Category: Fishing Reports

Parent Category for Fishing Reports

September 13th – 19th | Madison River Fishing Report

Flows came up about 100 C.F.S. from Hebgen Dam which is great. Fishing has been overall a bit inconsistent but we’re still getting some good ones. As the fish get used to the bump in water flows we expect to see more consistency but it’s also a bit of a transitional time around here as fall creeps in so anything can happen.

The dry fly fishing has been on the tougher side but those who have stuck with it have caught some fish. Small Delektable Chubbyness flies, the new Delektable Lil’ Chubby, Thunder Thighs Hoppers, Delektable Flying Ants, Elk hair Caddis and Purple Hazes have all seen some success.

Nymph fishing has been pretty good as one would expect. Pat’s Rubberlegs, Jig Hook Lightning Bugs, Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Psycho Princes, $3 Dips, Green Machines, Princes and Worms have all been good options.

As we inch closer to everyone’s favorite month to fish Streamers, people are coming into the shop with more and more big fish stories. Flies like Galloup’s Silk Kitty, Galloup’s Dungeon, Delektable Screamers, McCune’s Sculpins, Trevor’s Sculpins and Zonkers are all good. Have fun out there fishing!

August 30th – September 12th | Madison River Fishing Report

 The Terrestrials have still been good! Water levels are a little down so watch your boat placement if you’re floating below McAtee. We’ve had some interesting weather, the fishing got tough for a couple days after the snow and came right back to normal after that.

The streamer fishing has improved some with fish starting to act a little more aggressive. We’ve caught fish on Zonkers, Galloup’s Silk Kitty, Sculpzillas, JR’s Conehead, McCune’s Sculpins, Trevor’s Sculpins, Bow River Buggers, and Silvey’s Sculpins so buy some of those and catch some fish!

Dry fly fishing has been relatively inconsistent like we mentioned above, that cold snap put the Terrestrial fishing down for a couple days but we’ve still managed to get some nice ones to eat on the surface. Delektable Secret Stones, More-or-less Hoppers, Thunder Thighs Hoppers, small Delektable Chubbyness and Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis have all seen some success.

 

Nymph fishing has been what you’d expect from the Madison, the way to catch ‘em. The usual suspects like Pat’s Rubberlegs, Delektable Lil Spankers, Lightning Bugs, Princes and $3 Dips are still getting it done.

Fall is finally knockin on the door and it’ll bring some great fishing opportunities with it so dig out the cold weather gear and get ready!  

August 23rd – 29th | Madison River Fishing Report

A fun part of this past week was all the youngsters we had the privilege of taking fishing. We had several trips that consisted of grandparents, parents, and grandkids fishing together which is always great to see and be a part of. As for the fishing, not a lot has changed but we expect the incoming weather to mix things up a bit. We’re expecting a significant drop in air temperature for tomorrow along with some rain.

Flows are down some from last week, 890 C.F.S. below Hebgen, 1,010 C.F.S. at Kirby and 1,030 down at Varney. Keep an eye out for those gravel bars that have become more exposed over the last few days.

Streamers and nymphs will be coming into play a bit more with the inconsistent weather but we expect the hardcore dry fly guys to continue to get it done with Hoppers, Ants and smaller Chubbies. The patterns haven’t changed much with flies like Dornan’s Water Walkers, Delektable Chubbyness, Delektable Secret Stones, Delektable Flying Ants and all your favorite Grasshopper flies doing the job. Dan has added a new Delektable Fly Design called the Delektable Lil’ Chubby which has a wide gap hook and is tied in sizes #14-#18. They are Sweet and the shop will need to order more because they are working.

Under the Bobber you should be fishing Pat’s Rubberlegs, Jig Lightning Bugs, Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Copper Johns, Serendipities, Formerly Known as Princes or anything comparable to those patterns.

Streamer fishing has improved a bit but maybe that’s just because more people are fishing them. Flies like Bow River Buggers, Delektable Screamers, Zonkers, Mini Dungeons and Trevor’s Sculpins have all been good options. 

August 16th – 22nd | Madison River Fishing Report

 

 

 

 

 

Water flows have been pretty stable right at historic average levels for a couple weeks now. Smoke from wildfires across the country have filled the valley with smoke which has certainly affected sunlight. We think the grasshoppers are starting to miss the bright sun but most of us fishermen are okay with a little break from it. Some are more impacted by the air quality. Be careful if you are.

 

Dry fly fishing has been good overall but the Ants have been a bit more consistent than the Hoppers for the last few days. Flies like the Delektable UV Cinnamon Chubbyness, Delektable Flying Ants, Bloom’s Stealth Ants, Yeager’s 409s, Grillo’s Hippie Stompers, Dornan’s Water Walkers, and several other Attractor Dry flies should get you some fish.

Nymphing is your best bet to get a few fish in the morning until about noon time. Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Formerly Known as Princes, Green Machines, smaller Pat’s Rubberlegs, Jig Lightning Bugs and Perdigons are good choices weather they’re trailed behind a streamer, dropped under a hopper or fished in tandem with each other under the Bobber.

Streamers have been fishing okay early and late in the day. Dead drifting smaller patterns with a nymph trailer is probably the best way to get ‘em. Zonkers, Bow River Buggers, Mini Loops, Trevor’s Sculpins, Mini Dungeons and Delektable Screamers should be about all you need out there to get a couple. Have fun fishing!

August 9th – 15th | Madison River Fishing Report

It’s Terrestrial time. Yes, still Terrestrial time. There’s no end in sight. The fish just keep looking up and as long as the sun keeps shining during the day, we don’t expect that to change. August brings some tough days now and then but the Streamer and Nymph bite has been able to save a few of them for us lately so keep that in mind.

The Nymphing is probably best in the morning before things warm up for the Hoppers and Ants. Pat’s Rubberlegs, Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Lightning Bugs, Pheasant Tails, Princes, Delektable Hammerheads and Copper Johns have all been doing the trick weather they’re fished under the Hopper, behind a Streamer or in tandem with another nymph.

Not much has changed in the way of dry flies. Dornan’s Water Walkers, Delektable Secret Stones, Delektable Chubbyness, Yaeger’s 409, Thunder Thighs, Fat Franks, Fat Alberts, More-Or-Less Hoppers and Sheila Hoppers are all catching fish as well as a variety of Beetle and Ant patterns.

Much like the Nymphs, Streamers have been best early while it’s cool out. Zonkers, Delektable Screamers, McCune’s Sculpins, Bond’s Mini Dragons, Trevor’s Sculpins, and Bow River Buggers are all worth tying on if you’re looking for that meat eater out there.

 

July 26th – August 8th | Madison River Fishing Report

Well it’s officially August and that means one thing around here: Grasshopper Season!! We talked about Grasshoppers last week and you can expect to hear it again next week so get used to Hopper talk around the valley. There are a few Caddis and Mayflies still kicking around along with some Nocturnal Stoneflies so keep that in mind in the mornings and evenings.

Nymphing has still been good despite all the surface action. Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Pat’s Rubberlegs, Lightning Bugs, Formerly Known as Prince, Shop Vacs, $3 Dips, Little Green Machines and Other Nymphs are all good choices. Best bet is to fish these under the hopper in the afternoon or in tandem under a bobber in the mornings and evenings. And it works without a Bobber with two Small Nymphs and a bit of weight with a tight line.

As far as Dry fly fishing goes it’s all about Terrestrials. Hoppers, Ants and Beetles have all been getting some attention from the trout. Thunder Thighs Hoppers, Panty Dropper Hoppers, Dave’s Hoppers, Parachute Hoppers, Streambank Hoppers, Morrish Hoppers, and any other Hopper pattern you believe in should do the trick. Delektable Flying Ants, Bloom’s Stealth Ant, Hippie Stompers and the Yeager’s 409 are good for the Beetles and Ants.

Streamers aren’t Grasshoppers. You’ll probably just want to fish hoppers but if you’re the kind of fella that needs to throw the big stuff I’d recommend getting up early and throwing things like Delektable Screamers, John Bond’s Dragon, Galloup’s Dungeon, Bow River Buggers or Zonkers.

                       

July 19th – 25th | Madison River Fishing Report

The Hoppers are coming! The Hoppers are coming! Get those boxes of foam ready and stock up on floatant now. We’re seeing signs that suggest another great terrestrial season. The Grasshopper bite was just getting started towards the end of this first of two weeks and if it’s anything like last year’s Hopper action, there’s no end in sight. With all that being said, the Hopper fishing isn’t red hot quite yet but the early signs are promising and it is so much fun. We are hopeful! The leaps, drive by’s, bites, and near bite misses are great fishing entertainment fun because you can see the fish go for it. Be patient and let them bite it. A little twitching can help attract them too. The action can be on the edge but also in the middle of the river and near boulders and a variety of places. Experiment!

A few nice ones have been caught on the dries these two weeks. Although we’re all very excited about Grasshoppers don’t forget about some of the other smaller Attractor Dry Flies like the Purple Haze and Purple Craze, Delektable Chubbyness, Stimulators, Dornan’s Water walkers, Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis, Delektable Sparkle Bugs and “X” Caddis, and the Delektable Twisted Baby. In addition PMD’s and Sallies were still on this past first week. As far as the terrestrials go the More-Or-Less hopper, Thunder Thighs, Panty Dropper Hopper, Yeagers 409, Delektable Flying Ant and Bloom’s Stealth Ant are all good choices.

The Nymphs have been and likely always will be the most effective way to catch fish. Size #16 has become more frequent on the smaller nymphs. Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Delektable Hammerhead Jig Hooks, Delektable Lime and Lemon Juice, Formerly Known as Prince, Various Prince Patterns, Psycho Princes in a variety of colors, Shop Vacs, Pat’s Rubberlegs, Lightning Bugs, $3 Dips and Lemon Drops have all been successful on the bead head side of things.

The Streamer bite has been sort of hit or miss but there’s plenty of carnivorous little Brown Trout swimming around out there. Sculpin patterns are your best bet, smaller darker flies like Mini Loop Sculpins, Delektable Screamers, Zonkers, JR’s Conehead and John Bond’s Dragon should move some nice trout.

                       

July 12th – 18th | Madison River Fishing Report

Well, well, well… what a difference a week can make. The fishing has been a bit less consistent as the stonefly hatches have tapered off. There have been plenty of good fish caught they are just making you work for them a bit more.

Dry fly fishing has been a bit tougher during the day but the early and late hatches have still been good with the PMDs and Caddis. Hoppers and Ants have been just starting to pick up a fish here and there and we only expect that to get better as time goes on. Delektable Halos, Bloom’s Parachute Caddis, Purple Hazes, Thunder Thighs and Delektable Flying Ants are all good dry flies.

The nymphs have been doing all the heavy lifting out there this week. We’ve mostly been running 2 small nymphs under the bobber to get the most action. Delektable Ranch PMDs, Delektable Lil Spankers,  Lightning Bugs, Psycho Princes, Princes, $3 Dips, Shop Vacs and Bloom’s Weight Fly have all been doing well out there.

Streamer fishing has been improving with some nice fish being caught on sculpin imitations, mostly in the mornings. Delektable Screamers, Trevor’s Sculpins, McCune’s Sculpins and Zonkers have been the winners of the week.

For anyone who hasn’t heard Montana has issued a mandatory mask mandate for all public spaces and businesses so when you come to the fly shop please be prepared to follow the rules with us. Wearing masks or facial cloth covers is also required when doing outdoor activities if less than 6 Foot distancing occurs and also while riding with others in automobiles. Thanks in advance for helping.