Fishing Report
Tuesday, Aug 30, 2011
It's Fall in Montana!
The days are finally beginning to cool, birds are gathering in larger numbers and brown trout are beginning to change to spawning colors. Fall is close in Montana. Stream condtions are the best in many years and anglers should try to get out the next six weeks before the 2011 season ends.
The Big Hole is low but cool and if you have a raft the float fishing is excellent. Wade fishermen can easily access the river now. Look for some hopper fishing in the lower parts of the river. Attractor patterns with nymphs dropped off are working well. The spruce moth is about done. You will find trico activity of some stretches of the river.
The Beaverhead is very high but fishing well for thos anglers with boat access. It is difficult to wade fish at 1050 cfs. Crane flies on the surface work well. As always, small nymphs with lots of weight and in indicator are very effective. You will find some hopper action on the lower part of the river in the afternoons.
The Jefferson is erratic. Some good days with hoppers and streamers. There are also some tough days on the Jeff. Be prepared for anything.
The Ruby has finally dropped and cleared. You should be prepared to fish nymphs streamers and drys. Hoppers on top in the afternoons. Some trico activity in the morning.
The Madison continues to puzzle us. Generally it is very slow however we are seeing some hopper fishing with small hoppers. Again, keep your expectations low when fishing the madison.
Clark Canyon reservoir is very good. Don't skip the still water fisheries.
Have a good Labor day weekend.
Saturday, Aug 20, 2011
Late Summer Fishing Conditions
Hopper Season!
Water conditions on most SW Montana streams are excellent now. Those rivers that were running high and off color have dropped and cleared. You should expect a lot of terrestrial fishing from this point until about mid September. You will find some trico activity on area rivers and occasional caddis hatches in the evenings.
The Big Hole is low but in much better shape than it would normally be in late August. There are some spruce moths left on the upper reaches of the river. Down lower look for trico activity in the mornings and hopper fishing in the afternoons.
The Beav is still high due to irrigation demands and a full reservoir. However it is fishing quite well with small bead head nymphs. You should begin to hit fish on hoppers when fished tight to the banks.
The Madison continues to be a puzzle. Lots of small fish but the larger fish are tough to find. Dredge with nymphs or a small streamer nymph combination and you may stir a few larger fish.
The Jeff is dropping but has fished pretty well through the summer months which is unusual.
The Ruby above and below the reservoir is clear enough to fish. You may need to look to something sub surface if the dry fly fishing is slow.
Good luck and enjoy the nice weather we have been experiencing.
Thursday, Aug 04, 2011
It's Hopper Time!!
One of the most enjoyable times of the year for fly fishers is when trout start looking for terrestrials. This means ants, beetles and hoppers. The rivers in the Twin Bridges, Dillon area are finally beginning to show signs of hopper activity.
The Big Hole will produce top water action with hoppers, big attractor dries and parachute adams. If you don't mind fishing a nymph off the back of your dry it is advisable. Stream flows are very good and water temperatures on the Big Hole remain cool. Dry flies will be particularly effective on overcast days.
The Beaverhead is very high due to irrigation demands but it is fishing quite well. If you are a streamer fisherman think about getting a very early start and fishing right at dawn. You can also fish the last part of the day when the sun has dropped behind the mountains. Nymphing on the Beav right now is exceptional. Fish micro may flies and split back nymphs in small sizes. You need lots of weight to get deep and you probably will want to float the river to be most effective.
The Madison is erratic as usual this time of year. Lots of small fish up on the dry flies. If you want larger fish you must drift nymphs and streamers under an indicator.
The Ruby is just clearing enough to be fishable below the reservoir. You may not have much success with dries but nypmhs and streamers are working fine.
The Jefferson is rounding into shape and will be one of those rivers where you want to think about fishing hoppers. If the dries are not the answer go to nymphs and streamers.
All area spring creeks and meadow streams are responding with hopper fishing.
The final suggestion we always like to offer is to think about fishing Clark Canyon Reservoir. This lake is producing some very large fish right now.
Good Luck
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011
SW Montana Rivers Back to Normal
It has taken about four weeks longer than normal but most SW Montana trout streams are down and in great shape. The weather has been warm and dry and grasshoppers are beginning to show.
The Beaverhead is high but very clear. Typically this time of the year, water users call for water out of Clark Canyon Reservoir and the gets pretty high. Regardless, the fishing is good. The only problem is that your wading options become less. You really need access to a boat. Small may fly nymphs like the micro may and split back in 16 and 18 are still working.
The Big Hole is erratic but in great shape. We need some cloud cover to give the dry fly fisher the kind of fishing he wants. If it is bright and warm you need to fish deep with nymphs.
The Madison is finally in beautiful condition and a mixed bag of dries and nymphs will work for you.
The Ruby is just rounding into shape. You should catch plenty of fish on streamers and nymphs and in the next week or so we hope to find fish up on hoppers.
The Jefferson is in fabulous condition as compared to most years. Water is up, clearing and cold. Mostly wet fly fishing but trout should begin to look for hoppers and big attractors soon.
enjoy the best time of the year in Montana this year.
Wednesday, Jul 20, 2011
Stream Conditions mid summer
It is great to see all SW Montana rivers rounding into shape. Fishing is good with dry fly fishing picking up steam.
The Madison is still pretty high but water color is good. You probably will have more success on nymphs but there are caddis, a few stone flies and a few may flies on the surface.
The Big Hole is in terrific shape now. Water color is perfect with flows down to a very nice level. You can take fish on yellow sallies, caddis and attractor dry flies. Stone fly nypmhs, copper johns and standard bead heads work all day long. If you get cloud cover don't be afraid to fish some streamers.
The Beaverhead has been very good. Some pmd's, caddis and yellow sallys on the surface. Small bead heads like the split back and micro may flies are very effective.
Even the Jefferson is clearing enough to be fishable. Streamers and nymphs deep are still the answer on the Jeff however we expect some good hopper fishing on this river in a couple more weeks.
The Ruby is improving and below the dam can be fished with streamers and nymphs.
Good luck and enjoy your time on the water