Some weather we're having, huh?

By now, most of us who fish here in the Flathead have probably been on the water at least a couple of times.  Maybe in a boat, possibly at a family fishing pond in the area or from a river or stream bank.

For a while, the rivers and streams were clearing up a bit, but with this recent rain and even snow in the high country, things may have been set back a week or two.

What this kind of weather does to fishing conditions and how we approach those conditions makes all the difference in whether we catch fish or not. When lakes, rivers and streams go through the kinds of changes we are seeing, the fish will respond.

Temperatures swings of even a half a degree can cause fish to move from where they were just hours before, as will water clarity, level, debris and more.

Reacting to these changes and determining what works is crucial. There are days where I might try six to eight different presentations before hitting on one that works.

In a lake situation, surface temps may vary wildly while deeper water may stay more consistent. The same goes with water clarity.

A good fish finder is critical in these situations as are a variety of lures that can dive deeper and work in a broad range of retrieve or trolling speeds.

Color is also important. Just because something worked yesterday does not guaranty it will work today. Experimentation is the rule until things begin to settle down again. As I like to say, the devil is in the details, so work through these changes until you hit on a tactic that works.

In rivers and streams, these changing conditions can be even more difficult as a sudden downpour can raise the water level and change clarity suddenly.

Even more important, flows can change just as quickly and cause you to stumble and fall.  The same advice applies; change it up until you hit on something that works.

One of the most important things you can do is keep a log, I don’t know many professional guides or tournament anglers who don’t and it can be invaluable in times like this, when conditions change daily, and even hourly.

And speaking of cold water, surface temps are still in the 50s and 60s on most lakes and certainly lower in the rivers. A sudden dunking is not only uncomfortable but potentially deadly at this time of year. Hypothermia is possible even when you get wet in a downpour and are exposed to even light winds. Dress appropriately and wear your PFD. Yes it’s mid-June, but our waters will be cold for quite some time, if this weather keeps up.

And for those of you who have yet to get the boat out, a little preparation goes a long way. Bilge pumps need to be tested, battery connections should be checked and a short test run/systems check before loading up the family for a day’s outing can help avoid frustrations or worse.

The good weather will be here soon and the fishing will only get better. I hope these tips and ideas help make your next outing a little more successful, no matter how you measure success.

Remember, for the most up to date fishing reports, the Snappy Sport Senter fishing hotline is 756-BAIT. I’ll see you on the water!

Mike Howe runs Howes Fishing/A Able Charters here in the Flathead. Much more than just a fishing charter, for more information check out their website at www.howesfishing.com or call 406-257-5214.