Tag: Fishing Report

October 1st – 21st | Madison River Fishing Report

Well it’s the same old song and dance here on the Upper Madison as fly selections, water flows and even the weather has been pretty consistent over the past few weeks. That consistency may not make for a very exciting latest fishing report but it’s kind of nice to not have to dig through the fly boxes trying to figure out what they’re eating every other day.

Under the surface we’re still mostly running size #18 and #20 mayfly nymphs like Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Delektable Big Spankers, Delektable Ranch BWOs, RS2’s, WD-40s, Zebra Midges and Lightning Bugs. Smaller (#8 or #10) stonefly nymphs are picking up fish here and there as well as Worms and October Caddis Nymphs.

Streamer fishing has picked up some and word on the street is fish are starting to chase after bigger flies a little more aggressively. Delektable Double Screamers, Sex Dungeons, Sundell’s Bad Boy, Zuddlers, Mini Loops and Trevors Sculpins are all good choices. Colors of choice can vary with the weather so make sure you’ve got a bit of a variety.

Dry fly fishing is still pretty good in the later part of the day. Purple Crazes, Olive Comparaduns or a Parachute Adams should get the job done for the BWOs and Baetis. October Caddis dries can bring some nice fish to the surface as well; a larger Goddard Caddis or Delektable Twisted X in orange will suffice for that hatch.

September 24th – 30th | Madison River Fishing Report

Flows and fishing have been pretty consistent with our last report with tiny bugs catching most fish and streamers and dry flies doing well in the right places at the right times.

 

BWO and Baetis nymphs have been responsible for most of our success around these parts. Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Rs2’s, Hogan’s S&Ms, Micro Mayflies, and Copper Johns in sizes #18 and #20 are all good flies to trail behind a large Prince Nymph, Delektable CDC Halloween or a Pat’s Rubberleg.

Dry fly fishing has been best on the upper wade section of the river. It’ll be tough to beat a well placed #18 or #20 Parachute Adams or Purple Craze. Fish seem to be looking up from about 3:00 until Dark.

 

The streamer fishing has been inconsistent but rewarding when you commit to it. Sparkle Minnows, Bow River Buggers, Zonkers, Delektable Screamers and Sundell’s Bad Boy have all produced some quality fish.

September 17th – 23rd | Madison River Fishing Report

Water flow has dropped a tad since last week’s report, below Hebgen we’re running at about 940 c.f.s. and the gauges at Kirby and Varney are both reading right around 1,000 c.f.s. The small Baetis and Blue Wing Olives have become the name of the game as fall has begun to set in, along with the streamers of course.

Early mornings have been tougher so most of us have been starting the day around 9 or 10 o’clock. Small Baetis and BWO nymphs have been the most productive. Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Flashback Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns, Lightning Bugs, Hogan’s S and Ms, Micro Mays, and Princes are our top flies for the week, all in sizes #18 and #20. Occasionally #16’s too. Try trailing one behind a streamer.

The streamer fishing is getting better by the day and we’ve seen some quality fish come on the meaty flies. Stuff like Delektable Screamers, Sparkle Minnows, Circus Peanuts, JR’s Coneheads and Trevor’s Sculpins are all good choices to look for that big brown we’re all after.Dry fly fishing has been tougher to find but keep an eye on the slack waters for fish taking BWOs. It will be tough to beat a #18 Purple Craze or Parachute Adams to match that hatch and you may be able to coach a couple fish up with October Caddis patterns like Delektable Twisted Xs or a PMX. If that’s the type of fishing you seek, the upper wade section would probably be the place for you.

For any other tips or advice call or stop by the shop anytime between 8:00am and 6:30pm, we’re always glad to help!

September 10th – 16th | Madison River Fishing Report

Water flow is down to about 960 cubic feet per second below Hebgen Lake, 1,020 at Kirby and 1,010 down at Varney Bridge. Day time temperatures in the 60’s have put a damper on the grasshopper fishing but the cooler weather brings other types of fishing opportunities.

Attractor dries and smaller flies are picking up some fish off the surface. Small caddis patterns like Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis and the Delektable Twisted X have been doing the trick as well as the Delektable Royal Chubbyness’ and Yeager’s 409’s on the attractor side of things.

Nymph fishing is becoming the way to get numbers once again, especially earlier in the day while it’s cooler then later in the afternoon again. Our best flies have been Small Princes, Flashback Pheasant Tails, Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Serendipities and Shop Vacs.

The streamer bite is showing improvement but it will most likely be a couple weeks before it really turns on. We’ve seen some nice fish come on Delektable Double Screamers, McCune’s Sculpins, Zonkers, Sculpzillas and Bow River Buggers. Dead drifts with a couple twitches here and there seem to be getting more attention than faster strips.

Starting September 17th we’ll be opening a bit later due to daylight hours changing. Our new store hours will be 7:30am to 7:00pm every day. Our hours will change again with the sunlight changing.

September 3rd – 9th | Madison River Fishing Report

 

 

 

 

 

 

We saw about a 100 cubic feet per second drop in flow on Thursday but by now the fish have settled back into things. Cooler night time temps coming up mean that if you want to fish hoppers you should think about getting a later start as the grasshoppers move around more in the heat.

Dry fly fishing has continued to keep folks happy and produce solid fish. We’re starting to see some Caddis and Blue Wing Olive hatches throughout the river as well as terrestrial fishing we’ve grown used to. Our best bugs have been Delektable Chubbyness’, Delektable Twisted X, Delektable Flying Ants, Delektable Halos, Bloom’s Stealth Ant, Morrish Hoppers, Yeager’s 409 and Purple Crazes.

The nymph bite has been excellent with a good variety of patterns getting the job done. Top picks are Delektable Hammerheads, Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Serendipities, Wire Worms, Prince Nymphs, Flashback Pheasant Tails, Pat’s Rubberlegs’ and Psycho Princes.

Streamer fishing has been typical, meaning you’re not going to be hooking them left and right but you are likely to get a couple nice ones. We’ve gotten good fish on Black Delektable Double-Screamers, Olive McCune’s Sculpins, Black Sculpzillas and Olive Mini-Loops.

August 27th – September 2nd | Madison River Fishing Report

Well flows are holding steady as they usually do this time of year. The fish are eating a bit of everything these days and as Summer winds down there’s no better time to take advantage of good weather and good fishing.

We’ll start with dry flies because they’re fun. Not much has changed in this area with focus remaining on grasshoppers and ants with some other attractors bringing them out as well. Our favorite dries this week are the Triple Decker Hopper, Yeager’s Hopper, Grillo’s Pool Toy, Dave’s Hopper, Delektable Flying Ants, Delektable Chubbyness’ and Purple Crazes.

The streamer fishing has been rewarding for those of us willing to go under the surface. Delektable Double Screamers especially in black/olive, McCune’s Sculpin, Sheila’s Sculpin, Fish-Skull Sparkle Minnows, and Sculpzillas have all had their moments of glory lately. I’d recommend getting out a bit earlier if you’re wanting to streamer fish and later in the afternoon for the dries.

Bead-heads are still catch fish, and they do it pretty well believe it or not. We’ve been getting ‘em on Psycho Princes, Formerly Known as Princes, Delektable Hammerheads, Pat’s Rubberlegs, Worms and Lightning Bugs.

 

We’re still in the shop 7AM-7PM every day so call or stop in anytime, we’re glad to answer any questions and help any way we can and keep an eye out for upcoming weekly fishing reports!

August 13th – 19th | Madison River Fishing Report

Flows are pretty consistent with last week’s report, we’re sitting at 1,160 c.f.s. below Hebgen Lake, 1,230 c.f.s. at Kirby and 1,240 c.f.s. down at Varney. We’re looking forward to the predicted cooler air temps over the next couple of days to put the fires down and keep the fish happy.

The hopper bite has been pretty darn good in the afternoons. Ants and some attractor patterns have also been fishing well. Our top recommended dry flies are Mongo Hoppers, Panty Dropper Hoppers, Yeti Hoppers, Bloom’s Stealth Ant, Delektable Flying Ants, Delektable Secret Stones in smaller sizes, Delektable Chubbyness’ and Purple Hazes.

 

The nymphs have been fishing well; especially earlier in the mornings before the terrestrials start moving around. Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Delektable Hammerheads, Formerly Known as Princes, Lightning bugs, Serendipities and Pat’s Rubberlegs have all been getting some nice fish out there.

Streamers are picking up some nice fish especially earlier and later in the day, and trailing a little nymph behind a big meaty fly is a good call during the heat of the day. We’ve had success on Copper bodied Zonker, Olive Trevor’s, Sheila’s Sculpins, Delektable Screamers, Conehead JR’s and Zuddlers.

 

It’s been an awesome August thus far for the fishing on the Upper Madison so if you have the chance you better take advantage! Stay tuned for more reports and be sure to stop in or call the shop with any questions or fishing stories!

July 23rd – 29th | Madison River Fishing Report

We’re so thankful for all who came this weekend in support of our annual Montana Hope Project Fundraiser, what an experience it is to spend a couple days with awesome people joining together for a great cause.  The fishing is of course, still excellent with this big water year we’ve had. Flows are down to 1,300 c.f.s. below Hebgen Lake, 1,400 c.f.s. at the Kirby gauge and 1,600 c.f.s. down at Varney.

The fish are looking up throughout the day as PMDs emerge early, Hoppers and ants are keeping them going throughout the day and the spinners fall in the evening with the caddis. Some of our favorite flies have been Purple Hazes, PMD Comparaduns, Fat Alberts, White Cloud Hoppers, Delektable Chubbyness’, Delektable Flying Ants, Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis and Bloom’s Parachute Caddis.

With the dry fly fishing being so good, less folks have been running the bead-heads but they’re certainly still working. Flies like Delektable Stonefly Candy and Pat’s Rubberlegs are doing a good job at imitating those nocturnal stoneflies that have been hatching while we sleep and Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Lightning Bugs, Tung Darts, Prince Nymphs and Caddis Pupas have all been doing well for the smaller bugs.

The streamer bite has still been pretty inconsistent but if you’re willing to get up real early and get after it your odds of getting a couple real nice fish are as good as any. Fly recommendations would be Delektable Double-Screamers, Sundell’s Bad Boy, Galloup’s Butt Monkey or Sparkle Minnows.

July 16th – 22nd | Madison River Fishing Report

It continues to be an impressive year here on the Upper Madison with very healthy flows and bug hatches. We’re sitting at about 1,320 cubic feet per second of water flow below Hebgen Lake, at the Kirby gauge she’s running at 1,460 and down at Varney Bridge flows are at 1,690(about 400 c.f.s. above historic average).

The PMDs are coming off around 8 o’clock am, Caddis are hatching throughout the middle of the day and we’re still picking up plenty of fish on the attractors. Our favorite dry patterns have been Delektable Chubbyness’ in smaller sizes, Delektable Secret Stones in Dark Olive, Delektable Halos, Purple Crazes and lastly the Rusty Spinners have been killer as the sun goes down.

Lots of fish are being caught sub-surface as well. Weather under a dry fly or an indicator if you’re looking to get higher numbers of fish you’ll be best off fishing stuff like Green Machines, Delektable Lil’ Spankers in Olive or Pheasant Tail, smaller Pat’s Rubberlegs, Prince Nymphs, Lightning Bugs and Batwing Emergers.

Streamer fishing has brought us a mixed bag of reports but the best luck seems to be coming early in the morning or late in the evening. Recommended flies would be Delektable Single Screamers, Mini-Loop Sculpins, Trevor’s, Sparkle Minnows and Zonkers. You’re probably best off fishing low and slow in the deeper plunge-pools and around the rocks rather than pounding the banks.

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone this upcoming weekend for our Montana Hope Project Fundraiser. There will be lots of good food and treats as well as fly casting and tying demonstrations for a great cause. As always, feel free to call or stop by the shop for any other tips or info and keep an eye out for more reports!

July 9th – 15th | Madison River Fishing Report

  

Man, it’s tough to believe it’s already the middle of July. It’s almost as tough to believe that almost 3 weeks after the word got out about salmon flies and goldens hatching we are still getting them on the big dries on the upper end of the river. Flows are still way above historic average; in fact we saw an increase in flow out of Hebgen Dam just yesterday. She’s moving at about 1,400 cubic feet per second below Hebgen, just under 1,600 at Kirby and by the time you get to the Varney gauge we’re reading just under 2,000 c.f.s.

The dry fly fishing continues to impress as PMD’s, Caddis, Yellow Sallies and Flavilineas have been hatching consistently. It’s been best earlier and later in the days but if you work hard enough you can get some fish on top throughout the day. We’ve had good luck on a variety of the small Delektable Chubbyness’ as well as Delektable Twisted Babies, Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis, Purple Hazes, Lil’Hotties, Trudes and Wulffs.

Most days the nymph bite is of course, fantastic. Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Delektable Sure Strikes, Serendipities, Prince Nymphs, Two-Bit Hookers, Lemon Drops, Pat’s Rubberlegs and Psycho Princes have all caught their fair share of fish as of late. Fish any of those in tandem under a bobber, on a tight line or under a dry fly and you’re bound to get into a few fish.

We’ve had some success on streamers, especially first thing in the morning when the water is nice and cold. Our favorite flies have been Zonkers, McCune’s Sculpins, Sheila’s, and Delektable Screamers. The fish are hanging out around the boulders waiting for a good meal, just make sure you’re ready to set the hook!

 

Our annual Montana Hope Project fundraiser is less than two weeks away and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone come out. As always, Captain Marty will be making his famous Gumbo and Dan will have his Elk Chili along with all the snacks and deserts you could ask for. Mark your calendars now for July 28th and 29th to have a good time for a great cause.