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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.

Troutfitters:

Yellowstone river:

The good news came through this week, it's hopper time on the Stone now baby!!! Restrictions have been lifted on the entire stretch from Gardiner to 89 and my father fished it the first day it was open yesterday and said that it was good in the afternoon on hoppers straight through till they took off. So now you can start to rethink your floats on the Yellowstone, no need to be on the water at 5am now, in fact I would bet that the action in the afternoons and evenings is pretty good since those fish haven't seen a darn fly past 2 in nearly a month. It's mostly the stuff you would think of that's working - hopper/dropper combos, ants have been fishing well, I will be religously throwing hopper patterns in the afternoons now, because I'm thoroughly convinced that it will be good terrestrial fishing for the next month or so. Streamer fishing in the mornings can be decent too, water temps have dropped quite substantially over the past few weeks, but we really would advise against floating down low - it's still quite hot between 89 and Big Timber - do the fish a favor and float where the restrictions have been lifted.

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 Little Bit of E: 16
Last Updated: 8/15/07

Gallatin:

The Gallatin has been clear now for a while and things have been fishing well. Consistent is the name of the game, caddis in the evenings and that's pretty much it for hatch activity right now. There aren't really many tricos or PMD's to speak of on this river and the spruce moths are pretty much done for now. Been fishing this south of Williams Bridge up in the canyon and in the flat meadow stretch up above Big Sky towards the Park. Throughout the canyon it's been an attractor dry fly affair - stimulators and PMX's with nymph droppers. Outside of the canyon down lower it's mostly caddis and up high towards the Park it's terrestrials and attractor dry flies. For whatever reason I have never done well on grasshoppers in the canyon, but once it gets meadowy up higher hoppers and ants work pretty well. Whitefish tournaments are always fun too, get a few buddies together, get some of the flashiest, gaudiest nymphs and fish the slower water to nymph up whities, the winner has to buy dinner.

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: 8/15/07

Upper Madison:

The flows have continued to drop, it's around 914CFS now, down low around town there isn't much water for the fish to be in, so the deep runs and holes are stacked with big fish, has some good fishing on Wednesday and Friday last week, and trips out this week did well but were heading up a bit higher with the dropping flows. Cameron flats is a bit#* again, don't take a drift boat through it if you can help it. But fishing continues to plug right along. The Bow River dropper nymph combo was really effective again, the Little Bit of E was absolutely killer on Friday. Hopper action in the afternoons has been good as well, the chubby hopper has been deadly on top - too many guides think that the golden version is the only one that works, we know the secret, the hopper version gets em... The upper stretches around 3 Dollar are fishing decent, and now that should all be easily wadeable, the whole river is pretty wadeable at just over 900CFS and dropping. On that note stuff's pretty shallow down past 8 mile right now, might not want to be taking a hard bottom boat that you care about down there.

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 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 Hi Vis Beetle: 14-16 Hairy Sculpin Brown & Light Olive: 2-4
Last Updated: 8/15/07

Spring Creeks:

Nothing really new to report on. Trico spinners, that's the ticket at least out on Milesnicks. Fortunately this is a hatch you don't have to be up at the crack of dawn for. Right around 11 or noon it gets pretty nuts. With the rain again last night and rivers a tad bit off color, the creeks might be a good option. The FFF Conclave is done in Livingston as well so you have a better chance of finding an open rod on the creeks. Pretty much the same story still on the creeks although afternoons are getting better with cooler temps, making the terrestrial fishing with ants, beetles and hoppers quite a bit more productive. Right now hatch wise it's mostly PMD's - spinners, duns and emergers and of course tricos. As we continue into August with winds drying out the grass and blowing insects on the water, small ant beetle and hopper patterns are becoming a bit more effective. The terrestrial fishing will pick up into mid to late August and through the early part of September usually. Just got in some excellent Rene Harrop CDC Ant patterns, perfect for the fish on the spring creeks, stop by and check em out.

Fly pattern suggestions:
Real Meals Black & Olive: 16-18 Scuds Olive, Tan, and Grey: 16-18 Ray Charles Grey and Tan: 16-18 Pheasant Tail: 16-18 Mini Juans: 16-18 Wilcox's Little PT: 16-18 Bow River Bugger Black & Olive: 6-8 Black Pheasant Tail: 16-18-20 PMD Emerger: 18-20 Cripple PMD: 16-18-20 Real Thing PMD: 16-18-20 Tailwater Tiny Brown: 18-20 Hogans Sipper PMD: 18-20 Pheasant Tail: 20 Hat Creek PMD: 18-20 PMD CDC Spinner: 18-20 AttractAnt: 16 Fat Head Beetle: 16 Grand Hopper: 14-16 Foam Flying Ant Cinnamon: 18\
Last Updated: 8/15/07

Yellowstone NP:

Yellowstone Park officials have NOW issued mandatory fishing closures from 2pm to 5am on many of the major fisheries in the Park including the Firehole, Gibbon and Madison, Slough, Soda Butte and Lamar and the Yellowstone. For complete listings give us a call.

Things are getting quite a bit cooler in the park with cold nights. The fishing has been picking up accordingly. Park officials told me yesterday on the phone that they were meeting to evaluate the closure situation, keep your fingers crossed that they lift a few, Soda Butte, Slough and Lamar are in good shape. So with the nice cooler evenings water temps are easing back to fishable levels and fish are active, things should be good for the weekend barring any rains in the park. 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. Closures are still in place, although with cooler evenings in the park, it would be nice if they started lifting a few of them... Wait and see on how things shape up, but plan on there being some decent terrestrial fishing on all of the typical stuff. The Gallatin in the park isn't on restrictions and it has been fishing well again, a sometimes forgotten place the Gallatin inside the park fishes pretty well and the terrestrial fishing in August can be a really good time. Consider making a weekender and heading down and checking out the northeast corner.
Park Licenses Available for Sale
Park License Pricing for '07: 3 Day License - $15 7 Day License - $20 Annual License - $35
Last Updated: 8/15/07

Missouri:

Reports are again that things continue to be pretty tough up on the Missouri right now. The word continues to be, tough and a bit weedy. The one nice report coming through is that there is some decent hopper and terrestrial action on the Missouri in the afternoons if you can stand the smoke. 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, 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. Plan on mostly nymphing this right now, it's been pretty tough up on top, but decent below the surface, now isn't the time to be learning this river - go with someone that knows what they are doing, or be prepared to smell like skunk...

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: 8/15/07

Big Hole:

Fishing has dropped off some in the last few weeks according to some reports, and has stayed steady according to others. The spruce moths have tapered off, only a few left around and not worth concentrating on. Tricos in the mornings, but not as many and fishing getting tougher. Flows are coming down more, getting too low to be floating in a drift boat anymore, hanging around the 140 level, but evenings have been downright cold. Fly wise right now, it's going to be mostly nymphing and hoppers if you go, but from the sounds of the reports, it may not exactly be the best place in the area to be on right now, I would probably head to the Ruby or Beaverhead instead.

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
Last Updated: 8/15/07