Weather & Water Conditions, Fishing Report
Here's a few links to keep you informed with up to date info.
August 23rd, 2011
Madison River below Quake Lake: Mornings can be good fishing epeorus spinners along the banks. Keep a sharp eye out, the larger trout can be very hard to detect and make only the slightest dimple. Afternoon nymph fishing has been good with size 18 crystal dips and 18 nitro's. Ants and beetle patterns fished through the pockets can also bring up a few nice trout. Stealth is paramount to success. Evening spinner fishing has been o.k. and we are seeing flying ants.
Gallatin River: The best fishing on this river has been from Red Cliff campground through the canyon stretch to Bozeman. Spruce moths have been plentiful, and we all know how much the trout relish these terrestrials. We are also beginning to see a few flying ants now. While a fall of the ants is not predictable, I would not be on the river without a good supply. Hoppers and beetle patterns can also bring a few rout to hand.
Hebgen Lake: Callibaetis are still going strong all over the lake. Look for duns between 9:00 and 10:00am and the spinners to follow shortly after. I have had my best luck with a size 18 in both the dun and spinner stages. The fish are beginning to zig zag a bit more making the fishing a bit more challenging. There have been flying ants showing up here and there. Once again, I would not go without a few of these patterns in my box.
Lamar, Soda Butte and Slough Creeks: we are starting to see a few of the fall drakes emerge during the afternoons. The hatch has not really begun yet, but sure could get going any time. This is also the time to look for a size 22 cream baetis to hatch. The trout will get on these tiny bugs if they are around at all. Terrestrials have been the best bet. Ants, beetles, crickets and hoppers have all been working well. Soda Butte has had a few Grizzlies in the lower end, causing some small sections to be closed on a daily basis. I would not go to this area of the park without Bear Spray. I carry mine everywhere I fish.
Henry's Fork Railroad Ranch: Callibaetis in the mornings are still well worth getting up for. Duns and spinners can both play a role. Flying ants later in the morning into the afternoon hours have also had the big fish looking up. The ants are in a variety of sizes and colors, so an ample supply of patterns is not a bad idea. The bank feeders can be very hard to detect. Walk slowly and exercise that thing called patience.
June 6, 2011
The Firehole has fished very well. Pale morning duns and Baetis mayflies can be expected daily from noon to 4p.m. Look for caddis around 3p.m and later with their emergence going until dark on warm evenings. The river fishes best now about Nez Perce Creek and below Mallard Creek. Places like Fountain Flats Drive, Goose Lake Meadows, Midway and Muleshoe Bend have fished consistent every day. I like to arrive around 9am on warm mornings, those above freezing, and look for a pmd spinner fall. Imitating the PMD spinners is always a tough deal it seems for you may have dozens of trout rising to spinner but you will seldom walk away from fishing a spinner fall feeling like you mastered it! One never seems to take as many fish as you'd think with all those willing targets. Best patterns are our PMD Foam Spinner #16 along with the new Splitsville Spinner of the same size.
Around 11am you can expect some soft rises by big fish along the banks in selected spots along the river as big browns might begin to take nymphs drifting and preparing to emerge. A PMD Foam Nymph, size #16, is best for this challenge. Next usually by noon you might see fish actively taking duns off the surface and now's the time to switch to a highly visible #q6 PMD Sparkle Dun. You'll want to pay close attention as Baetis might emerge now too, especially if it is raining or snowing. I like a Soft Hackle Baetis Emerger and Baetis Sparkle Dun, both #20's. Some fish may actually prefer the smaller insects, the Baetis, so it pays to watch closely each rise and riseform.
In the late afternoon hours look for White Miller, Little Black and Hydropscyhe sp caddis emergences. Have Iris, X and X2 patterns and you will be covered. Reliable egg-laying caddis times should begin as the weather stabilizes, whenever that might be is anyones' guess this year but if you read this report and our blog entries we will report on it soon I am betting. (Sleeper bet this week might be the Salmon Flies coming off in Firehole Canyon with a sunny day….
The Madison in the park has fished well too. There is wonderful streamer action in all likely spots from the Barns Pools upstream to Shakey Bieley's Run and the head of Riverside Dr. At Riverside look for pmds this coming week if the weather holds. You will see Baetis here and all the way to Madison Junction now too and be prepared with flies like those we talked about for the Firehole River.
The Madison River between the lakes has been good. I don't mean to preach but limit yourself here to a fish or 2 and leave for another spot. These rainbows are just finishing their spawning time, are weak and very vulnerable now. The active spawning fish should always be avoid and left alone to spawn and bring us fishing into the future. The flow from Hebgen Dam is over 2000 cfs, high and strong and dangerous. Fly pattern here is not critical as most anything small and red will work; a Rick's Red Midge, SJ, Twinkle Midge, and others will work fine.
The Madison River below Earthquake Lake continues to fish very well. Here it is mostly a nymph-streamer proposition. The past few days the West Fork has cleared a bit making the river all the way to McAtte very fishable. This might continue into the near future with our forecasted cool temps. Our guides and clients have had good success on their float trips pitching big rubber legs trailing Slough Creek and Twinkle Midges against the banks. From Raynolds to the West Fork the action has been great in the early morning hours working upstream and casting streamers directly upstream dead drift like fishing a big nymph, on a short line. You will see the take as big fish grab your streamers like Sculpizzilas in white, Soft Hackle Streamers in white or yellow and white woolhead sculpins. If you'd like to try this get to the river around 5:30-6a.m. and fish until 9, you will be glad to got on the water to give this early streamer stuff a try!
While fishing this stretch keep an eye out for rising fish. even in the heavy flows coming now trout will rise in a few sleeked spots to Baetis and March Browns so be ready daily from noon to 4pm should you come upon rising fish.
Hebgen Lake's midge fishing has been awesome. Both the south shore and the north are fishing well in the mornings and evenings during midge times provided it is warm and calm. Warm in our country this time of year means anything above freezing. Last Saturday the fish rose to midge pupae even as it snowed in the Watkins Creek flats area. Position yourself so you can use the sun (if it shows, and it has twice this year already!) to your benefit in seeing the cruisers as they search for emerging midge pupae. While some fish may come to dry imitations the best patterns will usually be midge pupae like the PT Chironomid and our Driskill's Midge. These huge pupal patterns imitate the midge pupae so well they are usually the only patterns you will need in your box. You can trail the PT behind the Driskill which often works great or use one of the 2. You must determine the direction and depth the fish is working at, each fish may be different, then present your cast usually 6-10' in front of the cruiser. Now wait and let your pattern flutter down in front of the fish, sometimes they'll rush to it and you will see the classic wink of white as their mouth opens to inhale your offering. Most often though you will see the fish's posture change as it fins over to inspect the fly,now as it approaches give a slow-short pull, about 3-5" is all, on your fly line moving it a bit and the fish will take. Do NOT strike hard or you will certainly break off, instead simply raise the rod tip releasing your grip on the line and this will be enough to get you hooked up….I'll bet you break your first one off! Hebgen Lake has been called the best early season midge lake in the west, we think it goes ever further and feel it is the finest dry fly fishing lake during Trico and Callibaetis times all summer long. You be the judge here for yourself, give the lake a try and you too will be hooked forever. During non-hatch times tryout crayfish patterns along the south side. Crayfish are expanding their range on the lake having traditionally been around the Happy Hour Bar, now they go all the way to the dam. More on this in a later report.
Henry's Lake continues it early season fickle self. It teases most after they catch their first 7 pound hybrid into thinking they will be hooked up many more times that day. Most find they should have quit and headed elsewhere after that initial fish. Those veterans that stay with it, fishing small midge pupa, tiny leeches and Callibaetis Nymphs are often rewarded. On this fine lake you have to put your time in, and if the winds come strong from the north head somewhere else for the day, somewhere like Cliff or Wade Lakes. These lakes have been consistent this spring. Great scenery, beautiful fish that fight as hard as any in the world and lots of them. Wade requires more heads-up angling using midges, Callibaetis, damsel and dragon patterns while on Cliff you will need a crayfish pattern in the prongs area and a seal leech fluy.