Montana Hatch Chart
Which insects hatch on Montana rivers each month, when they peak, and the flies to match.
- 14Hatches
- 2Hatching in November
- 11Watersheds
Hatching in November
-
MidgeMidge
WD-40 #22–28, Zebra Midge #22–26
-
Blue-Winged OliveMayfly
Comparadun #18–22, CDC Dun #18–22
Montana hatch calendar
Every hatch on the 11 watershed hatch charts of Montana's rivers, month by month.
| Hatch | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Flies | Water temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midge Midge Chironomidae | In season | Peak | In season | In season | Peak | WD-40 #22–28, Zebra Midge #22–26 | 34–65°F | |||||||
| Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly Baetis sp. | In season | Peak | In season | In season | Peak | In season | Comparadun #18–22, CDC Dun #18–22 | 44–58°F | ||||||
| March Brown Mayfly Rhithrogena morrisoni | In season | Peak | In season | March Brown #12–14 | 52–62°F | |||||||||
| Skwala Stonefly Stonefly Skwala americana | Peak | In season | Chubby Chernobyl #8–10, Skwala Adult #8 | 44–54°F | ||||||||||
| Mother's Day Caddis Caddis Brachycentrus sp. | In season | Peak | Elk Hair Caddis #14–16 | 48–58°F | ||||||||||
| Pale Evening Dun Mayfly Heptagenia sp. | In season | Peak | In season | PED Comparadun #14–16 | 56–68°F | |||||||||
| Pale Morning Dun Mayfly Ephemerella inermis | In season | Peak | Peak | In season | Sparkle Dun #16–18 | 55–68°F | ||||||||
| Salmonfly Stonefly Pteronarcys californica | Peak | In season | Chernobyl Salmonfly #4–6, Stimulator #4–6 | 50–60°F | ||||||||||
| Golden Stonefly Stonefly Hesperoperla pacifica | Peak | In season | Stimulator #6–8, Elk Hair Stone #6–8 | 55–65°F | ||||||||||
| Green Drake Mayfly Drunella grandis | Peak | In season | Paradrake #10–12 | 55–65°F | ||||||||||
| Hopper Season Terrestrial Melanoplus sp. | In season | Peak | In season | Dave's Hopper #8–12, Parachute Hopper #10 | 65–78°F | |||||||||
| Trico Mayfly Tricorythodes sp. | In season | Peak | In season | Trico Spinner #22–26 | 60–72°F | |||||||||
| Mahogany Dun Mayfly Paraleptophlebia sp. | Peak | In season | Comparadun #16 | 52–62°F | ||||||||||
| October Caddis Caddis Dicosmoecus sp. | Peak | Peak | Orange Stimulator #8 | 48–58°F |
- In season
- Peak
- This month
A month is marked when any of the watershed charts lists the hatch, and as a peak when most of them peak then. Smaller streams often see lighter or later hatches.
River hatch charts in Montana
Montana hatch FAQ
What are the main hatches in Montana?
Midge, Blue-Winged Olive, Skwala Stonefly, Pale Morning Dun, and Salmonfly are on the most watershed hatch charts across Montana's rivers.
When is the best hatch fishing in Montana?
May, Jul, when 6 of the 14 hatches on the chart are on the water. Check local reports: weather moves every hatch.
Where does this hatch chart come from?
From the hatch charts of the 11 watersheds Montana's rivers run through. A month is marked when any of them lists the hatch, and as a peak when most of them peak then.
