May 9th-May 16th Upper Madison River Fishing Report

The Midnight Rain Dances have worked here in the Valley! We are of this week at 100% snowpack and the valley is unveiling its spring beauty; green glory, trees budding and little wildflowers starting to peek out from the warming earth. We started the week off with temperatures in the 40’s and finished off the week with temps in the low 70’s! The River has been running steadily at 750-800 cfs at Kirby but fluctuating at 1,020 cfs earlier in the week, dropping down to 860 cfs mid-week and finishing at 1,050 cfs by the 15th.  We saw a touch of runoff on the 14th and 15th with the warmer weather but that has stopped with the cold front moving in. The Caddis and Mayfly’s have been seen and are working on the River, when the W factor isn’t blowing them all away, which has has been calmer this week. The fish that have been caught this week have been healthy and hungry and seem as eager as we for warmer weather! As always, the pictures tell the best story. And way to go Patsy and Joan! 

Nymphs: Pat’s Black #6 & #10, Delektable Lil’ Spanker Silver #16, RS2 Olive #18, Delektable BH Prince Brandon #16-#10, Delektable Mega Prince STD, FB & Olive #6-#10, Delektable Guide Stone Black #6-#10, Tungsten BH Jiggy Blow Torch #16-#18, Delektable TGBH Big Spanker Pheasant Tail #16-#18, Delektable Lil’ Spanker Olive Green #18-#20, Geppert Crystal Dip Black, Brown #16-#18, ShopVacs #14-18.

Dries: Delektable Twisted X Tan/Brown #16, Delektable Mega2Tone Chubbyness Royal #10, Delektable Lil’ Chubby UV Caddis Green #16, Purple Haze Parachute #16, Griffith’s Gnat #16-20, BWO Para Sipper #18-20, Delektable Teaser BWO #18-20.

 

Streamers: Delektable Screamer Single or Double SS Jointed Black, Olive, White, Spawning, Purple Black #6, Sculpzilla Olive or Black #4-8, Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow #6, Zonker Natural #6, BH Dude Friendly Black/Natural #10.

June 12th -18th|Madison River Fishing Report

It’s the middle of June and the river is getting ready to jump into high gear. She is steadily and slowly regaining her glorious shine and clarity. As of today the visibility is in about a 3 foot range and getting better with each passing day. The flows are still a little high with below Hebgen Dam at 1610 CFS and at Kirby 2180. The river is slowly tapering down towards those July flows. With the water at the level it is right now it has been making for exceptionally great bank fishing with no need to jump into our crazy swift slippery river just yet. Also, be cautious still at the bridges with your boat and getting under safely.

Attention! Attention! To all who love the flies above the water and not below the water, the dry fly action is in second gear and really trying to pick up speed. As we are getting warmer weather the water flows are beginning to taper down and we will be getting into those hatching connditions.  As a result the first to arrive is the Bomber Caddis between Palisades and Storey Ditch. These Caddis are special with their bigger Caddis bug size #12-14 and you can cast them and see them more easily while nice varieties of trout will prey on them. The best ways to imitate these wonderful bugs is with Delektable Twisted X or Twisted Sister size #12 in Purple or Tan/Brown, Bloom’s Parachute Caddis sizes #14-16 olive, Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis sizes #14-16 Holographic Olive, or try different colors, and the Delektable Twisted Baby sizes #14-16 in purple, tan/brown, or Brown. With these flies you can surely open the season of dry fly fishing right and enjoy a jumping trout from your fly and have a grin across your face and eventually a fish in the net.

As for the down and dark under water approach also known as the nymphing world it is holding a steady pace of ripping lips and catching fish. The flies I would use include the Delektable Sure Strike in sizes #14 and #12, Yellow Psycho Prince in a size #14 or #16, red threaded Prince Size #12, Delektable Hammerhead prince #12 or #14, and Delektable CDC baby size #14. The fish have been really hot for these flies. 

If you think it is going to get cold and you’re holding off on that plane ticket for that last frost to pass. I’m Here to say it is time you must come as all the frost has past this week and the fish are getting very hungry and aggressive. Call us at the shop if you need fly advice and current conditions. Get out there and fish.