Depuy’s Spring Creek montana
DePuy’s Spring Creek Montana Fly Fishing
DePuy’s is the kingpin of the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks. Over it’s 3-mile course, anglers can find every fishy structure known to man. The structure includes slicked out grass flats, cut bank, riffles, runs, AND buckets. With a constant flow of limestone enriched water, this is truly an exemplary environment for trout. The fish closely resemble their environment, with clean sides, big shoulders, and vibrant colors, arguably some of the most beautiful trout one can encounter in Montana.
DePuy’s provides excellent fishing opportunities on both sides of the water. For anglers seeking to get it done with only a dry fly, some days are better than others, but with commitment, success can be found nearly every day of the season.
While there are solid fishing opportunities 12 months of the year – we could argue that DePuy’s Spring Creek is the best winter fishery in Southwest Montana.
When To Fish DePuy’s Spring Creek
While there are solid fishing opportunities 12 months of the year – we could argue that DePuy’s Spring Creek is the best winter fishery in Southwest Montana. The spring fishing starts in force in late February or early March. Trout seeking refuge from the arctic Yellowstone River or fertile waters to spawn in, pour into the creek and take to feeding on the abundant aquatic life. As the air temperatures warm, we see early emergence of BWOs and consistent hatches of midges. April and May see increases in water temperature, increasing BWO activity, particularly on overcast days, and an increase in fish activity providing the most productive spring creek fishing of the season. The months of March, April, and May are truly the best time to target trout on DePuy’s.
June weather escorts the marquee hatch, PMDs. For the latter half of June and the forward half of July, anglers can expect daily emergences of PMDs. It is truly the pinnacle of dry fly fishing to find yourself in a situation where you, the angler, get to participate in every aspect of the hatch cycle. Upon locating a beat, you find a spinner fall with trout selectively feeding on spent imitations. Following that an immaculate riffle allows you to fish nymphal imitations. A stray rise in the flat below indicates that it’s time to begin fishing emergers. Around lunch time, the duns appear in force, garnering the attention of every fish in the river. After a knockdown, drag out dry fly session, it is time to head out for an adult beverage.
In mid-July, the PMDs have ran their course and late summer brings in the true spring creek fishing, meaning everyday has its opportunities and it’s our duty to figure out what and where. We see good numbers of sulfurs as well as some terrestrial fishing. Minor hatches of tricos and pseudo’s keep fish feeding on the surface.
Mid-September provides a much-needed change on DePuy’s Spring Creek and ushers in cooler weather as well as a resurgence of bugs, namely BWOs. These first couple hatches can be a spectacular angling event. The fish seem hell bound and determined to eat every single dun that floats through their feeding lane. When we don’t have a hatch, we find fish sitting in the moderate speed riffles feeding freely upon sow bugs, scuds, midges, and BWO nymphs. As the days shorten and October approaches, we see the aquatic grass purge from the system and the brown trout begin to search for more subsurface opportunities. Our favorite way to target fish, and good ones at that, is by swinging leeches and assorted soft hackles. There is nothing more exciting than a tight line grab in thin water.
From November through February, DePuy’s Spring Creek provides the most accessible winter fishing in Montana. First tracks is a phrase often used in the ski community to describe just that, the first run of the day. As fresh snow blankets the creek, an angler can quickly understand its application to winter fishing in Montana. How is the fishing? Solid. Fish are found in all the obvious spots, water temperatures in the 40’s keep fish legitimately active and happy to sample the rivers offering of sow bugs and midges. What really makes the experience and the three huts that demarcate the three major sections of creek. Each hut is replete with a serious wood stove and the obligatory issue of Fly Fisherman Magazine for kindling or entertainment. It is without a doubt the best way to waste a warm December day.
Our Rivers
Read through detailed reports of the rivers we typically fish with our Wet Net Outfitter clients. Whether you’re looking for big river float trips, iconic spring creek wade trips, or secluded small creek trips, we can help facilitate your bucket list fly fishing adventure.
