Flathead Basin

GAGE LOCATION

DAY/YEAR
GRAPHS

CURRENT
STAGE/FLOW

WHAT TIME

N. Fk. Flathead near Col. Falls

7 30 year

/

N/A

M. Fk. Flathead near W. Glacier

7 30 year

2.13 / 929

1 am

S. Fk. Flathead near Spotted Br.

7 30 year

5.28 / 583

1 am

S. Fk. Flathead near Col. Falls

7 30 year

/

N/A

Flathead at Col. Falls

7 30 year

- / -

N/A

Flathead near Polson

7 30 year

4.57 / 5540

12 am

Flathead at Perma

7 30 year

/

N/A

S. Fk. Jocko near Arlee

7 30 year

1.52 / 39

12 am

CITY

Kalispell

NOAA

Accuweather

TWC

Polson

NOAA

Accuweather

TWC

HATCH

NYMPH/
LARVA

PUPA/
EMERGER

DUN/
ADULT

EGG-
LAYER

Blue-winged olive

Mahogany dun

October caddis

Green caddis

Golden stonefly

Salmonfly

Cranefly

Midge

Sculpin

Hopper

Crayfish

Baitfish

Beetle

Ant

The usual attractors--Stimulators, Humpies, Royal Wulffs, Trudes, etc., in shades of yellow, orange, and red, plus Parachute Adams--should bring trout to the surface. Hoppers and ants in all their flavors will generate strikes, too. In the forks, pale morning dun hatches could still be bringing trout to the surface.

As the temperatures continue to cool, fishing will start to slow in the higher elevations. Hoppers and ants will fade quickly after the first frosts. Blue-winged olive hatches will start up with cooler weather They're not a big hatch here, but a size 18 olive Sparkle Dun or a Baetis Cripple is a good choice when trout are sipping the tiny bugs from the surface. A Prince fished just below the surface is also effective.

Switch to standard nymphs such as size 14-18 Pheasant Tails, Princes, and Copper Johns if the attractor dry flies don't work for you, or use blue-winged olive patterns if trout are rising to a hatch of those bugs.

See the Rivers in General report for more September fly fishing tips.