(Australia-NewsWire.Com, November 14, 2012 ) Victoria, Australia- Fishing on the Bitterroot River in Montana is getting more difficult as the weather cools, but it can still be rewarding.
Some fishermen are packing away their rafts and gear, thinking the season has ended, writes fishing columnist Bill Bean of the Ravalli Republic. Others, however, are preparing to go out in the chilly weather, undeterred by conditions that are less than optimal.
There is a lot to gain by fishing now.
As the weather has turned snowy, some fishermen are lowering their expectations, using nymphs with droppers to make their catches, says Bean, who also owns Fishaus Fly Fishing in Hamilton, MT. Smaller fish still are eating, but the larger ones appear to have retired.
Hatches are down, Bean notes. And the blue wing olives are small enough so that to attract them, a size 18 or 20 is needed. For fishermen without good eyesight, it can be tough to thread a hook.
But fishing is not just about the fish. It’s also about the experience.
It’s easy for enthusiasts to remember the quality of fishing as long as a year ago. But Bean observes that many will not recall how many fish they caught.
People are attracted to fly fishing because of its esthetics, Bean says. It’s easier to catch a fish using bait such as worms, using a spinning rod instead of a fly rod. The two are opposites. But the sport has its own magic.
As the weather cools, it will be harder to fish, but the river still offers many opportunities. It will mean being more persistent, cleaning guides on the rod more frequently. But hooking a big one, or even one not so large, will be more rewarding.
Bean’s recommendations include the following: wooly buggers (either black or olive), tiny blue wing olives, and large dark nymph patterns.
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