July 31st- August 6th|Madison River Fishing Report

 

Flows are down to 1030 c.f.s. below Hebgen from 1200 c.f.s. last week, and the trend continues downstream with readings at Kirby Ranch of 1210 c.f.s. and 1270 c.f.s. at Varney Bridge. Water temps have also been slowly dropping thanks to the cooler days and nights we’ve had and the fish seem to be enjoying the cooler weather.

Fish are looking up! The surface action has been really good starting late in the morning once it starts to warm up a bit. Hoppers, ants, and spruce moths are bringing fish up with ease. The best patterns over the last few days have been Yeager’s 409, the Cinnamon Delektable Flying Ant, UV Cinnamon Delektable Chubbyness, Pink Morrish Hopper and Fat Alberts in a variety of colors. Be sure to give them a twitch!

Underneath, things have been a little more inconsistent. Although you can surely pick fish up on nymphs it has been a bit tougher some days. Flies that have worked lately are Lightning bugs, Formerly Known as Prince, Shop Vacs, and Delektable Lil’ Spankers in different colors. You may want to start off fishing those under a small chubby or chubbyness or grasshopper because the dry fly bite has been so good. 

Streamer fishing has been hit or miss, as streamer fishing usually is but early mornings still seem to be the best time of day to try your luck. Smaller stuff seems to be getting more attention. They’re coming out from around the boulders for Sculpzillas, White Delektable Screamers, JR’s Conehead and black/olive Bow River Buggers. Move those flies fast along structure and you should be in good shape.     

We’re looking forward to what the rest of August brings here on the Madison. If there’s any other info you need call or stop by the shop anytime. 

Brian, Kevin, and the Delektable Crew

July 24th-30th|Madison River Fishing Report

Thanks to everyone who came out to the shop to support the children for our Montana Hope Project fundraiser, we had a very successful turn out and donations are still rolling in already exceeding last year’s totals! It was incredible to see so many of our friends come together for such a great cause. And the food was great! Also, thanks to Elle from Elles Belles for providing some incredible desserts. Yumm!

As we transition into August the fishing is doing exactly what you’d expect with terrestrials really starting to come into play. Fish are showing a serious interest in flies like the red Delektable Flying Ant, Yeager’s 409, Grillo’s royal Hippie Stomper and the Hi-Vis Foam Beetle. There are still some PMDs kickin’ around up river as well, fishing the spinners in the evening has produced some quality fish. Spruce Moths have also been picking up fish in the shape of Delektable Twisted X tan/brown or bigger tan Elk Hairs.

 

Under the surface things are typical for the Madison, bead heads work. Some of our most productive flies have been the Delektable C.D.C. Baby, flashback Hare’s Ears, Prince’s, Delektable Silver Lil’ Spankers, Lightning Bugs and smaller Olive/Brown Pat’s Rubberlegs. The tail end of the ten day forecast looks like it’s going to be cooling off a bit with highs in the upper 70’s and lower 80’s which will be a pleasant change of pace.

The streamer fishing has been picking up overall but is still best during the cooler starts and ends of the day with dead drifting being the way to go during the afternoon. My best pattern is still the Olive/Black Delektable Screamer but Mini Loops, Trevor’s Sculpins and McCune’s are getting the job done as well.

 

 

Be sure to stop in and get your free Italian coffee and all the bugs you need before getting out on the water!

Brian, Kevin, and the Delektable Crew

July 17th-23rd|Madison River Fishing Report

 

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone this Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. for the Montana Hope Project fundraiser here at the shop. In other news it’s been another good week of fishing here on the Upper Madison. Flows are still well above average for this time of year and the fish seem to be enjoying all the extra space. They’re spread throughout the entire river, even out in the heaviest current. 

 

The brown trout have really started to show an interest in sculpin patterns this past week. We’ve been getting them to come out for Delektable Screamers in olive/black and badger as well as Trevor’s Sculpin in olive. They seem to be into a pretty fast strip for the most part but I’ve managed to pick a couple up on the swing in the middle of the river too.  

 

The bead-head stuff has been very successful most days. They were all over the pearl Lightning Bug (size #16) today. We’re also seeing some good action on Prince Nymphs, Electric Caddis pupa and rainbow warriors for the small stuff. Nocturnal stonefly shucks have been appearing on the banks in the morning so it most likely won’t be a bad bet to run a tan/brown Pat’s Rubberleg or a Delektable Braided Stone in the same colors along with one of the small bugs. 

 

The surface action has been good, but much tougher in the middle of the day. Some ants should be able to get something’s attention during and I’ve seen few fish come after hoppers recently as well. PMDs are still around and fish have been taking them in the mornings in the form of the Purple Craze, Adams flies, and Sparkle Duns all on a size #16 hook and again in the evening as rusty spinners. There’s still some good caddis fishing to be had in the evenings as well. I’ve still been having luck on the Delektable Halo with the peacock body in a size #16. 

 

We’ll be in the shop 7a.m.-7p.m. 7 days next week so be sure to stop by and tell some fish stories or get some up to the minute advice on how to have a great experience on the water.

July 10th-16th|Madison River Fishing Report

 

 

 

 

 

The Upper Madison is flowing at 1180 c.f.s. below Hebgen and 1490 c.f.s. at Kirby Ranch and fishing well throughout. We’re looking forward to the forecasted cooler nights combined with the intermittent precipitation we’ve had to keep the water temps down at a healthy level.

 

A few of our local rivers have “hoot owl” fishing restrictions, they are as follows: The Big Hole River from Saginaw bridge to the mouth of the North fork and from Notch Bottom to the confluence with the Beaverhead,    The Lower Beaverhead River from Anderson Lane to the confluence with the Big Hole,    The Lower Madison River from Ennis Dam to the mouth,    The Lower Gallatin River from the confluence with the Madison to Sheds Bridge,   The East Gallatin River from Spring Hill Rd Bridge to the confluence with the Gallatin  and last but not least,  The entire Jefferson River. These locations will be closed to fishing from 2 p.m. until midnight as long as water temps remain high.

 

 The fish are fighting extremely hard so bring your a-game if you want to land them. Salmon flies and golden stoneflies are a thing of the past at this point but the Ants, Caddis and PMD’s are doing just fine at getting the fish’s attention.

 

Dry fly fishing is still best in the evening but we’ve also been sucking them up in the middle of the day on the #16 Bloom’s Stealth Ant. They’re still on the caddis in the evening as well as the spinners. To imitate those we’ve been using Delektable C.D.C. Elk Hair Caddis Tan #16 and the Goddard Caddis in size #16. For the mayflies it’s the Parachute Rusty Spinner or a Parachute Adams in either #14 or #16. 

 

As always nymphing is the way to go in the middle of these bright and hot days we’ve been having. Some of our guys have been picking fish up on #10 olive brown Pat’s Rubberlegs but other than that they’ve been on the small bugs. #14 Princes, #16 Hare’s Ears, #16 gold Lightning Bugs and some #14 Shop Vacs and a variety of PMD or Yellowstone or Yellow Sally Nymphs should be plenty to get the job done any time of day.    

 

Streamer fishing has been on the tough side, haven’t heard of much coming for the big stuff but we have had a few good reports on the small stuff. Swinging small sculpin patterns will probably be your best bet if you’re looking for a meat-eater. I’d recommend tan Zonkers, natural Sculpzillas or a Sheila’s Sculpin and get out there early while water temps are low. 

 

Lastly, don’t forget to come by the shop next weekend for our fundraiser for the Montana Hope Project. Great food, good people, fly tying and casting clinics all for an amazing cause. That’s Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th. Dan’s going to be making elk chili and Marty will have his famous Cajun Gumbo as well as some fantastic deserts from the Country Bumpkin Bakery and Elle’s Belles. All proceeds will go straight to the foundation in addition to a percentage of all retail in the shop. We hope to see you there!

Brian, Kevin, and the Delektable Crew

July 3rd – 9th|Madison River Fishing Report

Things have been heating up on the Upper Madison over the past week, (mid-day temps well into the 90’s) which sped the big bug hatch right up and pretty much out the door. You may still be able to find a couple salmon flies way up top but hopefully you got to enjoy the hatch in its entirety. In other news, gin-clear water has been steadily flowing out of Hebgen at 1,220 c.f.s. and 1,610 c.f.s. at Kirby Ranch. The heat has kind of put a damper on the mid-day dry fly bite but the mornings and evenings have still been great and nymphing is producing throughout the day. 

 

The Surface fishing has been a morning PMD and an evening caddis program. My favorite caddis has been and probably always will be the Delektable Peacock Halo tied on a #16 hook, or a Dark Olive Bloom’s Parachute Caddis also in size #16. For the PMDs I recommend a Snowshoe Cripple in either a size #16 or #18, Delektable Teaser in the same sizes or Carlson’s Purple Craze. And of course the ol’ rusty spinner should pick them up in the morning and evening as well.  If you have to pick one hatch to fish I’d make sure you’re out there before dark fishing the caddis and spinners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The streamer fishing has been picking up on the upper river over the past week and we’re hoping it continues to do so. They’re mostly on the smaller stuff like Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow, the Belly Ache Minnow or Delektable Single Screamer in Badger. Work the structure and don’t be afraid to swing them in the middle of the river.  

 

If you’re out there in the  middle of a sunny day it’s most likely you’ll be fishing a couple of small beadheads. The ones that have been working for us are the Purple or Gold Lightning Bug, the One Man Party, Purple Psycho Prince, The Delektable Mr. Rubberlegs Goldenstone, the Delektable Lil’ Spanker in Olive, PT, or Gold and last but not least, the trusty Prince Nymph.   

 

 

 

 

 

That should be all the info and ammo you need to enjoy the beautiful Montana summer. We’ll be in the shop so be sure to stop in and say hi.