This coming weekend, August 1st & 2nd, from Noon to 5PM. We are celebrating our 13th Annual Montana Hope Project Fundraiser, in memory of John “Grandpa” Delekta! The goal of this event is to make a wish come true for the terminally ill, disease stricken, and special needs children of Montana and their families. We will be serving Marty’s famous Louisiana Gumbo, Dan & Nancy’s revered Elk Chili along with cookies and pies from our dear friends at Elle of Elle’s Belles Bakery, Vickie Noack at Country Bumpkin Bakery, and Jim & Debbie Ricks. We will also provide fly tying demonstrations and casting clinics throughout the weekend. For a $65 donation you are welcome to all you can eat food and deserts in support of a great cause to help Montana’s Families. Furthermore, all of the funds paid for the food by you and a portion of retails sales will be donated as well through the weekend. Additional donations are greatly appreciated. Contact us if you need guidance on providing a donation by mail or phone. Phone: 406-682-7525 or email: info@beartoothflyfishing.com.
The heat of Summer is starting to rise here in the Madison Valley, with many rivers experiencing higher temperatures and hoot owl restrictions, the Upper Madison River has been consistently producing good fishing. The Upper Madison River from 8-mile to Ennis Lake is under hoot owl Restrictions, prohibiting fishing from 2pm to 12 am. Fishing on the sections above McAtee & Palisades are still resulting in exciting Dry Fly and Terrestrial fishing. Daily and weekly thunderstorms create feeding periods in the afternoon and later in the day. High daily temperatures can be dangerous or even fatal to fishes if kept out of the water for extended periods; wet hands, in the water pictures, net pictures, and quick releases help ensure fish recovery and security of the future of the fishery.
River flows in late July to reach just below 1,600 cubic feet per second at Kirby monitoring station, and 1,750 cubic feet per second at the Cameron monitoring station. Fluctuating daily above 1,200 CFS at Kirby and 1,400 CFS above Cameron due to periodic rainfall events and flow bumps. These flow up bumps from Hebgen Lake persist, which increased the quantity of cooler water entering the system to alleviate warm temperatures for fish further down river. 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 near Cameron MT – USGS-06038800).
The Summer sun has provided great opportunities for terrestrial fishing with Hoppers, Flying Ants, and Beetles. With small black Caddis and Spinner hatches that keep fish looking upward. Eager anglers who are out at dawn can experience exciting streamer fishing before the sun peers over the nearby hills.
Nymphs: Hare’s Ear or Sally #14-#18; Geppert’s Skinny Dip Black, Brown or Pearl #14-#18; Pat’s Rubberlegs Black or Brown #6-#10; Delektable Guide Stone Olive/Brown, Black/Brown or Black #8-#12; Delektable Tungsten Gold B.H. Formerly Prince #16-#18; BH Lightning Bug Silver, Gold or Pearl #14-#18; Delektable Tungsten BH Big Spanker Warrior #16-#18; Jig CDC Brown Trasher #16; JH Quill PMD Spanish Bullet #14-16; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Red, Silver, Blue, PT or Gold #12-#18; Delektable Tungsten Spanker Crackback Yellow #14-#18; Jig Duracell Original #16; Delektable JH Hammerhead Prince or Hare’s Ear #14-#16; Psycho Prince Purple or Yellow #14-#16.
Dries: Delektable Chubbyness Rootbeer, Royal, Olive Brown or UV Cinnamon #12-#16; Delektable Flying Ant Black, Purple or Cinnamon #16; Bloom’s Stealth Ant Purple #14-#16; Para Ant Black & Red #14-#16; Craven’s Fat Angie Ant Gold/Cinnamon #16; Dry Humper Royal Purple, Red or Royal #14-#16; Fat Albert Tan/Red Thread #10-#14; Morrish Hopper Pink, Green or Tan #12-#14; More-Or-Less Hopper Peach, Yellow, or Tan #12-#14; White Cloud Hopper Olive, Peach, Tan #12-#14; Panty Dropper Hopper Yellow or Tan #12-#14; Delektable Lil’ Secret UV Caddis Green, Goldrush, UV Pink or Royal #16-#18; Rusty Spinner PMD #16; Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis Holo Olive, Tan or Cinnamon #16-#18. Delektable Lil’ Chubby Uv Cinnamon, UV Tan, UV Black #14 -#18.
Streamers: Delektable Screamer Single Olive/White, Olive/Black in Gold or Badger #6, Dali Llama Olive/White #6-#10; McCune’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4-#8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4; Mini-Loop Sculpin Natural or Olive #6; Flash Fry Olive/Natural #6; Zonker Natural Pearl, Natural Copper Body, Natural Tan #6-#8.
