Montana Fish Report

The lakes are holding steady across the region with classic mid-July conditions—cool mornings, hot afternoons, and consistent bite windows early and late in the day. We’re seeing good Callibaetis, Chironomid, and Damsel activity across the board, plus a noticeable uptick in terrestrial eats on ants and beetles when the wind lays down.

Hosmer, East, Paulina, Little Lava, and Crane Prairie are all fishing well, each with their own quirks. Balanced Leeches, Red PT Jigs, Scuds, and a mix of soft hackles and attractor nymphs are putting fish in the net consistently. Stripping Damsels or small baitfish patterns is moving some of the bigger trout and brookies, especially around shoals and weed lines. Crane’s still fishing best in the Quinn and Cultus arms, with clearer water and more consistent action.

If you’re headed out, swing by the Bend shop—we just stocked up on a fresh batch of lake flies, including new Balanced Leeches, Mini Leeches, and lake-specific nymphs that have been hard to find. We’ve got patterns ready to cover everything from Callibaetis hatches to deepwater Chironomid rigs.