Missoula Fly Water | December Fishing Report | Happy Holidays!

After a sun-soaked November in Louisiana, December finally brought clouds and rain. Once a few rough weather days passed, we were able to get back out during calm, overcast low-tide conditions, which provided plenty of tailing shots at red fish and black drum. They’re definitely harder to spot under cloud cover, but with patience and focus, it can still be done.

While cloud cover can influence fly-fishing success, it hardly matters if you’re willing to pick up a spinning rod. The Robinson crew joins us every year for four days, running four boats, rain or shine, for dedicated spin fishing. This year’s conditions were especially brutal: three straight days of 51-degree temperatures with relentless, pouring rain that never let up. Picture the heaviest part of a Montana thunderstorm, except it lasts for nine hours straight.

On the final day, the rain finally eased, but it was replaced by 20-knot winds and temperatures dropping into the upper 40s. Despite the miserable conditions, the fishing was nothing short of phenomenal. We found schools of fish even in the downpour, and over four days we landed nearly 60 bull red fish. We had multiple triple hookups, rods constantly being passed around the boat, and more often than not you ended up landing someone else’s fish. After four straight days of rain, it was safe to say we were more than happy to see the sun again.

As the sun returned for a few days, the tailing and floating fish came back with it. Everywhere we fished, bull reds were cruising the surface, just waiting to be picked off. Susan and Keith experienced one of the best days of the season, with dead-calm winds and fish floating in every direction.

The final day of their trip proved more challenging, but Susan still landed her biggest bull red while drifting sideways in 20-mph winds. We slid 500 yards across a wide-open bay, and with about 40 yards left, she hooked a bull that dove under the boat and tore straight into the backing. It turned into a full-on rodeo, maneuvering the fish around the boat and multiple oyster stakes, but she held on and landed her trophy.

The start of 2025 was a tough one for me, but it ended on a high note thanks to some truly great people. I’m already looking ahead to the spring dry-fly season in Missoula for 2026. I still have a few personal days open in March and April, so if you’re not on the calendar yet, let’s go fishing! Wishing everyone a safe and Happy New Year and we will see you again soon.