Fly-Fishing Report
Updated 07/22/2007
GUIDE'S CHOICE (Upper Madison)
The Upper Madison flows have been between 1400-1700 lately, providing better boating and overall fishing conditions. Caddis and PMD's have been bringing fish to the surface, and bushy attractor dries have been working well with a small beadhead PMD or yellow sally nymph underneath it. Dead drifting a small beadhead or soft hackle behind a large "look-at-me" fly such as a McCune's sculpin, zonker, or Sheila sculpin can turn some of the bigger fish up there, but can also just simply be productive. Brown flexi-rubberlegs have been a standby go-to nymph lately.
Gallatin
CFS: 502
The Gallatin is flowing clear. Overall the Gallatin is fishing good. Fish have been taking attractor dries such as PMX's, Humpies, & Crystal Stimulators, as well as the more specific patterns for PMD's and caddis. Also, the Spruce Moths are starting to get on the water, and fish are eating them. Evening dry fly fishing with Caddis and PMD's has been good. During the morning and afternoon hours fish will look up for attractor patterns and Yellow Sallies, and terrestrials have started to turn heads. Small beadheads such as Pheasant Tails, Hare's Ears, and Lightning Bugs are productive throughout the day. The lower Gallatin below the I-90 bridge and the East Gallatin are closed after 2pm.
Lower Madison
CFS: 1,650
The Lower Madison is closed after 2pm due to high water temperatures. The water is warm enough that they are doing pulse flows daily to cool it down, and the party boats are filling the Warm Springs to Black's Ford float. There are definitely better fishing options right now. The water temperature has been between 70-76 degrees, so fish early mornings. A Clouser Crayfish, Rick's Cray, or a McCune's Sculpin followed by a small beadhead nymph such as a bubbleback pheasant tail or lightning bug is your best bet. Once the water temperature gets this high the fishing slows down, and remember fish often die after being released in water over 70 degrees, so take extra care nursing back before releasing them.
Yellowstone
CFS: 2,850 Livingston
The Yellowstone is closed to fishing from 2pm until midnight due to high water temps.The hot weather has slowed fishing midday recently. The best fishing will be in the mornings. Fish have been rising to caddis, Yellow Sallies, PMD's, and attractor patterns such as PMX's, Trudes and Stimulators. Hoppers and Terrestrials have also received some attention lately, and tricos are starting to show up as well. Nymphing with a Zonker or Bow River Bugger followed by a Lightning Bug has been a good combo, and beadhead soft hackles have also worked well as dropper flies.
Upper Missouri
CFS: 3,480 Holter Dam
There are many caddis and PMD's on the river, and the dry fly fishing is great. Fish a #16 Tan X-Caddis or any number of PMD patterns. Hit this river now before the crowds and hot weather slows the fishing. Nymphing has been good lately. Mini Two Tone Worm followed by a #16 Soft Hackled Pink Sow Bug has been productive lately. Little pheasant tail variations and #18 mayfly nymphs have been working well, as have caddis pupa. One more thing that has been working is crayfish patterns on a dead drift. Fishing crayfish is often overlooked by anglers on the Mo, but over the last year they have produced very well. Before the weeds get bad, another option is fishing streamers. A J.J. Special or Olive Bow River Bugger with a pulse retrieve has been working well. The river below Hauser Lake is another option. The spawners are done, so the crowds won't be quite as crazy. It has been nymphing well with #18 Superflash Pheasant Tails and #16 Pink Ray Charles.
Bighorn
CFS: 1,760 St. Xavier
Fishing remains solid on the Horn. Mostly nymphing but the midge and baetis fishing has been great recently. PMD's have not really gotten going this year, and the low water may have something to do with this. A #14 Two Tone Mini Worm and a #16 Buff Sow Bug will catch so many fish, your arm will hurt. Not much has changed over the last month or so, other than increased pressure. There are a ton of fish in the river in the 17-19 inch range and they are lined up in the riffles. The flows have been stable at about 1700 c.f.s. for quite a while and the river is very accessable to wade fishermen.
Spring Creeks
CFS:
The PMDs have arrived on the creeks along with some caddis. Not a ton of PMD's, but when you catch the hatch right, you can find good dry fly action. The rest of the time, you can do well on a #18 Brown Micro May or your favorite tiny mayfly nymph patterns. The spring creeks are a great option right now, but make your reservation early. They can get busy when most of the area is unfishable.
Yellowstone National Park
Water temperatures of 82 degrees killed hundreds of rainbow and brown trout in the Firehole. The voluntary restrictions have become mandatory. They are asking people not to fish between noon and six on many of the park waters. The Firehole is unfishable at these temperatures. The Madison can offer some tricky fishing with attractors, caddis and ants. The Gibbon is good with attractors such as Wulffs and Humpies. Fishing on the Gibbon can require skill as the fish can be very spooky. Lamar and Soda Butte are closed at 2pm as well but are fishing well in the morning with caddis, small hoppers, and PMD's. Fish are looking up for various attractors at times and also nymphing is good. Slough is also closed at 2pm. Fishing is good with Green and Grey Drakes, PMD's and Caddis. There are still Salmonflies and Golden stones on the Yellowstone near Tower, but it also has afternoon restrictions. Check with the park to see if what is closed when you go. Fishing Lewis and Shoshone Lakes can be very good this time of year with big streamers but we haven't heard any reports back yet.
The Dillon Area
CFS:
The Upper stretch of the Big Hole is closed to fishing due to warm and low water conditions. Downstream fishing has been good with attractor patterns such as stimulators, humpies and also some caddis, and fishing should be taking hoppers as well. The tailwater section of the Beaverhead is a great option in warm weather, with good numbers of fish being caught, albeit maybe not a lot of huge fish. Fish are mostly being caught on small caddis and mayfly beadhead nymphs such as pheasant tails and crystal serpendipities. The caddis fishing in the evening has been great, and the crowds aren't that bad either. As usual nymphing is the game here. For the Stillwater guy, Clark Canyon has been fishing very well this year and is a good option for someone looking to tangle with a big fish.
The Missoula Area
CFS:
The Bitterroot, Blackfoot, and Clark Fork all have madatory afternoon closures because of the high water temps, so Rock Creek is probably your bet. PMD's, Hoppers, Caddis and other attractor dries and terrestrials should work well, and dropping a beadhead nymph off the back will also garner attention. Keep in mind that water temperatures are getting pretty high in the afternoons and evenings, so starting early is a good idea.
The Henry's Fork
CFS:
The entire river is now open to fishing. PMD'S and Flavs are the main hatches going on. Fishing is best in the Warm River to Chester Dam stretch. Nymphing has been good in the box canyon. Also up the South Fork there has been some excellent nymphing and big stoneflies will be starting any time. The Last Chance section is slowing down and Harriman's is fishing o.k. with PMD's.
Area Lakes and Reservoirs
CFS:
Canyon Ferry lake fishing seems to have slowed down. Harrison Lake has been fishing pretty well lately with damsel nymphs, Callibaetis nymphs, and small sparse leeches. On Hebgen,the Callibaetis are going, and fish are eating. In the evening there have been a lot of caddis on the water also. Ennis lake also has Callibaeitis hatching, and Tricos are starting as well. Clark Canyon Resevoir has been fishing very well lately with big princes and chironomids. Hyalite is fishing ok with leeches and small nymphs slow retreived. There have been lots of folks up on the upper end of the lake, which is where you want to be right now. The spawning fish have returned to the resevoir and have been eating; the biggest obstacle is vegetation in the water.