Author: Steve Price

August 6th – 12th | Madison River Fishing Report

Firstly, a big thanks to all the firefighters throughout the west and in our back yard for doing all they can to keep us safe! The Monument and Wigwam Fires are nearby and we are watching closely. Now for the fishing, the river is flowing at 1,160 c.f.s. below Hebgen, 1,240 at Kirby and 1,270 down at Varney Bridge.

The streamer fishing is as good as it’s been in weeks. We’re seeing a lot more fish moving for big flies and committing to eating. Mini Loops, Trevor’s Sculpins, Circus Peanuts, Zonkers and Delektable Screamers would be our top picks.

Dry flies have continued to be the preferred technique for most folks with hoppers leading the charge. We’re still getting some action on Purple Crazes and Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis in the evening but terrestrials have been more consistent throughout the day. You have a good chance of getting a few fish on flies like Delektable Slammers, Delektable Chubbyness, Delektable Secret Stones, Dornan’s Water Walkers, Yeti Hoppers, Delektable Flying Ants and Dave’s Hoppers.

The Bead-Head bite is about as consistent as you’d expect from the Upper Madison but maybe a bit overlooked by the killer dry fly action. Delektable Hammerheads, Delektable Big and Lil’ Spankers, Electric Caddis, Lightning Bugs, Shop Vacs, Copper Johns and Pat’s Rubberlegs are all good choices.

Call us at 406-682-7525 or stop in the shop for any additional tips or info on fishing the Upper Madison and as always, keep an eye out for more up to date reports in the future.

July 30th – August 5th | Madison River Fishing Report

The Upper Madison River is flowing just over 1,200 cubic feet per second below Hebgen Lake, about 1,330 at the Kirby Ranch and down at Varney Bridge she’s moving at roughly 1,450 c.f.s. and the fishing has continued to prove that the Madison River is tough to beat.

We’ve received lots of different reports from our friends and guides as far as fly selections go but one thing remains very consistent, fish are looking up for dry flies. Whether it’s a Grasshopper, Spruce Moth, Ant, Caddis or attractor pattern, fish are eating on top. Some of our favorites are Delektable Chubbyness in smaller sizes, Delektable Flying Ants, Delektable Halos, Delektable Twisted Babies, Bloom’s Stealth Ant, Fat Franks, Morrish Hoppers, and Fat Alberts.

The nymph fishing has also been pretty productive; lots of folks have been running dry-dropper rigs because the dry fly bite has been so hot. Some of the top bugs have been Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Delektable Prince Brandons, Hare’s Ears, smaller Pat’s Rubberlegs, Lightning bugs and Caddis Pupa.

Streamer fishing is starting to pick up pretty well, especially earlier in the day. Fish are pretty well spread out in the river so if you’re not finding them on the banks don’t be afraid to fish out in the middle. Delektable Screamers, Sundell’s Bad Boy, Bow River Buggers, Sheila’s Sculpin and Sculpzillas are all good options out there.

July 28th and 29th | Montana Hope Project

 

  Thank you to all who joined us at our Montana Hope Project event. We had a great time eating good food, visiting with friends, relaxing, casting, and tying. We are excited to share that we exceeded last year’s totals and have more funds to help the Montana Hope Project Families. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is our favorite weekend of the year at Beartooth Flyfishing and it will always be. Thank you everyone for being part of this special event.

The Delektable Crew

 

 

July 23rd – 29th | Madison River Fishing Report

We’re so thankful for all who came this weekend in support of our annual Montana Hope Project Fundraiser, what an experience it is to spend a couple days with awesome people joining together for a great cause.  The fishing is of course, still excellent with this big water year we’ve had. Flows are down to 1,300 c.f.s. below Hebgen Lake, 1,400 c.f.s. at the Kirby gauge and 1,600 c.f.s. down at Varney.

The fish are looking up throughout the day as PMDs emerge early, Hoppers and ants are keeping them going throughout the day and the spinners fall in the evening with the caddis. Some of our favorite flies have been Purple Hazes, PMD Comparaduns, Fat Alberts, White Cloud Hoppers, Delektable Chubbyness’, Delektable Flying Ants, Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis and Bloom’s Parachute Caddis.

With the dry fly fishing being so good, less folks have been running the bead-heads but they’re certainly still working. Flies like Delektable Stonefly Candy and Pat’s Rubberlegs are doing a good job at imitating those nocturnal stoneflies that have been hatching while we sleep and Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Lightning Bugs, Tung Darts, Prince Nymphs and Caddis Pupas have all been doing well for the smaller bugs.

The streamer bite has still been pretty inconsistent but if you’re willing to get up real early and get after it your odds of getting a couple real nice fish are as good as any. Fly recommendations would be Delektable Double-Screamers, Sundell’s Bad Boy, Galloup’s Butt Monkey or Sparkle Minnows.

July 16th – 22nd | Madison River Fishing Report

It continues to be an impressive year here on the Upper Madison with very healthy flows and bug hatches. We’re sitting at about 1,320 cubic feet per second of water flow below Hebgen Lake, at the Kirby gauge she’s running at 1,460 and down at Varney Bridge flows are at 1,690(about 400 c.f.s. above historic average).

The PMDs are coming off around 8 o’clock am, Caddis are hatching throughout the middle of the day and we’re still picking up plenty of fish on the attractors. Our favorite dry patterns have been Delektable Chubbyness’ in smaller sizes, Delektable Secret Stones in Dark Olive, Delektable Halos, Purple Crazes and lastly the Rusty Spinners have been killer as the sun goes down.

Lots of fish are being caught sub-surface as well. Weather under a dry fly or an indicator if you’re looking to get higher numbers of fish you’ll be best off fishing stuff like Green Machines, Delektable Lil’ Spankers in Olive or Pheasant Tail, smaller Pat’s Rubberlegs, Prince Nymphs, Lightning Bugs and Batwing Emergers.

Streamer fishing has brought us a mixed bag of reports but the best luck seems to be coming early in the morning or late in the evening. Recommended flies would be Delektable Single Screamers, Mini-Loop Sculpins, Trevor’s, Sparkle Minnows and Zonkers. You’re probably best off fishing low and slow in the deeper plunge-pools and around the rocks rather than pounding the banks.

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone this upcoming weekend for our Montana Hope Project Fundraiser. There will be lots of good food and treats as well as fly casting and tying demonstrations for a great cause. As always, feel free to call or stop by the shop for any other tips or info and keep an eye out for more reports!

July 9th – 15th | Madison River Fishing Report

  

Man, it’s tough to believe it’s already the middle of July. It’s almost as tough to believe that almost 3 weeks after the word got out about salmon flies and goldens hatching we are still getting them on the big dries on the upper end of the river. Flows are still way above historic average; in fact we saw an increase in flow out of Hebgen Dam just yesterday. She’s moving at about 1,400 cubic feet per second below Hebgen, just under 1,600 at Kirby and by the time you get to the Varney gauge we’re reading just under 2,000 c.f.s.

The dry fly fishing continues to impress as PMD’s, Caddis, Yellow Sallies and Flavilineas have been hatching consistently. It’s been best earlier and later in the days but if you work hard enough you can get some fish on top throughout the day. We’ve had good luck on a variety of the small Delektable Chubbyness’ as well as Delektable Twisted Babies, Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis, Purple Hazes, Lil’Hotties, Trudes and Wulffs.

Most days the nymph bite is of course, fantastic. Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Delektable Sure Strikes, Serendipities, Prince Nymphs, Two-Bit Hookers, Lemon Drops, Pat’s Rubberlegs and Psycho Princes have all caught their fair share of fish as of late. Fish any of those in tandem under a bobber, on a tight line or under a dry fly and you’re bound to get into a few fish.

We’ve had some success on streamers, especially first thing in the morning when the water is nice and cold. Our favorite flies have been Zonkers, McCune’s Sculpins, Sheila’s, and Delektable Screamers. The fish are hanging out around the boulders waiting for a good meal, just make sure you’re ready to set the hook!

 

Our annual Montana Hope Project fundraiser is less than two weeks away and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone come out. As always, Captain Marty will be making his famous Gumbo and Dan will have his Elk Chili along with all the snacks and deserts you could ask for. Mark your calendars now for July 28th and 29th to have a good time for a great cause.

July 2nd – 8th | Madison River Fishing Report

Flows are still well above average and the bugs just keep coming. We’re sitting at about 1,230 c.f.s. below Hebgen and 1,460 c.f.s. at Kirby. The Upper Madison has certainly been living up to her reputation lately as our friends and clients have had great success with several different strategies. Air temps have been coming up over the last couple days and the forecast predicts that warm clear days are going to be the trend for a while, looks like summer is finally here to stay.

The big dries have continued to bring in some really nice fish. PMDs are starting to really fall into their rhythm with some bigger and more consistent hatches and of course the caddis are still all over. Our top patterns have been Delektable Secret Stones, Delektable Mega 2-Tone or standard Chubbyness’, True-Wing Salmonflies, Bloom’s Barely Kickin Stone, Missing Link Caddis, Delektable Halos, Delektable Sparkle Bugs, Rusty Spinners and Comparaduns.

The bead-heads are still carrying most of the weight out there, especially in the heat of the day. Bugs like Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Delektable Hammerheads in both jig and regular, Tung Darts, Lightning Bugs, Prince Nymphs, Jackson’s Sallies and Split-Case PMDs have been picking up fish pretty regularly.

We have had a couple good reports on streamers from those who were willing to forget about the little bugs and commit to the meaty stuff. Delektable Screamers have been good especially in the spawning color, as well as gray Trevor’s Sculpins and Sparkle Minnows. We have all been enjoying the bite, come share the bite!


June 17th – July 1st | Madison River Fishing Report

  

We saw a 1,000 c.f.s. increase in flow out of 

Hebgen on the 19th  which made things tough for a few days but the bite only improved from then till now. We’re down to about 1,200 c.f.s. below Hebgen and 1,500 c.f.s. down at Kirby. It looks like we’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with all the wet weather and Summer should be setting in any day now.

SALMON FLIES are here and the fish have been eatin’ ‘em pretty well. Along with the big bugs came the Yellow Sallies, PMDs, Golden Stones, and the Caddis are still all over the place. Dry Fly fishing has been better and better as the days go by. Our favorite patterns have been Delektable Secret Stones in Royal, UV Salmon and UV Goldenstone, Delektable Mega 2-Tone Chubbyness and Delektable Twisted X’s in yellow have been great for the Sallies. Half-Down Stones have also been fishing well along with Stimulators, Bloom’s Parachute Caddis and Lil’ Hotties. It’s shaping up to be a dry fly season for the books so take advantage!

The nymph fishing has been outstanding. We’ve had lots of success on soft hackle stuff lately like Delektable Hammerheads, Soft Hackle Hare’s Ears and Soft Hackle Copper Johns. Along with those the standard Mayfly and Caddis patterns have been successful. Things like the Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Lightning Bugs, Prince Nymphs and Psycho Princes are good bets. Any of them can be fished under a big dry or in tandem under an indicator. Some folks have scored with two small nymphs while others have used a larger Stonefly Nymph up top and a small nymph behind. Depending on the flows, a B or BB shot might be needed above the first fly.

The streamer bite has been a bit more inconsistent as of late but with other techniques being so productive I guess we’ll have to be okay with that. With that being said we have picked up a fish here and there on smaller sculpin patterns.

What a great time to be out on the Upper Madison, we hope you’re all enjoying the excellent fishing and if there are any other tips we may have to offer don’t be afraid to call or stop by the shop to ask 406-682-7525.