Tag: Custom Flies
May 27th | Henry’s Fork of the Snake River Fishing Report
May 4th – 10th | Madison River Fishing Report
We have had a number of boats out on the Madison over the last week. Fishing overall has been solid. Some days have been tougher than others. But overall it’s been good to great for most of our outings. Nymphing remains the best strategy for getting into the most consistent fishing. Delektable Mega Princes, Delektable Hurless Stones, and Delektable Balanced Stones in sizes #8-#10 are a great choice for your lead fly. Delektable Lil’ Spankers in Silver, Red, Blue, and Pheasant Tail. Shop Vacs, Psycho Princes, Serendipities, Egg Patterns, and Worms have also been strong choices for trailer patterns which will produce.
The Mother’s Day Caddis hatch had been strong on the Lower Madison as well as the lower stretches of the Upper River from Varney downstream to Valley Garden and the lake channels. The cool batch of weather that rolled in last weekend put this hatch on hold for a couple of days. We should see this hatch back in action as the weather warms mid week. Dan was able to get out and fish this hatch on Friday the 7th and had excellent success. Delektable CDC Holographic Elk Hair Caddis, Delektable Little Chubbies, and Delektable Sparkle Bugs, in Olive in sizes #14 and #16 have fished well during this hatch. The Upper Wade Section as always is providing action on top with Blue Winged Olives in sizes #18 – #22. And Midge Adults and Clusters in sizes #18 – #22. If you catch the right day with some cloud cover, calm winds, the fishing can as always be outstanding.
The streamer action is still heating up. And will do so as spring flows continue to increase. Tactics have varied daily. Fast Retrieves, Slow Retrieves, and Dead Drifting are all possibilities. Black, Olive, White, and Natural colored patterns seem to be the hot colors right now. It just takes some time and patience to figure out how they want them presented each day. Streamer bite has definitely been more active on overcast days without the bright sunlight.
The season is coming on quickly with the last of our closed waters such as the Upper Beaverhead opening this coming Saturday the 15th of May. As always please stop by and pick up some Bugs, Leaders, Suncscreen, and any other tying materials you may need on your way to the River. Be safe out there and remember it’s all about fun out there.
April 20th – 24th | Smith River Fishing Report
Oh Boy, OH Boy, OH BOY!! Do we get to talk about a special place today The Smith River in Montana. Kevin recently got to go down as a lucky winner of The Smith River lottery permit system. The start date of his permit was on April 20th and he decided to do it as a 5 day and 4 night trip. He knew what the river could be like as he had been down it twice. Once when the flows were perfect and the water was a dirty brown color but perfect flow of 400 cfs(cubic feet per second). His second time was slightly unlucky and run off kicked into full effect and the river went from 1000 cfs to 2500 cfs. While that trip fished it barely fished. This time was different he was now going under the conditions of very low water. The cfs flow for the whole week clocked in around 160 cfs. Now this is a fishing report, but the goal of the smith river is to enjoy the present, make it out safely and to try to enjoy the cliff walls. It is pretty hard not to enjoy the present for what it is but for those that need to catch fish here we go.
Let us get into the nitty gritty of the fishing game he was seeing on this river while he was there. Well, we all know Kevin who loves his dry flies and that is where we are going to start. He watched his mom catch the first fish on a dry and his first time even seeing flies on surface being eaten on this magical river. He started off with a Water Walker in olive and tested a few Chubbies as well in olive and black. Everything he tried on the surface was eaten at some point, but you must be patient as not every hole wanted to eat the foam. He did see a few Midges, Mayflies, and even a few Skwalas everyday but not enough to make holes turn into a perfect dry fly heaven. He is sure if you had a second Dry Fly following your main piece of foam, being a Midge pattern or Mayfly pattern of sorts, they would have been eaten by some fish. You would have had to be patient again. Instead, he went for a Dry Dropper style to produce more fish.
After you get bored with that set up and you really want a challenge for a fish it is time to go to Streamers. Kevin used his own creations, but they resemble something along the lines of a Silk Kitty and Sex Dungeon. While he was there, he used only two colors Olive and White. Olive had a few looks but never any commitment from the fish. He was frustrated by this lack of commitment from the fish, so he went to White to trigger more promising strikes. It worked but the strikes were still far and few between. Other people were around Kevin at the start of The Smith River journey that were fishing streamers as well. The color they informed him with was Black and Olive. He never got a fly, but Streamers are never about the fly as they are about the color or colors of the day.
Time for the last way to catch fish Nymphing. Kevin said it was incredibly easy and with any cast it could catch a fish. He mainly performed this act in the morning and night when he was cooking and waiting for the pot to boil. Many campsites come with perfect buckets filled with fish and he found this to be the most effective way to wait. He caught fish on flies such as the Zirdle in Olive, Lightning Bug in Silver, Wire Worms in Red, Pats Rubber Legs in Black and Purple, Hot Spot Jig Pheasant Tail, and Three Dollar Dip in Pearl.
All in all the trip is an experience and a full blown adventure it doesn’t matter if the river is low or high it is always recommended. To anyone who loves the places Trout take them as you follow them across the globe. You would enjoy this place at the end of the day because it is not the size of the Trout or how many Trout you caught but the places the Trout take you. You get to enjoy these precious fish as they entertain you under some of the most magnificent cliffs that are ever changing, glow under perfect sunlight, and are seemingly endless during a forty mile stretch of the Smith River. If you ever have a chance to go on the smith don’t blink just say yes and when.
October 4th – 17th | Madison River Fishing Report
September 2nd – 8th | Madison River Fishing Report
This year’s hopper bite has been epic to say the least. The hopper action has been the best we have seen in years. We have so many hoppers in the grass, on the banks and yes, even in the fly bins still. When the wind blows and the sun is out, the hopper bite is the best. It slows a little when the clouds are out. More-Or-Less hopper in the pink size 12 has been one of the better hoppers for us this season. The tan Panty-Dropper-Hopper in a size 12 or 14 is a great hopper pattern that we have here at the Beartooth. It has been dwindling a bit lately even though there are still copious amounts of hoppers. There are other bugs out there if the hopper is not working for you. The mahogany dun in a size 14 or 16 has started to fly around. You could throw a brown or marigold Adams size 14 for that and do well. The tan caddis size 16 is still out and about. We may even start seeing the BWO with the next bit of rain and weather that is in store for us in the next 10 days. Pseudo mayflies in a size 18 to 22 are flying around and you can get those little flies here at the shop too. Let’s not forget the nymph bite is always VERY SWITCHED ON here on the Madison River. So, if you cannot hookup on the dry, give the ‘ole dirty nymph a try, you should have some luck, it’s always been a sure thing. Prince nymph in a size 16 with white CDC (Delektable Prince Brandon) has been the ticket for a lot of our guides. The Delektable Lil’ Spanker series has been a go-to for years and is still a heavy hitter, especially in the Pheasant Tail or Silver colors. Also there have been some spotting on the mahogany duns, which will be out in full force here in a minute. If you would like some more intel or just great fly fishing conversation, come on in to the shop and say hey to all of us here!!! We would be more than happy let you in on what’s working for us!
August 26th – September 1st | Madison River Fishing Report
So… it’s September… and it is still going on with the hoppers! I have never seen it like this in my whole short life. Hoppers everywhere. Holy hoppers. Hoppers. Wow. If you are trying to get your dry fly game going, throw a hopper. The ant has picked up a fish or two also, but for the most part… hoppers. We have seen some good days with the sun and heat and have been lucky with that, but when the clouds come out and they are not eating the hopper, they will eat the nymph and/or streamer. They are hungry. The river is in great condition and the fish are in top shape! It has just been soooo goooood this summer… ALLLL SUMMER LONGGG!!!
Flies that have been working for us here at the shop are as follows:
Hoppers:
More-Or-Less Hopper size 12 and 14 in the Pink, Peach, Tan or Yellow
White Cloud Hopper size 10, 12 and 14 in the Yellow or Green
Mongo Hopper size 10 and 12 in the Tan, Peach or Yellow
Panty-Dropper-Hopper size 12 and 14 in the Tan, Pink or Yellow
Yeti Hopper size 12 in Purple or Red
Fat Frank size 10 and 12 in Orange, Yellow or Purple
Fat Albert size 10, 12 and 14 in ALL the colors
Morrish Hopper size 12 and 14 in the Yellow, Pink and Tan
Dries:
Parachute Adams size 10
Circus Peanut 10 and 12 in the Yellow
Delektable Twisted Baby size 12 and 14 in the Tan/Brown
Delektable Twisted Sister size 12 and 14 in the Tan/Brown
Delektable Chubbiness size 14 and 16 in the Cinnamon or Royal
Tantrum size 12 in the Pink
Purple Haze size 16
Delektable Ant size 14 and 16 in the Cinnamon or Red
Yeagers Ant size 12 and 14 in the Red
Nymphs:
Prince
Pheasant Tail
Delektable Lil’ Spanker size 16 in the Pheasant tail and silver
Silver or Pearl Lightening Bug size 12 and 14
Golden Stone Tungsten size 8 and 10
Shop Vac size 14 and 16 in the Olive and Pheasant tail
Tung Dart Green 16
Well, there are a few choices for you if you were having any trouble selecting a bug or two to throw at those wily trout. If you have any questions please feel free to stop by or give us a call! We hope you are having the best summer ever, now get ready for faaaaaall!!!
Happy Fishing!!! -Dang
October 2nd-8th | Madison River Fishing Report
River flow below Hebgen is up a bit from 880 c.f.s. to 930. Down at Kirby it’s running at 1020 c.f.s. and 1140 at Varney Bridge. We’ve got a couple chilly days coming up but by the end of the week we’ll be back into the low 60’s which should do good things for our BWO and baetis fishing.
The subsurface bugs are catching fish. Smaller Rubberlegs in black or black/brown, worms, bigger zebra midges, Delektable Big Spankers, soft hackle Copper Johns and Hare’s ears are all good bugs.
Streamers have been fishing well but size and colors have been a bit inconsistent so bring a good assortment and be willing to change up a few times till you find that magic fly. Delektable Screamers have been good as always especially in white, black/olive and badger. We’ve also had fish eat the Trevor’s sculpin, McCune’s, Sparkle Minnows and natural Zonkers.
Dry flies are picking fish up as well; you’ll want to target the slow slicks and behind the big rocks. Always remember that they don’t eat the fly unless you fish it even if you aren’t seeing heads poking up. Adams flies or Purple Crazes in sizes #16 or #18 should do the trick.
August 21st-27th|Madison River Fishing Report Eclipse & 60th
There is so much to share. This week we 
experienced the Solar Eclipse on the river and Kevin provided shots from Idaho. We had a mixture of fun fishing experiences including us and many friends and new friends. We had special surprise guests for Dan’s 60th birthday. And…we shared an incredible birthday cake Elle made totally in honor of Dan and “Scar Tissue”. It was quite the week of incredible experiences, fun fishing, great reunions, fabulous cake and terrific food too. Life at Beartooth can be so much fun. Thank you for sharing.
Fishing on the Upper Madison 
hasn’t changed too much throughout the month of August. The biggest change we’ve seen over the past week is that bigger fish are eating a little more readily, let’s hope that lasts. Flows are up slightly from last week below the dam to 1,040 c.f.s. and 1,190 c.f.s. at Kirby Ranch.
Dry fly fishing has still been really 
good even though sometimes we end up with a totally Tyke bite for a day then bigger fish the next day. Big swarms of flying ants can be seen from Storey Ditch down past Varney Bridge later in the afternoon but they’ll eat them almost all day. The Delektable flying ant in Purple or Cinnamon has consistently been our best pattern. Quigley’s glitter ant and the smaller Yeager’s 409’s in red are doing the trick as well. Early in the day a small Adams or Purple Craze has brought success while pseudos are about and hoppers are still producing as well. For those, the cast and location is important. The Delektable Chubbyness in #14’s and #16’s is still a good pattern with best results in UV Purple, UV Cinnamon, and Royal this week. Hoppers in pink, yellow, and cream underneath are still working.
Under the surface fish are taking big or 
small princes, small Delektable pheasant tail Lil’ Spankers, tan/brown or olive/brown Rubberlegs, bigger Delektable Hammerheads, Hare’s Ears and Delektable Big Spanker Warriors. Lightning Bugs in Silver and Pearl are still good. These flies have all been pretty good all day but best During the late morning and early afternoon.
As for the streamer fishing, things 
continue to improve. We’ve seen some good action into the hottest part of the day the last couple days. Some of our best bugs are the Delektable Single Screamer in white, the Sculpzilla in White or Tan, Mini Loops, Silvey’s sculpin leech and the Conehead Bow River Bugger. Using a sinking leader has helped with Slow strips and dead drifts around the boulders. You could even add a trailing small nymph from the list above. The smoke remains in the mountains and less so on the river.
Don’t forget to call the shop for the latest fishing information 406-682-7525. Thank you for the fun and support.
The Delektable Crew
August 14th-20th|Madison River Fishing Report
Well it’s late August, we’re flowing at about 1,000 c.f.s. below Hebgen and 1150 at Kirby. Fishing has been without much change over the past couple weeks with most fish being caught on terrestrial dries or nymphs. The forecast is calling for more warm and bright days coming up which is just fine to keep the hopper bite going.
We’ve experienced some good pseudo action hatches in the mornings and in the evenings of the same. Starting the day with a #18 or #20 parachute adams or purple craze would not be a bad idea. As it gets warmer later in the morning I’d recommend going back to the ants and hoppers. The purple Delektable Flying Ant, Dave’s Hopper, the White Cloud Hopper, Quigley’s Glitter Ant, Delektable Slammers and Fat Alberts have all been bringing fish up. There are still Spruce Moths in the early part of the day in the upper so think about trying variations of that including: Delektable Twisted Baby, Sister, or X in Tan Brown or try purple for whatever reason it is okay, purple is always a special trick color.
Our guides are catching fish on nymphs pretty consistently. Some of the top flies have been Pat’s Rubberlegs in olive/brown, Delektable pheasant tail Lil’ Spankers, Delektable prince Hammerheads, Wire Worms, Prince Nymphs and Rainbow Warriors. Any two of those under a bobber or under a streamer should produce something for you at any time of day.
The best streamer fishing is still early in the morning with small sculpin patterns. We’ve seen fish eat Bow River Buggers in black or olive, Zonkers, Mini Loops and sparkle minnows. Slow strips and dead drifts should do the trick.
Stop in the shop or give us a call for any more info you may need on how to have the best experience possible on the Upper Madison or any of our nearby waters. Enjoy the rest of the Summer!
