InsideSeam - Shop eReports

Troutfitters:

Lower Madison:

Much of the same on the Lower Madison, 20+ inch browns, 30+ fish days, really crummy stuff that we have to put up with, too bad it's such a crummy fishery we have just 30 minutes from town (this is dripping with sarcasm if you haven't picked up on that yet, ha ha) About the only bad thing to report on has been the lack of good dry fly fishing, midges never really seemed to materialize much outside of the canyon and just below it, but then again it's been colder this winter and much windier as well. There are a few baetis popping out to say hello, but not enough to get me excited and keep me from fishing a san juan worm combo of some sort... It's been three weekends in a row now that I've talked to someone who's caught a brown over 20 inches on a San Juan, two of them 24+. So go figure huh? Beartrap is pretty busy up below the dam, but fishing is still pretty stupid up there on pink soft hackles, small midge larvae and now some mayfly nymphs as well. Everything from Cherry Creek downstream has fished well too - look for the buckets or deeper slower water. The fish are stacked in the holes and it won't be long till this see's some good BWO fishing. Until then, nymph your brains out and leave the streamer rod at home, the biggest fish have been caught below an indicator consistently over the past month. In another month we'll be fishing crayfish, but for now stick with your nymphs.

Fly pattern suggestions:
BH FB PT: 16-18-20 Copper Bead Mayfly: 16-18-20 Deaddrift Crayfish: 4 I Ain't Yo Baby's Daddy Tan & Rust: 10 Super Soft PT: 16-18 Eggs: 10 San Juan Worm Red, Tan & Brown: 6 Pink & Tan Soft Hackles: 16-18 Zebra Midge: 16-18-20 Pink Sparkle Scud: 16-18 Flourescent Orange San Juan Worm: 12
Last Updated: 3/25/08

Upper Madison:

Ok so this is the boat ramp situation, the Ennis takeout won't be ready till sometime towards the end of April as they will need to redo the ramp because it flooded and got ice jammed, 8 Mile is still snowed in and ice jammed, don't expect that to be ready for a few weeks at least, I'll keep checking. Varney and McAtee are both fine for getting boats in as long as you know you'll have to push them over some ice shelves here and there. Things have begun to thaw out a bit, but I wouldn't float below Burnt Tree (you can get a boat out there with 4WD but not without it. There have been a few guys heading up this way, but not a whole lot as the stretch of river that's open is pretty small (McAtee to Ennis and you can't really fish below Burnt Tree). Holding water wise you are still going to be looking for the fish to stack in the holes and deeper runs. Nymphing has been the mainstay, your typical stuff has been good bigger stonefly nymphs trailing smaller midge larvae and mayfly nymphs along with a few san juan worms... As well as serendipities, zebra midges, griffiths, all the standard stuff. Getting into between Quake and Hebgen has been a little easier and apparently has been fishing a little better now, had friends up there who said the nymph fishing on anything green was really good. Oh and a few eggs never hurts this time of year either... Quake to McAtee is closed now until the general opener, but apparently snow shoeing into between the lakes has been good. Lot's of snow around still. I might try and fish this on Thursday, will report on Friday if I do.
Fly pattern suggestions:
BH FB PT: 14-16-18-20 Firey Juan: 10 Copper John Black, Olive & Red: 16-18-20 Copperwire Mayfly Olive & Tan: 16-18 BH FB PT: 16-18 Copper Bead Mayfly: 16-18 Big Red: 6-8 Coppertone: 6-8 Eggs: 8-10 San Juan Worm Red, Purple, Tan: 6 Zebra Midge: 18-20 Brassies: 16-18-20 Spiderman: 12-14-16 Copper Bead Mayfly: 16-18-20 Mr. Rubberlegs Hares Ear: 6-8 Pink Wired Softhackle: 14-16

Yellowstone:

This thing in the spring when flows are low and water temps start to warm up is a bit like a prom date... I'll just leave it at that! Fishing has been good pretty much from Pine Creek down to Springdale, and have also been talking to a few guys that have headed up higher on the river towards Yankee Jim, they have been wade fishing and having good midge fishing. Hatch wise, still not really seeing the emergence of BWO's but then again it's been a lot more like winter temp and weather wise. With the spotty weather we're having, things seem to keep chugging along. Streamer fishing actually has been really good from Carters on down to 89 Bridge. There is still a bit of ice up in the slower valley sections around Grey Owl so I wouldn't put a boat in there, but wade fishing some of that upper valley stretch can be good because no one is out there. Ice on the ramps still below Springdale and you need a winch to get your boat out, so I wouldn't reccomend that just yet. Patternwise bigger stonefly patterns with san juans, mayfly nymphs and midge larvae droppers has been pretty effective, deaddrifting streamer patterns has been equally as effective and has been getting a few bigger fish gettting a few fish on the strip too - no baetis yet, some midges but not really dynamite dry fly fishing right now. Should continue to get better as we continue on into April. Look for BWO's here in the next couple of weeks, typically during a year like this we see baetis around the first of April.
Fly pattern suggestions:
Tungsten Retriever Golden, Black and Chocolate: 6-8 Mr. Rubberlegs Goldenstone: 6-8-10 Brownstone Rubberlegs: 6-8-10 Delektable Big Red: 8-10 BHFBPT: 16-18-20 Red Copper John: 18-20 Zebra Midge Red & Black: 18 Candy Cane Midge: 16-18 Bead Head San Juan Red and Brown: 6-8 Big Gulp Olive, Tan and Black: 2 Ext Hook White Faced Bow River Bugger: 4-6 Space Invader: 2-4 Mike's Wounded Rainbow: 2 Hogan's Hero: 12-14-16 BHFB Pheasant Tail: 14-16-18 Lightning Bug: 16-18 Rootbeer Float Grey:

Gallatin:

Getting a few more hit or miss reports from anglers, so I'm never quite sure who has a bad day because they don't know what's going on, how much of it's weather, how much of it's just fishing, some days are better than others. Personally I don't fish the canyon until after runoff just because it's quicker, full of smaller fish (except for the hog run by BS) and it doesn't have nearly as much aquatic life as down in the valley and above BS up towards the Park. We fished it last week, things were sort of so so, caught some fish later in the day again on the typical big prince nymphs, san juan worms and egg type patterns. I don't get overly technical on the Gallatin and typically never get skunked. Just make sure you are getting your flies down, no weight, no fish, that's the way it goes in the Spring/Winter months. And I mean add some weight, not micro shot, find the deepest slowest runs and holes and drag bottom till you snag every cast and then start adjusting accordingly so that you're rolling along the bottom. That's my best advice. That and don't expect great dry fly fishing on the Gallatin, lately there's been a few midges, and not enough BWO's to get anyone excited. Again, sometimes the more overlooked pieces of water fish better, I'll leave it at that, there are areas that some fish strictly for bigger fish that actually have pretty decent numbers of fish and a San Juan and midge can be dynamite.
Fly pattern suggestions:
BH FB PT: 14-16-18-20 Copper John Black, Olive & Chartreuse: 16-18-20 Copper Bead Mayfly: 16-18 Wilcox's Little Green Machine: 16-18-20 Anatomay Hares Ear & Peacock: 14-16-18 Mega Prince: 8-10 Mega Hares Ear: 6-8 Olive & Black Woolbuggers: 2-4-6-8 CH Bow River Bugger Black, Olive & Brown: 2-4-6 Eyez Wide Open Olive & Tan: 2 JJ's Special: 2-4-6-8 BHFBPT: 16-18-20 Zebra Midge: 16-18-20 Wilcox's Micro Midge: 20-24
Last Updated: 3/25/08

Big Hole:

Heard a few rumors that things have thawed out a little bit now, there is still ice up high and there will be some slush ice now and again too, so pick your day wisely and don't go floating anything you don't know well, because this thing is unforgiving in the spring with low flows, downed trees, ice jams etc. But there has been a few guys making it over this way and things have been spotty hit or miss. So this could be the time to go over if you're interested in a wild goose chase, cause who knows it might be good? Then again you might freeze your nuts off and not catch anything... Chance it and you can be rewarded over here at this time of year, but rest assured that you don't want to head up to high, because that stuff is surely still wintery up by Wisdom! Skwala's over on the Bitteroot, so you can use some stonefly nymphs on the Big Hole along with your standard San Juan worms and egg patterns that are always effective over here in the springtime. Not recommending streamer stripping just yet, but hey, if you like it, give it a go, it's just not very effective till later into April over here.

Fly pattern suggestions:
It's Late March now and we recommend using some bigger stonefly nymphs like a Delektable Hurless in Gray and Olive: 6-8 San Juan Worm Red, Brown, Pink, Etc, Etc: 6-8-10 BH Princes and Pheasant Tails: 12-14-16-18 Copper Johnsons Yellow and Olive: 10-12-14 Space Invader: 2-4 Yellow Yummy: 2-4-6 (why not? Yellow Yummies always work over here...)
Last Updated: 3/25/08

Troutfitters 10/10 reports:

The Gallatin got a little dirty over the weekend with the rain and snow according to reports, but I wasn't able to make it out (stomach bug) and since then it has cleared up again and is plenty fishable. Fish are moving around and getting ready to start doing there thing here soon. Seeing a few fish on beds, but not too many. It's been mostly nymphing on these bright sunny warm days, although never hurts to pitch streamers if you like to, it's a good time of year. Things have been fishing pretty darn well when the cloud cover is around and the wind isn't too bad. Talked with quite a few guys fishing the Gallatin lately and reports have been pretty good, lots of BWO's right now with the overcast and rain. Fish are still munching nymphs pretty well - smaller olive stuff and smaller pheasant tails - lot's of mayfly nymphs in the water so go figure. Been some reports of some pretty decent streamer fishing - fish are definitely starting to move around and come up out of the Missouri on the lower stretches. Still a little early for fish to be staging, but the browns are definitely getting darker and that means you could start targeting some fish on big ugly streamers. Might be worth some lower Gallatin poking around.

Fly pattern suggestions:
BH FB PT: 14-16-18-20 Copper John Black, Olive & Chartreuse: 16-18-20 Copper Bead Mayfly: 16-18 Wilcox's Little Green Machine: 16-18-20 Anatomay Hares Ear & Peacock: 14-16-18 Mega Prince: 8-10 Mega Hares Ear: 6-8 Olive & Black Woolbuggers: 2-4-6-8 CH Bow River Bugger Black, Olive & Brown: 2-4-6 Eyez Wide Open Olive & Tan: 2 JJ's Special: 2-4-6-8 Hotwire Mayfly Olive: 14-16-18 Biotic Nymph Black & Olive: 14-16
Last Updated: 10/10/07

Upper Madison: So obviously I couldn't make it out fishing this weekend so instead we called up and talked to Dan and Nancy to see what's been going on on the Upper Madison, and the word is ... not a ton of fish right now, but some good ones for sure. That's a good thing as far as I'm concerned, at this point in the year I have had enough 12 inch rainbows and browns and whitefish to fill my appetite for having caught fish; now it's time for the big boys... This is the place to go for that. So heard from some buddies at FWP that the shocking survey was about what you would expect - a ton of 20-26" browns in the Varney to 8 Mile stretch. Not surprising but definitely reinforces what I've always believed - best section of brown trout streamer water around... Not much talk of dry fly fishing, although I'm sure there's a few BWO's around. Streamers, streamers and more streamers, that's the word. Some bigger stoneflies in like a size 6 have been decent as well, and some smaller mayfly nymphs have also been pulling in some fish. Between the lakes has been good and some of the bigger browns have been moving around according to reports - red copper johns...

Fly pattern suggestions:
JJ's Special: 2-4-6-8 BH FB PT: 14-16-18-20 Firey Juan: 10 Copper John Black, Olive & Red: 16-18-20 Silvey's Sculpin Tan & Olive: 2 Eyez Wide Open Tan & Olive: 2 Bow River Bugger Olive & Black: 2 Mustang Sally: 16-18 Hairy Sculpin Brown & Light Olive: 2-4 Copperwire Mayfly Olive & Tan: 16-18 BH FB PT: 16-18 Copper Bead Mayfly: 16-18 Big Red: 6-8 Coppertone: 6-8
Last Updated: 10/10/07

Lower Madison: Kiel and a few buddies fished the Lower on Saturday, had the river to themselves, and had a great day from Cherry to Greycliff. They weren't really looking for heads, although Kiel said the BWO's were coming off in droves, but the nymph fishing was fantastic and had some fish chasing streamers as well. Right along the edges of the weedbeds is where most of the risers have been seen lately, and it has been from Warm Springs to Cherry where more of the rising fish have been seen. That's a good place typically to look for risers - they feel comfortable enough to come up and sip on the surface without exposing themselves too much. Wade fished with buddies around Greycliff last week and it was fair, a few fish munching some streamers and nymphs. Beartrap has been good lately, heard that it has been a little more consistent right up below the dam, but a few guys doing well with crayfish on the lower end as well as on streamers (JJ's). Crayfish, streamers, some small baetis nymphs, a few good dry fly patterns and that should take care of your fly selection - by the way the Clouser in tan and brown is the ticket right now.

Fly pattern suggestions:
Stinger Sculpin Olive & Tan: 2 Cone-nan The Barbarian: 2 Silvey's Sculpin Olive & Tan: 2 BH FB PT: 16-18-20 Copper Bead Mayfly: 16-18-20 Deaddrift Crayfish: 4 I Ain't Yo Baby's Daddy Tan & Rust: 10 CDC BWO Emerger: 16-18-20 Olive Anatomay: 16-18 Skip's Nymph Olive: 16 Super Soft PT: 16-18 Brooks Sprout BWO: 16-18-20 Hackle Dun Baetis: 16-18-20 Bubble Back BWO: 16-18 Rootbeer Float BWO: 16-18
Last Updated: 10/10/07

Yellowstone: Sorry we didn't get a weekend update in there for you on the clarity, I've had a stomach bug... Anyhow, spoke with Toot's today and apparently things were dirty over the weekend, semi fishable, but dirty in parts. Everything is fine now! So the river is back in shape and I'm sure that the fishing hasn't skipped a beat. I had been floating and fishing the Yellowstone a fair amount lately and the previous week it was pretty darn good on Wednesday. When the cloud cover is out, the BWO's are thick and the fish are absolutely podded in the foam lines and back eddies. A little bit of mixed success depending upon the weather, but as long as you can bundle up and handle a bit of wind, the fishing is as good as it gets right now. There are definitely plenty of fish eating right now, seemed every pool or tailout had a few fish in it, nearly everyone we talked to has had good days over on the Yellowstone lately. Cloudy days the fish are definitely chasing streamers, browns are getting their nice dark colors and getting aggressive. Ran the baitfish/beadhead combo on Wednesday and did pretty well. All reports have been if the cloud cover rolls in, the fishing has been pretty good. Copper and white zonkers, Eyez Wide Open, and whatever you want to toss off the back - pheasant tail, copper wire mayfly etc.

Fly pattern suggestions:
Ugly Bug Brown, Golden, & Black: 6-8-10 Mega Prince: 6-8-10 CH Bow River Bugger Olive & Black: 2-4-6 Silvey's Sculpin Olive, Tan & Black: 2 BH FB PT: 14-16-18 Mustang Sally: 16-18 Lightning Bug Gold: 12-14-16 Eyez Wide Open Tan & Olive: 2 Stinger Sculpin Natural: 2 JJ's Special: 2-4-6-8 Dirty Bird Rust & Tan: 12-14-16 Copper John Black & Olive: 14-16-18 Biotic Nymph Olive & Black: 16
Last Updated: 10/10/07

Jefferson: Shane if you have had any big ones, let me know buddy! Last report I had was from a few weekends ago when I had some friends that fished up high the streamer fishing was decent - not great, not poor, but decent. They caught fish on JJ's and some sculpin patterns and that fish were holding in the predictable areas - below riffles in the tailouts and pools. Everyone is psyched that the Jeff and Big Hole are open again - now we have a few more places to pitch streamers and apparently the streamer fishing on the Jeff has been pretty darn good in stretches, and sort of dead in others - about what you typically find with this river. So grab your streamers, and some nypmphs and concentrate on the riffles and look for fish to be feeding better when it's overcast. It is after all fall and it is after all time to start throwing big nasties, so why wait? Chances are the better fishing is going to be in the sections where the water has a bit more current. So probably head on up towards the lower Big Hole and Beaverhead. The stinger sculpin has been good over here :)

Fly pattern suggestions:
JJ's Special: 2-4-6 Yellow Yummy: 2-4-6 Flash Fry Platte River, Olive, White/Olive: 2 Stinger Sculpin Olive & Natural: 2 Silvey's Sculpin Tan, Black & Gray: 2 Delektable Double Screamer Streamer Cree, Olive/Black, Brown/Yellow: 2 Deaddrift Crayfish: 4 Muddbuggler: 4 I Aint Yo Baby's Daddy Rust & Tan: 8 Super Soft PT: 16-18 Copper Bead Mayfly: 16 BH FB PT: 16-18-20 Anatomay Olive: 16-18 Stinger Sculpin Tan & Olive: 2
Last Updated: 10/10/07

Big Hole: Reports from the Big Hole are that nymphing is still on fire, it's still San Juans, pheasant tails and lightning bugs, copper johns, etc. And with the cloudy weather streamer fishing has been decent as well. Water flows are coming up some still, it's over 400 and it's floatable around Melrose - don't bring your new driftboat though.. The fish are still pretty concentrated from what we have heard. This really could be a good option here in the next little bit, probably not too crowded, fish are concentrated, and it's open! Everyone that we have talked to that has fished the Big Hole since it opened has said the fishing has been good. I don't think at these water levels you want to be pitching 8 inch streamers, the fish definitely aren't on the banks, so look for riffles, tailouts and pools to hold most of the fish right now.

Fly pattern suggestions:
San Juan Worm Red, Brown, Tan etc: 8-10 JJ's Special: 6-8 Hotwire Mayfly Olive & Tan: 14-16-18 Biotic Nymph Olive & Black: 14-16 Copper Johnson Green, Chartreuse, Black and Red: 14-16-18-20 Gold Lightning Bug: 12-14-16-18 JJ's Special: 2-4-6-8 Yellow Yummy: 2-4-6-8
Last Updated: 10/10/07

Slide Inn:

UPPER MADISON DAILY RIVER REPORT
October 6th, 2007
671 CFS

The Madison continues to run at a lower-than-average 671 cfs, but that should change in a few days-- We have received close to a foot of snow in the last 24 hours, and the forcast calls for temperatures in the mid-50's through next week. That being said, the river should receive a good amount of run-off, thus giving both fish and anglers a little more room to move around. And now for the bugs- Today there was an epic blue-winged olive emergence (at least around the Raynolds area), and anglers reported doing quite well on olive parachutes and sparkle duns. Nymphing red and black midges (#18-22), #14-16 caddis larva, girdle bugs, and especially #18-20 Baetis patterns have definately been the most effective way of catching fish under the surface. And yes... it is october, so the big browns are all colored up and looking for something big and ugly. Black and olive sex dungeons, black and olive circus peanuts, and olive butt monkeys have been bringing up the big boys this week, and it should only get better.

Troutfitters:

Yellowstone: Been floating and fishing the Yellowstone a fair amount lately and this past week it was pretty darn good on Wednesday. When the cloud cover is out, the BWO's are thick and the fish are absolutely podded in the foam lines and back eddies. A little bit of mixed success depending upon the weather, but as long as you can bundle up and handle a bit of wind, the fishing is as good as it gets right now. There are definitely plenty of fish eating right now, seemed every pool or tailout had a few fish in it, nearly everyone we talked to has had good days over on the Yellowstone lately. Cloudy days the fish are definitely chasing streamers, browns are getting their nice dark colors and getting aggressive. Ran the baitfish/beadhead combo on Wednesday and did pretty well. All reports have been if the cloud cover rolls in, the fishing has been pretty good. Copper and white zonkers, Eyez Wide Open, and whatever you want to toss off the back - pheasant tail, copper wire mayfly etc. Should be a pretty decent weekend, Saturday looks cold but Sunday and Monday don't look nearly as nasty. I'd bundle up maybe for Saturday if you are going...

Fly pattern suggestions:
Ugly Bug Brown, Golden, & Black: 6-8-10 Mega Prince: 6-8-10 CH Bow River Bugger Olive & Black: 2-4-6 Silvey's Sculpin Olive, Tan & Black: 2 BH FB PT: 14-16-18 Mustang Sally: 16-18 Lightning Bug Gold: 12-14-16 Eyez Wide Open Tan & Olive: 2 Stinger Sculpin Natural: 2 JJ's Special: 2-4-6-8 Dirty Bird Rust & Tan: 12-14-16 Copper John Black & Olive: 14-16-18 Biotic Nymph Olive & Black: 16
Last Updated: 10/5/07

Lower Madison: Talked with a few guys that have been head hunting out here for risers, and apparently it has been pretty decent with the cloudy drizzly weather, where you ask? Right along the edges of the weedbeds of course! That's a good place typically to look for risers - they feel comfortable enough to come up and sip on the surface without exposing themselves too much. The baetis have been coming off when the wind is whipping them all the way down to Three Forks... If it's not too windy this weekend it's going to be on fire with baetis. Wade fished with buddies around Greycliff Tuesday and it was fair, a few fish munching some streamers and nymphs. The Lower Madison fished pretty decently up in Beartrap, definitely a few people up there, but fishing well nonetheless. It's crayfish, streamers, and baetis nypmhs and some BWO dries and that should cover you up there. The main river has been good too, same sort of thing, crayfish & streamers and some decent hatch activity. This has been pretty busy since they lifted the restrictions, and the fishing has been pretty good. Time to retire the terrestrials and grab your streamer and baetis boxes and head on out to the Lower.

Fly pattern suggestions:
Stinger Sculpin Olive & Tan: 2 Cone-nan The Barbarian: 2 Silvey's Sculpin Olive & Tan: 2 BH FB PT: 16-18-20 Copper Bead Mayfly: 16-18-20 Deaddrift Crayfish: 4 I Ain't Yo Baby's Daddy Tan & Rust: 10 CDC BWO Emerger: 16-18-20 Olive Anatomay: 16-18 Skip's Nymph Olive: 16 Super Soft PT: 16-18 Brooks Sprout BWO: 16-18-20 Hackle Dun Baetis: 16-18-20 Bubble Back BWO: 16-18 Rootbeer Float BWO: 16-18
Last Updated: 10/5/07

Big Hole:It's Open Again Below Wisdom
There is a slight bit more water in the river now finally, things have bumped back up to around 400CFS, so there should be a bit more water in the river, which isn't a bad thing. The fish are still pretty concentrated from what we have heard. This really could be a good option here in the next little bit, probably not too crowded, fish are concentrated, and it's open! Everyone that we have talked to that has fished the Big Hole since it opened has said the fishing has been good. What should you be using nymph wise then? San Juan Worms, and whatever small beadheaded patterns that you like - personally I would try some smaller Copper Johns along with maybe a sparsely dressed streamer of some sort - I don't think at these water levels you want to be pitching 8 inch streamers, the fish definitely aren't on the banks, so look for riffles, tailouts and pools to hold most of the fish right now.

Fly pattern suggestions:
San Juan Worm Red, Brown, Tan etc: 8-10 JJ's Special: 6-8 Hotwire Mayfly Olive & Tan: 14-16-18 Biotic Nymph Olive & Black: 14-16 Copper Johnson Green, Chartreuse, Black and Red: 14-16-18-20 Gold Lightning Bug: 12-14-16-18 JJ's Special: 2-4-6-8 Yellow Yummy: 2-4-6-8
Last Updated: 10/5/07

The River's Edge:

Gallatin River:

10/06/07 The Gallatin is fishing well right now, and with some cooler overcast days it will only get better. As we move into fall the BWOs should be hatching on those cool and cloudy days. In the canyon if the fish are not rising try a stonefly nymph trailed with a small beadhead. The valley downstream from the canyon should really start to fish good as well as brown trout start to become more active before they spawn. Streamers become more of an option if you are looking for the big one. As always nymphing will be the most productive method, but bring along your favorite small drys as well.

Recommended Fly Patterns
Nymphs:
Explosion Stone Purple, Double Bead Stone Hares Ear, Flashback Pheasant Tail, Black Copper John, and Master Baetis.

Streamers:
Kiwi Muddler,JJ Special, Girdle Bug,Woolhead Sculpin.

Dries:
Royal Wulff, H & L Variant, Para Adams, Para Wulff BWO.

River Flows @ Gallatin Gateway:
Average Flow: 462 cfs
Current Flow: 371 cfs

Spring Creeks:
10/06/07 The spring creeks are continuing to fish well as we move into fall. BWOs should provide the bulk of the surface activity, hope for cloudy days! Nymphing will remain a good option with two small beads if there is nothing hatching. Most of the creeks have gone to a fall rate of $75.00

Recommended Fly Patterns
Dries:
Para Adams, CDC Lowrider Olive, CDC Baetis Emerger

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

Missouri:
10/06/07 There have been some great reports trickling in from the Missouri lately. It sounds like most of the action has been nymphing with two small beads fished in the riffles. When there has been some clouds the fish are looking up and eating BWOs. The moss that was so prevalent this summer has lessened considerably making fishing much easier. Streamer fishing should be picking up in the next couple of weeks as the browns prepare to spawn, try fishing from Craig downstream to get the best streamer action.

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

River Flows below Holter Dam nearr Wolf Cr MT:
Average Flow: 4150 cfs
Current Flow: 3300 cfs

Trouthunter:

Henry's Fork:September 22, 2007
by Rick Smith

Box Canyon: Flows through the "Box" are at 456 cfs. This is a couple of hundred cfs below average for this time of year. Fishing has been good over the past week or so but it seems to change every other day. For a day or two the fish are on streamers big time then for no apparent reason they switch to nymphs. So, if your heading for the "Box", make sure you have a good supply of both streamers and rubberleg and beadhead nymphs.

Last Chance/Railroad Ranch: The lower flows, coupled with shorter days, cooler nights and the arrival of Baetis and Mahogany duns have greatly improved the fishing on this section of the Henry's Fork. Best fishing is between 11 am and 5 pm from the Log Jam all the way down to the Riverside Campground.

Riverside to Ashton: Fishing in this portion of the river continues to be very good to excellent. The Fall colors from lower Mesa Falls all the way down to the Ashton take out make this a must stop on any fisherman's agenda. Streamers will produce the largest fish but small nymphs and attractor dry flies will produce more action.

Ashton to Saint Anthony: Although fishing in this section of the river has not yet been real consistent it has had a few good days and it is showing signs of picking up. Streamers and small beadhead nymphs have produced best but the Baetis have started to hatch and we look forward to some nice dry fly fishing in the coming weeks.

Montana Troutfitters
www.troutfitters.com:

Upper Madison

Flows have dropped once again, now its running around 1290CFS, when it's dropping fishing is generally good, accordingly yesterday and today reports of fishing have been good from more experienced anglers. Fishing on the Upper has been just like the flows, a little all over the place with no real consistency to speak of. One day it's 2000CFS, the next it's dropped down to 1300, and when that happens fish are in limbo and moving to readjust for cover and feeding lanes - so when that happens it's time to start searching the river and fishing some places you might not normally think of - ie the middle of the river. When things do get like this, typically the dry fly fishing is kind of hit or miss and it becomes more of a streamer and nymph game. Trips have been running all over the river, and things have been mixed. I personally like to fish a sculpin pattern with a beadhead off the back below an indicator when flows are all over the place that way you're covering all your bases below the surface. The upper stretches around 3 Dollar are fishing decent, again, fish are all over the place, I personally unless I saw fish rising to a hatch would be fishing nymphs below an indicator. I won't predict where flows will be, but if they do settle in, hopper fishing should really pick up.

Fly pattern suggestions:
Ugly Bug Brown, Yellow & Black: 6-8-10 BH FB PT: 14-16-18 Brokeback Goldenstone: 6-8-10 Firey Juan: 10 Copper Bead BWO: 16-18-20 Electric Caddis Olive: 14-16 Gummy Stone Golden: 6 Copper John Black & Red: 16-18-20 Silvey's Sculpin Tan & Olive: 2 Eyez Wide Open Tan & Olive: 2 Bow River Bugger Olive & Black: 2 PMX Red, Yellow, Black & Lime: 10-12-14 Twisted Sister & Babies (Purple & Chart): 10-12-14-16 Mustang Sally: 16-18 Brokeback Sally: 14-16 Grand Hopper: 6-8-10 Chubby Hopper: 6-8-10 Foam Flying Ant Cinnamon & Black: 16-18
Last Updated: 8/7/07

Missouri

Things are a little tough from reports we have been hearing up on the Missouri. Along with the tougher fishing you have some tough fishing conditions, smoke, wind and warm afternoons. Fishing is definitely better in the mornings when the tricos are going, that's going to be the best bet on top, apparently there are still some caddis hanging around in the afternoons and evenings, but really they haven't been spectacular according to what we've been hearing. If the wind dies down a bit and some cloud cover hangs around, the fishing can be decent. The other thing you have to contend with is some moss, it's getting bad. For the trico's, have some cdc spinners as well as some sunken patterns, I have found that fishing one that rides below the surface film sometimes is deadly. For your caddis most of the Missouri guides I know prefer a CDC caddis this late in the season, the Sedge Hammer is a pretty good pattern up on the Mo in late season.

Fly pattern suggestions:
San Juan Worm Brown & Red: 10 WD 40 Red and Grey: 18-20 Disco Midge: 18-20 Zebra Midge: 18-20 Scud Pink and Grey: 18 Pheasant Tail: 18-20 Ray Charles Grey and Pink: 18 Wilcox's Little Green Machine PT: 16-18-20 Bloom's Para Caddis Tan: 14-16 PMD's (Cripples, Emergers, Duns): 18-20 Tailwater Tiny Brown: 18-20-22 Hogans Military Nymph Brown: 18-20 The Brokeback Flymph PMD: 18-20 Bloom's Sedge Hammer Ginger and Brown/Olive: 16-18 Lawson's Spent Partridge Tan & Peacock: 16-18 CDC Trico Spinner: 18-20-22 Trico Emerger: 20-22-24
Last Updated: 8/7/07

Big Hole

Well the Big Hole saw some rain and the river has come roaring up a whole 12CFS, woohoo!!! Fishing wise over there right now, mornings are still better than afternoons, getting a good trico hatch in the am that fish are keying in on, so surface action is decent. Haven't heard anymore about spruce moths, probably waning with the cooler weather and rain. Have heard that fishing has been decent however. Hoppers and attractors once light starts to hit the water are pretty decent. With cooler water temps, the afternoons can be a bit more productive - flow wise, it's around 200CFS at Melrose, hopefully they keep getting a bit of rain and cooler weather to help things along. This might be worth making a trip over to and get in some trico fishing in the late morning and then switch up to hoppers and attractors in the afternoon.

Fly pattern suggestions:
CH JJ's: 2-4-6 Silvey's Sculpin Tan, Black & Olive: 2 Delektable CDC Baby: 14-16-18 Lightning Bug: 14-16 Pheasant Tail: 14-16 Chubby Golden: 6-8-10 Mustang Sally: 16-18 Rusty Spinner: 14-16 PMX Peacock, Yellow, Red: 14-16-18 Headlight Sally: 14-16 Yellow Stimulator: 12-14-16 CDC Elk Hair Caddis: 12-14-16 PMD's (assorted duns, and spinners): 16-18-20 Trico Spinner CDC: 18-20 Para Trico: 16-18-20 CDC Trico Emerger: 18-20 Sunken Trico: 20-22 Spruce Moth: 10
Last Updated: 8/7/07

Via www.troutfitters.com:

Been running most of our trips on the Madison lately, and it has been good. Varney to town fishing well on top with hopper/dropper, and side channels fishing well with stinger sculpins. The flows seem to have steadied out again, probably will change once we update today. But for now it's down a bit around 1260CFS. We fished last Wednesday from Storey to Ennis (I know long float) but it was easily in the top 5 days I have ever had on this river. We started out fishing streamers and picked up some nice fish, switched over to a sculpin with a beadhead off the back and absolutely stroked fish for a good solid 3 to 4 hours beneath the surface under an indicator. Lots of fish hanging out in the small sidechannels eating hoppers and ants. Didn't really see any PMD's but again, couldn't have cared less as we put 15-20 16-18" browns to the boat from Storey to Varney. Our best rig was a Bow River Bugger trailing a 16 or 18 beadhead whatever you wanted behind it. Better to be up early, and when the clouds come out fish are feeding well on top. Upper stretches around 3 Dollar have fished well, mainly smaller stuff, some PMD's and a few caddis here and there.

Over the weekend, decent reports from the Big Hole, not phenomenal, but definitely not slow either. Hatch wise we heard that there's still some PMD's along with the spruce moth (which has been sweet). And amazingly enough the Trico's are still going - I knew they would be. Afternoons are pretty much toast, so limit your fishing to the early mornings and late evenings. There is a decent PMD spinner fall coming down before the noon hours, so get on it early and get ready for some dry fly fishing before things shut down in the afternoons. Again, if I hear one more guy tell me I can't fish an elk hair for the spruce moth I might have a brain aneurism. The whole river is open except up high where nobody ever fishes anyways. Afternoons are absolute garbage, even more reason to be on early and off early. Water temps got a bit of a break with some cooler evenings, a small break in the weather, and a little rain. Hope that helps these guys over here, because like all of us, they can use the water. Good luck if you make it over.