Tag: Southwest Montana Fly Fishing

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.

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!