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

Lower Madison:

TRE:Current Conditions & Fishing Strategy
10/20 Streamer fishing has had its fair share of good days lately.Although as usual the best producer has been nymphing.On cloudy days there has been some baetis hatching and some fish are keying in on them.Some browns are starting to spawn. Lots of fish have been taking egg and worm patterns.

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

Lower Madison River Flows
Below Ennis Lake:
Average Flow: 1870 cfs
Current Flow: 1280 cfs
More on the Web

Lower Madison Water Contacts
River-Gal Shuttle Service
Bonnie 406-685-3500

MT: Fishing Report
The Lower Madison has been fishing pretty consistent for us. We have been going either Warm Springs to Blacks Ford or Cherry Creek to Greycliff and having success on both floats. I talked with a few guys that headed from Greycliff to Three Forks and they said one day was pretty good, nothing huge but pretty consistent, and then the next day was absolutely terrible, so go figure that stretch is always hit or miss. The winds have been brutal to say the least - some days better than others, when you get a day that's overcast with little to no wind the BWO's have been hatching pretty good and the fish have been looking up around the weedbeds. The bright sunny days aren't the best all the time, but even on those days some small baetis nymphs and crayfish patterns have fished decently. Streamer fishing can be decent on the cloudy days as well - not really seeing any redds yet to speak of, but last year it was into late November and December that we saw fish spawning, so not to worry. Beartrap is still fishing well, still 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 still 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: 10/19/07

Upper Madison:

MT:Fishing Report:
My dad and a friend went and fished from Varney to 8 Mile on Wednesday and it was really pretty marginal, they didn't get much action at all on streamers, and they fished them pretty hard most all of the day. It was absolutely the ideal conditions too, drizzly, overcast, so who knows what was wrong with the equation. There were some fish up and eating some BWO's but nothing really big, just some decent rainbows in the sidechannels. So with that being said, who knows what to say about the Upper Madison, I have heard reports that the stuff up around 3 Dollar and Slide has been fishing pretty decently - it's awfully low so you should be able to get around wherever you want to pretty easily. And the flows are still low - hanging around the 670-680CFS range (be careful in any hard bottom boat right now on the Upper it's bony....) Reports of between the lakes have been a little spotty, some guys doing really well, others struggling a bit - 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: 10/19/07

TRE: Current Conditions & Fishing Strategy
10-20 Fall fishing has been hot on the upper reaches of the river,with lots of browns moving out of hebgen lake into the park section.Expect to see as many anglers as fish.Between the lakes has been pretty steady with eggs and baetis nymphs,with some fish are eating streamers. With the water so low wade fishing is a great option.There has been some great baetis hatches on cloudy days, lots of fish are chasing streamers

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.

Upper Madison River Flows
Kirby Ranch:
Average Flow: 1180 cfs
Current Flow: 673 cfs

Gallatin:

TRE: Current Conditions & Fishing Strategy
10/20 The dry fly fishing has been as good as it gets in the valley with small baetis atractors,cloudy days have been the best.We are getting a lot of good reports from streamer fisherman catching some good size fish on the lower river.Although nymphing is still the most consistant producer day in and day out.The canyon has also had a lot of good dry fly fishing.The fish in the canyon tend to eat small black streamers very 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.

Gallatin River Flows
Gallatin Gateway:
Average Flow: 438 cfs
Current Flow: 388 cfs

MT: Fishing Report:
Things on the Gallatin have been pretty consistent over the last couple of weeks, we have had a little bit of clarity issues at some points, but overall it's fished well. Fish are moving around and getting ready to start doing their thing here soon. Haven't really seen any fish on beds to speak of, a few redds here and there but not full on yet. It's been mostly nymphing on the bright sunny warm days, here lately as it's been cooler and cloudy with some rain it's been pretty decent BWO fishing and it 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. There have 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. Heard of a few guys heading down to the lower Gallatin and reports have been mixed, some good, some bad, that's mostly pretty consistent with what I've experienced down that low - some big fish but few and far between mostly.

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: 10/19/07

Yellowstone River:

MT: Fishing Report:
The park has been gettting rain pretty consistently since Thursday night. As of Friday morning things are still in good shape, who knows how long that will hold. With this cool drizzly weather we have been seeing good BWO hatches and the streamer fishing has been pretty decent. Running a yuk bug beadhead combo has been pretty decent as well, smaller olive hares ears, and pheasant tails have been pretty effective for your dropper nymph. The whitefish seem to be out in full force and doing their best impression of trout in the back eddies and foam lines, but if you can wade through the whities there have been some good fish up and eating baetis as well. Float wise, stuff down below town has been good, haven't heard of any real huge fish just lately, but that should change here pretty quick. The brown trout are definitely coloring up and have heard a few reports of a few fish on beds, but still think it might be a touch early for the browns to be dropping any eggs, next week or so here should be good time to start looking for rainbows below the brown trout beds...

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: 10/19/07

TRE: Current Conditions & Fishing Strategy
10/20 This is the time to go out and strip streamers for that big fish to end the season with.Although not the most consistant method streamer fishing can be an exciting way to fish.If your not one of those one cast from glory fisherman,then I would stick with nymphing.Nymphing has been good with baetis and stonefly nymphs also try an egg patern.Look at the foam pockets for rising fish.HAVE FUN!!!

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

Yellowstone River Flows
Corwin Springs:
Average Flow: 1500 cfs
Current Flow: 1220 cfs
More on the Web
Livingston:
Average Flow: 2010 cfs
Current Flow: 1660 cfs

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.

www.theriversedge.com

8/29 The fishing restrictions on the Lower Madison have finally changed a little bit. The river is now open all day from Ennis lake down to the Warm Springs boat ramp and still closed from 2 PM until midnight from Warm Springs downstream. This means that those willing to hike up into Bear Trap canyon can fish all day but most float trips still need to be finished by 2. The folks out there are typically finding slow fishing until the water and air temps rise to a compfortable level. Find Decent nymphing, however, moss in all water columns will cause snags often. Reliable dry fishing at times on ants, beetles, caddis and tiny general attractors. Some streamer fishing, keep it small though....the water is very low and clear so fishing the banks is out unless you can slide small patterns in the crannies and go unnoticed doing so. Most of the eager fish have been those small, scrappy bow's and browns but a few larger fish are in there. Have fun if you go out, fish responsibly and remember that this section of river was \"out of the question\" two weeks ago before cooler nightime temperatures this past week. The fish are certainly still getting adjusted and need to be handled (if at all) with care.

Recommended Fly Patterns
Nymphs:
Prince nymph,Black copper john,Zebra midge,Olive/coffee rubberlegs,DB Hares ear stone,San Juan worm,

Streamers:
Clouser crayfish, big horn bugger, JJ special, brown bugger, zirdle,zonkers.

Dries: cigarette fly
griffiths gnat, red butt midge,h&l variant,royal wullf,Hot butt caddis, parachute adams.

Lower Madison River Flows
Below Ennis Lake:
Average Flow: 1520 cfs
Current Flow: 1140 cfs

Montana Troutfitters

Yellowstone River:

The Yellowstone has reportedly been a tad bit off color from some accounts, I fished it on Saturday, and drove over it again on the way home around Livingston and it was in fine shape - it has a bit of color to it, sort of green, but is plenty fishable. Fishing wise right now, things have been good pretty much all day long, from the early mornings, through the afternoons and right on into the evenings. Streamers and nymphs are working well in the mornings, hatch activity is pretty much non existent except for a few of the midnight goldenstones here and there, and a few tricos way down low. As the afternoon progresses, hopper activity has steadily progressed through the day, fish are looking up at Chubby's and Grand Hoppers as well as the old standbys like a Dave's or Whit's. Evenings are decent if there is any hatch activity left over, maybe a few caddis here and there but not much, it's time for streamers and nymphs again for the evening stretches typically.

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 Chubby Golden: 6-8-10-12 PMX Lime, Black, Red & Peacock: 10-12-14 Chubby Orange: 10-12 Twisted Baby Yellow and Red: 14-16 Twisted Baby Purple: 14-16 Twisted Baby Tan & Chartreuse: 14-16 Mustang Sally: 16-18 Lightning Bug Gold: 12-14-16 Chubby Hopper: 6-8-10 AttractAnt: 16 Fat Head Beetle: 16 Hopper Popper: 6-10 Grand Hopper: 8-10-12-14-16
Last Updated: 8/26/07

Lower Madison:

Still on closures, seeing a lot more people on the water, haven't made any trips out here myself though - heard that fishing has been really marginal and we certainly aren't running trips on it yet. Flows are extremely low still, just because the water is cool, doesn't make it good fishing conditions - bright and sunny and low, not ideal. That is why the restrictions remain in effect still. Fishing wise, I have no clue - see the countless reports in which I explain that I don't fish this again until September at the earliest in drought years. Still wouldn't be my first choice of rivers in the area to fish, but really early in the morning you might be able to go out and snag a few fish in between moss mats... Wait and see, when they lift closures I might give this a thought - still won't send my trips out on this... The river is still low, and the fish aren't going to be very healthy yet at this point.

CLOSED FROM 2PM TO MIDNIGHT

Fly pattern suggestions:
Take a metal detector and a huge musky net and play Find the Empty Beer Can Stash! First one to 100lbs of cans wins, BLM pays the prize winnings, call them for details.
Last Updated: 8/26/07

Gallatin:

It's Sunday and as I update this, the river remains in good fishable condition, fished earlier in the week at Shed's and it was decent, a few fish up right before dark on caddis, but for the most part it was nymphing. Fishing activity wise, it's hoppers down in the valley below Axtell in the afternoons, attractors up in the canyon in the afternoons, plenty of fish on buggers and stoneflies, dropper rigs have been the most effective lately all day long. Hatch wise, caddis only, a few tricos actually here or there, but nothing I would bother concentrating on too heavily. Plan on having a lot of nymphs along with you in the morning till it warms up a bit, then blast some hoppers around. Fished at Williams last Saturday morning, was fun, fishing was decent, caught fish on sculpins, nymphs, and my dad was all over the fish in the nooks with a hopper. Spruce moths are done, don't bother with those anymore at this point, concentrate on nymphing with caddis larvae, it's whats in the river at this point!

Fly pattern suggestions:
BHFBPT: 12-14-16 Little Bit Of E: 12-14 San Juan Worm Red & Brown: 10 Mega Prince: 6-8 Mega Pheasant Tail: 6-8 Mr Rubberlegs Hares Ear: 6-8-10Tungsten Golden Lab: 6-8 Yummy Gummy Golden: 8-10 Mangy Caddis Olive & Brown: 14-16 Mangy Pooper: 12-14 Yellow Rubberleg Stimulator: 8-10-12 Birkenstock Special Olive & PT: 12-14-16 PMX Peacock, Royal and Lime: 10-12-14-16 Elk Hair Caddis Tan & Olive: 12-14-16 CDC Elk Caddis: 14-16 X Caddis Olive: 14-16 Ripcord Caddis Tan: 14
Last Updated: 8/26/07

Yellowstone NP:

Sounds as if restrictions have been evaluated and contrary to rumors, they acted and lifted the closures as of the 22nd. Surprised? I sure am, and it's a really nice surprise, so now it's time for afternoons and weekends into the park to fish the NE corner. So with the nice cooler evenings water temps are easing back to fishable levels and fish are active, there was some substantial rains in the park on Friday, and things are just starting to clear up. Come late August and September this is one of the best places around to go and pitch ants and beetles as well as hoppers and attractors. Don't wait any longer to see on how things shape up, just plan on there being some decent terrestrial fishing on all of the typical stuff. The Gallatin in the park has been fishing well again, a sometimes forgotten place the Gallatin inside the park (off the beaten path up higher) fishes pretty well and the terrestrial fishing in August can be a really good time, to get away from people, hike away from the road a ways, it works wonders...

Park Licenses Available for Sale
Park License Pricing for '07: 3 Day License - $15 7 Day License - $20 Annual License - $35
Last Updated: 8/26/07