GOOD PLACES TO FISH
Flathead River Above Columbia Falls
Fish Around Coram
Above Flathead Lake, the Flathead River flows quick and is quite wide by Montana standards. The river also has numerous braids and channels below Columbia Falls.
Due to the speed, depth and width of the river, wade fishing can pose problems, and can be downright dangerous at high river flows. While access is generally good along the river, the size of the Flathead River will pretty much prevent wade fisherman from reaching most of the better fishing holes below Columbia Falls.
The Flathead River holds a decent population of medium sized rainbow and cutthroat trout. The trick to finding them is to cut the river down to size, fishing obvious holes and pools behind rocks, fishing around the numerous forks in the river, and along bank cover, such as downed trees. A caddis fly (size 12-14) floated over prime territory is always a good bet. A hopper during late summer also works well.
During mid-day, trout can also be found down in the river depths. To get at them, use a prince nymph with a sink-tip line and weights, bouncing it along the bottom.
Fish The Lakes Of The Beartooth Mountains
"BIG SPRING CREEK" - Under fished & very productive
Big Spring Creek, one of the largest spring-fed streams in Montana, originates 9 miles southeast of Lewistown, near the state’s Big Springs Trout Hatchery. It runs northwesterly 30 miles, mainly between the Big Snowy and Judith mountains, and enters the Judith River west of Brooks, Montana. Enclosing the large spring at the head of the creek, giant willows and cottonwoods shade a park and wildlife viewing area. From the spring, cold, high-quality water flows over green mats of water plants and down between birches, willow, hawthorne, native shrubs and grasses. The creek continues its first 20 miles alongside hay and grazing fields and US 191, passing through Lewistown. Above the town, Big Spring Creek averages 38 feet wide, 18 inches deep, below to the mouth, 45 feet wide, 24 inches deep. Water quality degrades going downstream, due to erosion and pollution. In its last 10 miles, from the mouth of Cottonwood Creek to the Judith, the channel migrates. Its silty bottomland supports dense stands of cottonwoods, willows, birches, and hawthorne. It is considered by anglers to be the most important trout stream in central Montana,
