Category: Fishing Reports

Parent Category for Fishing Reports

May 14th -24th|Madison River Fishing Report

Hopefully you were lucky enough to get out on the river this weekend and earlier this week while the entire upper river was clean and clear. After the past couple days of warmer temps the West Fork is back to dumping in the dirty water, but the good news is the wade section above should continue to fish well. We’ve still got about a foot or so of visibility at Varney, and better clarity higher up but the water is haulin’ and high. Take serious CAUTION when floating because Sun West and Wolf Creek bridges will be tough to get under so choose your floats wisely.

 

We’ve been having good luck on Delektable Lil’ Spankers in pheasant tail or silver on either a #14 or #16 hook, the One Man Party caddis nymph in a #16 and red worms of course. Stoneflies are still working well in a lot of varieties(all working best in sizes #8 and #10) such as the Delektable Mr. Rubberlegs Hare’s Ear, the Delektable Bug in the Halloween color, and the Pat’s Rubberlegs in black or black/brown. The good side of the high water is that the fish will be concentrated on the banks and in the slow water behind boulders and logs. SEEK THE SLOW WATER! You shouldn’t have to venture far off the banks to find it.

 

Streamer fishing has been good on the upper river as well, we got into a few fish yesterday on the Eric’s Jealousy in the “Big Horn” color but anything nice and meaty in that variegated yellow should do the trick. The Delektable Black and Olive Double screamer has been getting it done out there as well.

 

The surface action has been hit or miss with the ever changing spring time weather but if you’re out there on a nice cloudy day make sure you’ve got a few Delektable Peacock Halo’s in a #16 and some Split Winged March Browns in a #14 or a Parachute Adams either #14 or #16.

 

 

Best of Luck out there and as always, stop by the  shop for 
info and ammo!

 

 

 

 

May 9th -13th|Madison River Fishing Report

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IMG_2825SMWe hosted a group of Project HealiIMG_1623SMng Waters Vets this week, what a treat to meet these good men who need to get out and fish and spend time in Montana. Our neighbor Mike was gracious enough to be our cook for the week. Thanks Mike. We have been serving up some pretty awesome meals for breakfast and at night with fishing during the days. Dan provided tying clinics in the evenings.

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To help the boys get into fish we have been doing a variety of experiences with floats down the river and wading most of the float. Also, we took them on the wade only sections as the river got more off color. The West Fork started kicking in the dirt and for the past four days we have had a split river between the West Fork and Sun West Bridge then dirtier water below to Ennis. The bugs remain the same as we have listed, we just got more creative with the technique. Wading this week has been much more productive than float casting. With wading, you can focus on a bucket or under a bank and find a place where they will eat. Floating is tougher because you have no time to spend on the spot while the water flow is faster. You can see by the pictures there were fish to be caught. We appreciate the help of the guides Bob Frey, Marty, Ian, and Dan. We really enjoyed the company here at the lodge and hope to host the Vets annually. We have done this now for a few years.

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A small group of the guys went on a tour of Yellowstone Park and they had a great time seeing lots of wildlife including: Elk, Bison, a Grizzly and her cubs (from a distance with binoculars), Moose, and Big Horn Sheep. They got it all in a short visit.

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Today the current CFS jumped up to 2,620, the water out back got dirtier and is dirtier as you get closer to town. This is a time we want to caution folks in boats as getting under and through the Sun West Bridge and the Wolf Creek Bridge is tough, maybe impossible. You will need to walk the boat under the left (West) side if unsure and rafts may have a challenge fitting underneath either bridge at this CFS. The water is flowing pretty fast so wading is also more challenging. Bring your wading staff for help.

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So our guests got the best of it this week and it’s a good day for traveling. Thanks to all who helped us take care of a great group of guests.

The Delektable Crew

May 1st -8th|Madison River Fishing Report

Well Spring has sprung here on the MadisonIMG_3428sm and we’re very sorry we haven’t got a report out to you in a while as we’ve had our hands full getting the season started and getting ready for our Project Healing Waters Guests. The good news is the fishing hasn’t ceased to amaze. Very typical spring conditions means the fish are EATING after a long winter. What’s on the menu? Sculpin, BWO’s, Caddis and March browns. The streamer bite has picked up big time since our last report with Trevor’s sculpin in olive or natural, The Delektable Double Screamer in olive/black or badger, Sculpzilla’s and anything else that imitates IMG_3403smthose mottled little trout snacks that swim around..

The water has been starting to come up and as of this writing the CFS is about 2,450 but don’t let that scare you, with less than a foot of visibility out back (increasing as you go up river) we’re experiencing some epic days on the water but it requires different techniques. You’re going to want to tread carefully with lots of fish being tight to the banks they’ll be easy to spook from careless wading.

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Nymphs are going to be producing the numbers as usual, Delektable Stoners in black or brown especially the Egghead ones in a size #8 hook, Delektable Lil’ Spankers in sizes #14 or #16 of the Pheasant Tail variety, size#14 Lightning Bugs and of course the worms, bigger and redder the better. The color redhead is also good in Delektable Big Spankers that have tungsten beads.

On the top side we’ve been getting IMG_3424sm them on size #14 Adams flies, Delektable Halo’s in peacock #16, Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis in a #16  and Pheasant Tail cripple’s in #14. Evenings have been best for dry fly fishing so don’t be afraid to stick around till the sun isn’t!! This does require choosing special spots where you can tease them up to the fly and hopefully where you find a bucket with a bit of clarity.

As always call or stop by the shop for an up to the minute report and all the bugs you’ll need to stick ‘em!

April 21st-30th|Madison River Fishing Report

Early spring conditions means bring ALL your IMG_1860smgear out on any given day because you never know what momma nature will throw at ya this time of year. Despite the weather, our guides have been getting some great fish. Streamer fishing has been picking up big time which has been long awaited.. The olive/black Delektable single screamer has been the fly to beat and Sheila’s sculpins are working well too.

 

Nymph fishing has been a stonefly and IMG_2068smworm game and they’re WORKING. Delektable Megaprince’s have been on fire on a size #8 hook in either standard or olive with or without the flashback. Delektable Hurless Stone’s have had a tough time staying out of mouths as well especially in olive sizes #8 or #10. Pats Rubberlegs have been producing some fish as well, specifically in the olive/brown color combo on a #8 hook. Last but not least the pink flossy worm has been bring’n em in.

Dry fly fishing has still been mostly a midge

IMG_2077sm game but if you’re out in the evening you can certainly come across a bucket full of blue wing slerpers. So come prepared with some Griffiths Gnats in #18 and #20 along with Brook’s Midge Sprouts in olive on a #18 hook. The BWO Split Wing Parachute has been one of our favorites as well.

As always, be sure to stop in the shop and load up on all these tasty bugs on your way to the fish!IMG_1852sm

April 2nd-20th|Madison River Fishing Report

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As of a little over a week ago all fishing access sites on the Upper Madison are good to go, other than Ennis bridge of course which will need some repairs after this winter’s river gorge through town. The current forecast on repairs at the Ennis Access is around April 18th. Spring is knocking on the door throughout southwest Montana and now is your chance to image1SMtake advantage of some truly great fishing conditions. We’re seeing fish responding to smaller streamers and they’re spreading out throughout the river, no more winter style slow and low fishing but we still aren’t seeing much success stripping the big stuff. Delektable Single Screamers and Sculpzillas in olive and natural colors have been working best for me but th ere are plenty of patterns out there that’ll work, just keep it in that size and color zone.

We have had some early guide trips go fishing IMG_3335smwith really good results. Brandon and Gunnar got folks into some nice trout. With these trips and other reports, Nymphing has still been the way to get ‘em with stoneflies still seeing the most action. I wouldn’t recommend going to the river without a few Delektable Hurless or Mega Prince Stones in Olive, sizes #8 and #10 for those skwalas that are starting to move around. Keep in mind our Skwalas remain underneath while on some other rivers like the IMG_2014smBitterroot they emerge to the surface. Under the larger bug, you’ll want a small and flashy mayfly nymph or even a caddis nymph. Something like a Lightning Bug or a Delektable Lil’ Spanker, silver, olive or purple in a #14, #16 or #18. And as always, if all that stuff somehow fails ya tie on a goo  d ol’ worm. Worms are working well. We have heard some killer reports on them below Varney Bridge. We have also had reports of results on Trico’s and Midges which are IMG_2043smpopping in the middle of the afternoon. Most have had better action on the wet versions compared to dry.

For those of you that want to stick to the surface stuff the best reports of dry fly action have been coming from the three dollar and raynold’s pass area. Midges are still the name of the game but bwo’s are just around the corner! If you get sick of trying to locate your size 22 dry fly while itsIMG_2049sm drifting it’s never a bad idea to try to tease a couple up with a dry skwala imitation.

We’re starting to get reports of some rainbows starting to spawn in certain sections so keep an eye out and keep clear of any redds!  Be sure to stop by the shop and share some fish stories and enjoy the spring weather!! Brian and Kevin

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February 15th |Madison River Fishing Report

If you’re planning on floating make sure you check your boat ramps first!! Most of themIMG_2144SM IMG_2145SM should be accessible but better safe than sorry. Big Dan and I took a day off Wednesday and needed to slide the boat over the snowbank and into the water at Lyon’s because the boat ramp was still snowed in. When sliding your boat down, have the anchor out to stop it when needed.

We fought the gale force winds all the way down to windy point. We did enjoy a funIMG_2149SM IMG_2151SM adventure together despite the “W”, we caught fish. Anchoring near the deep buckets we were surprised to find all the species living in harmony, even the Whitey’s found their way out of the lakes to cash in on the yummy stoneflies! It is unusual for the whiteys to show themselves this early in the winter but they did and big ones too. IMG_2160SM IMG_2157SM

The big nymph bite is on throughout the upper Madison. Fish are readily taking size #8
and#10 Delektable Mega Prince’s, Delektable Hurless Stoneflies and the ol’ Delektable Bug in almost any color with or without the flashback. Gray, Olive and Black have been the killer colors but the big rainbows haven’t been too picky. The double nymph rig seemed to work well adding weight depending upon the flow in that section. Midges have been hatching pretty consistently throughout the river on these milder days but don’t let them fool you. The midge fishing is few and far between with the fish holding in the depths annihilating all the different types of nutrition rich stoneflies. As usual for this time of year, look to the deeper buckets, troughs and seams, the fish are concentrated in these areas and when you get to them be ready to take them down one after the other.

The streamer bite has been…. Slow, to say the least but for you guys and gals that just can’tIMG_2161SM help but to try to serve up something a little  more meaty our only advice is to slooow it down on the retrieve and maybe go smaller. You’re going to have to work for it on the streamer, I’d suggest working with a Delektable Single Screamer in White, Olive/black, or Badger.

These warmer days will bring some serious action to the Upper Madison but more than likely, they’ll also bring some serious “W” down the river. If you’re willing to battle it out with the conditions you’ll almost definitely be rewarded. Call the shop if you need updates on the launches. Best of luck from all of us here at Beartooth Flyfishing!!!

Brian and Big Dan