Summer is booming here in the Madison River valley, and so is the weather. Large multiday rainfall events, and almost daily afternoon thunderstorms, have resulted in elevated flows on the Upper Madison River over the past two weeks. This outshines precipitation levels received in the previous 6 months, leading to some of the best Dry Fly fishing the valley has seen in years. Nymphing and Emerging insect fishing consistently produces larger catch volumes of fish; and Streamer fishing for larger fish persists during lower light. Rapid changes in weather patterns from day to day have restricted fishing presentations for consistent profiles, despite this the feedbag is very much on.
Caddis and PMD hatches are in full swing, with occasional Yellow Sallies and Green Drakes popping off between thunderstorms. Golden Stoneflies & Crane flies provide dense high protein food items for large Trout during key life cycle stages. Flying Ants are starting to make their appearance, and Hopper fishing is showing its first glimpses from the mid-July heat.
River flows in the beginning of July are just above 1,100 cubic feet per second at Kirby monitoring station, and just above 1,300 cubic feet per second at the Cameron monitoring station. Perpetual rainfall and flow bumps peaked flows around 1,300 for Kirby and 1,450 for Cameron. Fishing higher on the Upper River is recommended, as temperatures approach 70 degrees towards Ennis Lake due to the extreme heat that plagued the valley. Madison River flow rates can be viewed using The U.S. Geological Survey stream gauge at Cameron (Madison River near Cameron MT – USGS-06040000) and Kirby (Madison River at Kirby Ranch nr Cameron MT – USGS-06038800).
Beartooth Flyfishing is located at 2925 US 287 North in Cameron, MT 59720. We are open Monday through Sunday from 7:30 AM to 6 PM. Stop by and visit us in the valley for free coffee, a current selection of proven flies, and plenty of fishing stories and advice from the Beartooth Flyfishing crew and family.
Nymphs: Delektable Jig Hook Tungsten Spanker Pale Olive PMD #14-#16, Delektable Jig Hook Tungsten Hare’s Ear or Olive Torchlight #14-#16, Delektable Prince Brandon #8-#16, BH Lightning Bug Gold, Silver or Pearl #16-#20, Tungsten Split Case PMD #18, BH Tungsten Jig FB Pheasant Tail #14-#18, Tung Drop Yellow Sally #14-#16, Delektable Kaboom Stone #6-#10, Geppert’s Skinny Dip Brown, Black or Crystal #14-#18, Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear #14-#16, Delektable TGBH Sure Strike Yellow/Peacock or Sally #12-#16, and Delektable Lil’ Spanker Gold, Silver, Blue or PT #12-#18.
Dries: Delektable Chubbyness UV Purple, Olive/Brown, Royal, or Rootbeer #10-#16, Dornan’s Water Walker Peanut #10-#12, Morrish’s Fluttering Stone Salmon Fly #6, Delektable Secret Stone UV Orange, UV Salmon Fly, UV Goldenstone, Royal #6-#10, Juicy Stone Salmon Fly #6; Delektable 2Tone Chubbyness UV Goldrush or Royal #10-#14, Delektable Twisted Sister Orange Brown #4-#8, Delektable Twisted Baby Yellow with Red Butt or Brown #12-#16, Cornfed Caddis CDC Olive or Tan #16, Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis Tan, Olive or Purple #14-#16, Delektable Halo Peacock, Tan, Dark Olive, or Purple #16-#18, Delektable Sparkle Bug Tan #16, Split Wing Parachute Purple #12-#16, Parachute PMD #16-18.
Streamers: Delektable SS Jointed Screamer Olive/White, Black, Olive, White, or Yellow #8, Delektable Screamer Double Olive/Black, Black, Olive, White, Yellow #6, Delektable Screamer Single Black, Olive/White, Olive/Black, White, Olive, or Spawning #6, McCune’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4-#6, Zonker Dark Olive, Tan, or Natural #8, Trevor’s Sculpin Olive, Black, or Natural #4, Dali Llama Olive/White #4-#10.
