At some point in time usually March through May (June up in the high country) all across Montana our state the lakes shed their ice caps and give way to open water. This is always an exciting time of year for many fly fishers especially those who enjoy Stillwater angling. For those who don’t Stillwater fish as much, I do encourage you do enjoy some ice off fishing for many reasons. Here are some reasons we find this type of fishing fun during this time of year.
Your fishing to fish that have not seen a fly in months. While there is still feeding going on sub surface, as the ice melts and water temperature increases even slightly, the trout’s metabolism speeds up. Light even penetrates on the edges drawing these fish from the depths. They are often very hungry and not selective. I have had the most fun casting to an ice edge and allowing my fly to fall before stripping it, sometimes even stripping it into the water off the edge. Strikes of flies like stripped leaches or other small streamers or nymphs are exciting and it is fun to try and put your fly right on the edge of the ice.
They’re eating!. Usually these fish aren’t picky I have had most of my Ice off success on either a leech or a chronomid. The next fly I would want is a zebra midge which is basically still a chronomid. At times the stripped technique works but other times, I choose to fish them under a shallow rigged bobber as depending on lake depth. Sometimes a short rig near the ice edge that hangs just below the ice depth is deadly. Frontier Anglers always has a good selection of various ice off jigs and chronomids.
You don’t need a boat. The ice clears from the edges first and often times the fish are cruising these zones. Often times my best ice out fishing is on my feet from shore or slightly waded in. This time of year also coincides with the rainbow trout moving to the shore to begin making redds and spawning.
They are bigger. While not always the case, particularly in southwest Montana, an angler can catch their largest trout of the season. Trout on average grow a little larger in lakes and reservoirs and the fish that most of the year may be deep and out of reach are shallow and close giving fly anglers a great target. At times if the light is right, these monsters create amazing sight fishing opportunities to target trout over 5 and even over 10 pounds depending on the water body.
A savvy ice off angler knows temps and approximately when the ice comes off and where. Occasionally we have good intel at the shop but info on lakes in general is hard to find and best learned on your own. In flow and spring areas often provide the earliest shots at open water and its good to learn these spots as well. Happy hunting and never ever wade on suspicious ice during ice out.
-Steve Wilson
