Tag: Montana fishing guides
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 28th and 29th | Montana Hope Project
Thank you to all who joined us at our Montana Hope Project event. We had a great time eating good food, visiting with friends, relaxing, casting, and tying. We are excited to share that we exceeded last year’s totals and have more funds to help the Montana Hope Project Families.
This is our favorite weekend of the year at Beartooth Flyfishing and it will always be. Thank you everyone for being part of this special event.
The Delektable Crew
June 8th – June 16th | Madison River Fishing Report
The river has continued to drop throughout the week, it’s down from 1,650 to 1,240 c.f.s. below Hebgen and at the Kirby gauge she’s running at about 1,600 c.f.s. Night time low temperatures have been pretty darn cold so there’s no reason to rush out too early in the morning as the fish have been waiting for water temps to come up a bit later in the morning to start biting.
The best fishing has been sub-surface over the past week. Nymphs have been doing the most work out there with Shop-Vacs, Rubberlegs, Princes, Delektable Hurless Stones, Psycho Princes, and Wire Worms being some of our top picks.
We have continued to have a pretty good dry fly bite in the evenings with the caddis and expect salmon flies and PMDs to be playing a part in the surface action any day now. For the time being we’ll continue to fish stuff like Goddard Caddis, Delektable Twisted Babies, Delektable Halos or Bloom’s Parachute Caddis.
Streamer fishing has been a bit inconsistent but persistency pays when the timing is right. We’ve been able to pick a few good fish up on some smaller tan or olive sculpin patterns including Sculpzillas, Delektable Screamers, McCune’s and Sparkle Minnows.
If there are any other tips we might be able to give call or stop by the shop, we’ll be here from 7am till 7pm every day.
September 11th-17th | Madison River Fishing Report
Well it felt a lot like winter when I woke
up yesterday morning and that was a blessing after such a dry couple of months. With predicted rain and highs in the mid 50s and low 60s the forecast is looking good for everyone’s favorite fall festivity, STREAMER FISHING! Flows are at 861 c.f.s. below Hebgen Lake and 970 c.f.s. down at Kirby.
Speaking of streamer fishing it has been 
pretty good as of late, best in the mornings and evenings but I expect it to be an all day affair with the upcoming weather. The fish are in their normal hiding places (undercuts, boulders, logjams, etc.) feeding on their usual prey (whitefish and sculpin). Some of the bigger flies are starting to get more attention like the Delektable Double-Screamer, Circus Peanuts, Silk Kitty, and Sundell’s Bad Boys as well as the go to smaller stuff like Double Bunnys, Delektable Single Screamers and Sheila’s Sculpins.
The recent snow probably put down some of the hoppers but it usually takes a couple cold spells to get rid of them for the season. Good news is the water temp is right down to Calabaetis and BWO levels so keep an eye out for those to start hatching. The bigger caddis are lingering around the banks in the evenings but we’re still waiting for them to show up in any numbers which shouldn’t take long at all.
Nymphs are still the best option if you’re out there looking for hook ups. Mornings have been most productive but that may change with the water temps. They’ve been taking some of the bigger soft hackles and/or caddis emergers like Delektable Hammerheads and soft hackle Copper Johns as well as the smaller bead-heads such as tungsten Studlys, Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Formerly Known as Princes, and Shop Vacs.
Keep checking in for more up to date fishing reports and as always call or stop in the shop for any other tips you may need!
August 21st-27th|Madison River Fishing Report Eclipse & 60th
There is so much to share. This week we 
experienced the Solar Eclipse on the river and Kevin provided shots from Idaho. We had a mixture of fun fishing experiences including us and many friends and new friends. We had special surprise guests for Dan’s 60th birthday. And…we shared an incredible birthday cake Elle made totally in honor of Dan and “Scar Tissue”. It was quite the week of incredible experiences, fun fishing, great reunions, fabulous cake and terrific food too. Life at Beartooth can be so much fun. Thank you for sharing.
Fishing on the Upper Madison 
hasn’t changed too much throughout the month of August. The biggest change we’ve seen over the past week is that bigger fish are eating a little more readily, let’s hope that lasts. Flows are up slightly from last week below the dam to 1,040 c.f.s. and 1,190 c.f.s. at Kirby Ranch.
Dry fly fishing has still been really 
good even though sometimes we end up with a totally Tyke bite for a day then bigger fish the next day. Big swarms of flying ants can be seen from Storey Ditch down past Varney Bridge later in the afternoon but they’ll eat them almost all day. The Delektable flying ant in Purple or Cinnamon has consistently been our best pattern. Quigley’s glitter ant and the smaller Yeager’s 409’s in red are doing the trick as well. Early in the day a small Adams or Purple Craze has brought success while pseudos are about and hoppers are still producing as well. For those, the cast and location is important. The Delektable Chubbyness in #14’s and #16’s is still a good pattern with best results in UV Purple, UV Cinnamon, and Royal this week. Hoppers in pink, yellow, and cream underneath are still working.
Under the surface fish are taking big or 
small princes, small Delektable pheasant tail Lil’ Spankers, tan/brown or olive/brown Rubberlegs, bigger Delektable Hammerheads, Hare’s Ears and Delektable Big Spanker Warriors. Lightning Bugs in Silver and Pearl are still good. These flies have all been pretty good all day but best During the late morning and early afternoon.
As for the streamer fishing, things 
continue to improve. We’ve seen some good action into the hottest part of the day the last couple days. Some of our best bugs are the Delektable Single Screamer in white, the Sculpzilla in White or Tan, Mini Loops, Silvey’s sculpin leech and the Conehead Bow River Bugger. Using a sinking leader has helped with Slow strips and dead drifts around the boulders. You could even add a trailing small nymph from the list above. The smoke remains in the mountains and less so on the river.
Don’t forget to call the shop for the latest fishing information 406-682-7525. Thank you for the fun and support.
The Delektable Crew
August 14th-20th|Madison River Fishing Report
Well it’s late August, we’re flowing at about 1,000 c.f.s. below Hebgen and 1150 at Kirby. Fishing has been without much change over the past couple weeks with most fish being caught on terrestrial dries or nymphs. The forecast is calling for more warm and bright days coming up which is just fine to keep the hopper bite going.
We’ve experienced some good pseudo action hatches in the mornings and in the evenings of the same. Starting the day with a #18 or #20 parachute adams or purple craze would not be a bad idea. As it gets warmer later in the morning I’d recommend going back to the ants and hoppers. The purple Delektable Flying Ant, Dave’s Hopper, the White Cloud Hopper, Quigley’s Glitter Ant, Delektable Slammers and Fat Alberts have all been bringing fish up. There are still Spruce Moths in the early part of the day in the upper so think about trying variations of that including: Delektable Twisted Baby, Sister, or X in Tan Brown or try purple for whatever reason it is okay, purple is always a special trick color.
Our guides are catching fish on nymphs pretty consistently. Some of the top flies have been Pat’s Rubberlegs in olive/brown, Delektable pheasant tail Lil’ Spankers, Delektable prince Hammerheads, Wire Worms, Prince Nymphs and Rainbow Warriors. Any two of those under a bobber or under a streamer should produce something for you at any time of day.
The best streamer fishing is still early in the morning with small sculpin patterns. We’ve seen fish eat Bow River Buggers in black or olive, Zonkers, Mini Loops and sparkle minnows. Slow strips and dead drifts should do the trick.
Stop in the shop or give us a call for any more info you may need on how to have the best experience possible on the Upper Madison or any of our nearby waters. Enjoy the rest of the Summer!
August 7th – 13th|Madison River Fishing Report
The Upper Madison is flowing at 
1030 c.f.s. below Hebgen Lake, 1190 c.f.s. at Kirby Ranch and 1220 at Varney Bridge. The forecast calls for some much needed scattered thunder storms over the next few days with night time low temps in the 40s. We’re looking forward to kicking the dry heat for a while.
Our best action lately has been on dry 
flies. Spruce moths, ants and grasshoppers are picking fish up throughout the river. For the hoppers I’ve been doing well a with peach or pink body color. Morrish hoppers, white clouds and yeti hoppers have been a few of my favorites. Delektable twisted X has been our go to spruce moth pattern with some of the bigger elk hairs or Goddards are doing the trick as well, most of the spruce moths will be found between Pine Butte and Palisades. Small 409’s, Hippie Stompers and Delektable flying ants are working well, ants are seeing the bulk of the action most days.
Nymphing is picking up after a bit of a 
tough week last week. The river isn’t handing fish out like it was in June and July but if you’re willing to work for them they’ll eat. Smaller Pat’s Rubberlegs in brown or olive/brown, Princes, Lightning Bugs and Silver Delektable Lil’ Spankers are all doing the job at the right time.
Streamer fishing is picking up and smaller 
sculpin patterns have been the ticket. Fish have been moving out from the banks and all around boulders. Morrish’s Sculpin, Trina’s Belly Dancer, Silvey’s Sculpin and The Delektable Screamer have all been getting some attention in addition to Shiela. Either dead drift them into boulder pockets or strip them off the bank and you should see some results.
It’s been a great season so far and we’re looking forward to what the rest of the summer brings! Be sure to call or stop by for ant more tips you may need.
Brian, Kevin, and the Delektable Crew
August 6th|Yellowstone River Fishing Report
July 21st|Big Hole River Fishing Report
