The Gallitin
11-15 Nice weather continues to have a grip on Southwest Montana and we continue to get a little dry fly fishing on the gallatin though most anglers are focusing their attention on streamer fishing .The streamer fishing is great this time of year On most stretches of the river .The lower stretches of river are a popular spot for streamer fisherman to target due to the chance for a larger than average fish. Nymphing with an egg fallowed by a midge or a small mayfly nymph.
Recommended Fly Patterns
Nymphs:
Explosion Stone Purple, Double Bead Stone Hares Ear, Flashback Pheasant Tail, Black Copper John, and Master Baetis.
Streamers:
Black Bugger,Copper Zonker,White Bow River Bugger,Jrs Ch stramer black.
Dries:
Royal Wulff, H & L Variant, Para Adams, Para Wulff BWO.
The Lower Madison
11-15 The lower is traditionally a very good fall river and this year has been no exception. Some anglers have had very good streamer fishing while others have been nymphing up some nice fish as well .Dry fly fishing has been nonexistent .The fish in the lower tend to stack up a bit in the cooler months so if you catch one there may be quite a few in that spot. There are a lot of fish spawning in the canyon so watch where you step . There are not many hatches going on rite now , so fishing an attractor is a good idea . Eggs and worms work well with a small bead head fallowing behind .
Recommended Fly Patterns
Nymphs:
Tailwater Tiny, Black or Red Copper John, Red Headed Stepchild, SJ Worm, Bubbleback Pheasant Tail, Otter's Soft Milking Egg
Streamers:
Clouser crayfish, big horn bugger, JJ special, brown bugger, Crazy Dad Crawfish.
Dries: Para Variant, Para Adams, BWO Parawulff
The Upper Madison
11-15 The streamer fishing has been red hot in the Madison valley for the past few weeks .We have had reports of fish eating small buggers slow striped and huge gaudy streamers stripped as fast as you can have been producing some quality fish . The nymphing has also been good with a large attractor and a bead .The dry fly fishing has been spotty ,although we have had repots of some beatis hatching around the valley garden area. With the lower than average water levels the wade fishing is as good as it gets .
Recommended Fly Patterns
Nymphs:
Brown/yellow rubberlegs, Black/Orange Crystal Rubberleg, Bubbleback Pheasant Tail, Lightning Bug Black, Pearl Spitfire
Streamers:
Olive and White Zonker, Kiwi Mudler,
Black Bugger, Silveys sculpin leech.
Dries:
Para Adams, CDC Lowrider Olive, H & L Variant, Ride-Right BWO.
The Yellowstone
11-15 If you're a wade fisherman fall is a great time to get on the Yellowstone, the water levels are low which makes it a little less daunting as the river is usually way to big to wade successfully and fish are a little less spread out . With the fish more concentrated this makes working a run a lot more productive .Most successful anglers are nymphing a streamer and a bead head or stipping baitfish patterns .Some of the foam holes have fish eating midges on top but for the most part that's about it for dries.
Recommended Fly Patterns
Streamers:
Olive & White & Natural Zonker, Olive Wooly Bugger, Conehead Superflash Black, Heavy Metal Sculpin.
Dries:
Para Wulff BWO, Royal Wulff, Para Variant, CDC Baetis Emerger.
Nymphs:
Rubberlegs Brown/Coffee, Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail, CDC Bubbleback Olive, Lightning Bug Black
The Missouri
11-15 Between dams the fishing has been off the hook with lots of lake fish looking to spawn . The river around craig has been fishing well with beatis and midges . Although mostly nymphing the river still produces quite a few fish caught on dries this time of year . Don't forget the streamer box, with the cooler temps the fish are chasing streamers pretty consistently .
Recommended Fly Patterns
Nymphs:
Tailwater Tiny Olive, Lightning Bug, Bubbleback Pheasant Tail, CDC Bubbleback Olive
Dries:
CDC ParaWulff Royal, Ride-Right BWO, H&L Variant, Para Adams, CDC Baetis Emerger
Streamers:
CH Superflash Tan, Clouser Crayfish Olive, JR's CH Streamer Golden Shiner, and White Bow River Buggers
The Bighorn
11-15 Some great fishing to be had on the big horn this time of year .Late season is far less crowded and the fishing can be just as good as the summer months .We have had good reports of dry fly fishing with baetis patterns as well as midges on warmer days you may even see a few black caddis around .The nymphing has been great mostly with a worm and a black zebra midge .The streamer fishing has also been very good ,if you want to try something different try one of the lower stretches of the river .
Recommended Fly Patterns
Nymphs:
Shrimp Cocktail, Ray Charles Gray and Pink, Bubbleback Pheasant Tail, Zebra Midge, Hunchback Scud
Dries:
Para Adams, CDC Baetis Emerger, Ride Right BWO
Streamers:
JJ Special, Bighorn Bugger, Heavy Metal Sculpin, Tequeely
The Spring Creeks
11-15 With the diminishing crowds and lower rod fees the creeks are a great option for the off season months .Look for fish to be eating midges on top even on the nastiest of days. There may still be a few beatis hanging around .We have been seeing a lot of river fish in the creeks in the past couple of weeks .Subsurface stuff like midge larva, worms ,eggs and crane fly larva are all working well .As of oct 15 rod fees are $40.00 a day .
Recommended Fly Patterns
Dries:
Para Adams, CDC Lowrider Olive, CDC Baetis Emerger,Griffiths gnat,Spider Midge.
Nymphs:
Pickpocket Claret, Silver Streak, Bubbleback Pheasant Tail, Zebra Midge, Black Copper John #18, Tailwater Tiny Olive
Spring Creeks Water Contacts
DePuy's 406.222.0221
Armstrong's 406.222.2979
Milesnick's 406.388.7001
Nelson's 406.222.2159