Spring is starting to show up across Montana, and fishing is picking up with it. Ice fishing is mostly done for the season, with only a few high-elevation spots still hanging on. Most anglers are shifting fully to open water.
Rivers like the Madison, Missouri, and Yellowstone are fishing well with nymph rigs, especially midges and baetis patterns. On cloudy afternoons, blue-winged olive hatches are starting to bring fish to the surface. Streamers are also a good option, especially in higher or slightly off-color water.
Flows are still manageable for now, but runoff isn’t far off. This is a great window to get out before things start to blow out. Warmer days, active fish, and fewer crowds make late March one of the more underrated times to fish Montana.
