Spring is a magical time here in Montana. The days grow longer as the sun warms the vast valleys. The snow-covered peaks standout amongst the cloudy skies. Rivers break free of ice as water temperatures warm. Green grass grows, and the landscape fills with the colors of spring. Every spring feels like a new awakening as we survive another harsh winter and have lots to look forward to.
As fly anglers, spring streamer fishing is something we all look forward to. While fall is widely thought of as the best time to fish streamers, many local guides and anglers say spring is even better. With empty fishing access sites and hungry trout, spring is worth a visit to Montana for those who like to throw big flies.
In this article, I will share my spring streamer fishing experience. The why, how, and when in the hopes of helping you find the big one this spring.
Why Spring Streamer Fishing?
There are a multitude of reasons why spring streamer fishing is some of the best of the season.
Just like so many things in fishing, it revolves around water temperatures. After a cold winter, the rivers warm a few degrees with the warmer weather. This change in water temperature increases a trout’s metabolism, causing them to need more food than in the winter. This increase in metabolism and movement has trout feeding more and on larger food items.
In the spring, there are many baitfish, young trout, sculpin, crayfish, and leeches in the water system that trout feed on. Like the trout, these food sources become more active with warmer water temperatures. Combine this with the trout coming off winter with little angling pressure, and you get a recipe for stellar streamer fishing.
But why fish streamers when nymphing and dry fly fishing are productive as well? While I will never be one to cast a streamer over rising trout, we fish streamers in the spring for the exhilarating takes and the chance at a big trout. Many local guides and anglers will tell you that the biggest trout of the season get caught on streamers in the spring months (March, April, and May). If you want a chance at some of the season’s largest fish, take advantage of the spring streamer fishing in Montana.
How To Fish Streamers In The Spring?
There are many ways and techniques to fish streamers in the spring. I will touch on gear and presentation, but know there are multiple articles worth of information on these topics that I do not get into here.
Gear
The best rods for spring streamer fishing are your fast action six and seven weights. With the heavy flies and potential for large fish, these stouter rods make it easier to cast the flies and fight the fish. They also bite through the heavy spring winds this region experiences.
You can either use a floating, sink tip, or full sink fly line. Your choice depends on the river you are fishing in and the type of flies you plan to fish. In a shallow river (like the Madison), you may be able to get away with a floating line, while a deep river (the Missouri) may require a sink tip. Also, are you fishing a heavy fly with a lot of weight or a light fly with many materials? It comes down to what you prefer, as all fly-line options can work.
Presentation
Fly presentation when spring streamer fishing is one of the most important factors to success.
When wading, I prefer to fish upstream a river, casting the fly upstream and working it back toward me (fly swimming downriver at an angle). This technique often triggers a trout’s predatory instinct, forcing them to decide on your fly quickly. This is one of the best ways to get the big brown trout to eat during the day since they become nocturnal feeders as they grow.
Whether you are fishing from a boat or your feet, adjusting your retrieve to match the conditions and what the fish are responding to is essential. The water temperatures in the spring have yet to warm to prime trout feeding levels (usually above 50 degrees), so slow retrieves often work best for spring streamer fishing. However, having multiple retrieves in your toolbox will lead to more success, regardless of season.
I prefer a slow, jigging retrieve in the spring months. A vertical jig is accomplished by vertical rod tip movement as you strip the fly. It has fooled some of my biggest trout to date. As long as your fly is near the river bottom, you can use a floating or sinking fly line when using a jig-style retrieve.
Where To Fish Streamers In The Spring?
Many rivers across the Yellowstone Region offer outstanding opportunities to catch big trout on streamers in the spring. It is essential to check fishing regulations beforehand as some fisheries do not open until April or May. The best places to fish streamers in the spring are tailwater fisheries or the larger freestone rivers once the ice shelves melt away. The many small streams across the region either remain closed or have water temperatures too cold to fish effectively.
When you find yourself on the river with a streamer in hand, it is crucial to understand where to swim the fly. Water temperatures remain cold, and fish often hold in the slow water types this time of year. These locations include deep holes, seams, slicks, undercut banks, and holes adjacent to the structure. Fish rarely spend the energy it takes to hold in the fast water during the spring.
One of the best and most productive areas to target big fish when spring streamer fishing is the inside of a river bend. The inside bend often has a slow current adjacent to deep water, a shallow riffle, or an eddy. Many of the biggest trout use these areas to rest for the day and ambush food as it is pushed around the river bend. When streamer fishing in the spring, I spend most of my time targeting the inside of river bends.
Best Flies For Spring Streamer Fishing
Your favorite baitfish, sculpin, crayfish, and leech patterns will work for spring streamer fishing. While the many fancy and articulated streamers work very well, I like to use wooly bugger varieties in the spring months. I love a fly that can be eaten for a variety of things, and the wooly bugger is just that.
Color is important any time you fish streamers. Yellow and brown have become my favorite spring colors, as big brown trout respond well to them. Other colors I like to fish are olive, white, tan, and black.
A few of my best spring streamer patterns include wooly buggers, sex dungeons, sparkle minnows, peanuts envy’s, and bouface leeches.
Plan A Spring Streamer Fishing Trip
As the last traces of winter leave the mountains, try out the phenomenal spring streamer fishing the region offers. Many fisheries are worth exploring with a streamer, and I invite you to learn what techniques work best for you.
Many locals and guides look forward to this time of year, considering it the best of the season. Yes, June and July are remarkable here in Montana, but I’d highly encourage anyone planning a Montana fishing trip to consider the spring months. It is often worth the invariable weather, and you may catch a fish of a lifetime.
Please let me know if you have any further questions or comments. I am just an email away.
Thanks,
Nick
