

Swing by the shop for any advice, bugs, or tying material you might need in order to get on some fish. We'll be here.