July 14th-27th, 2025 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on July 27, 2025 by Beartooth Flyfishing

NOTICE!! This coming weekend, August 2nd-3rd Noon to 5PM, we are celebrating our 12th Annual Montana Hope Project Fundraiser in memory of John “Grandpa” Delekta! The importance of this event is to make a wish come true for the terminally ill, disease stricken, and special needs kids of Montana and their families. We will be serving Marty’s famous Gumbo, Dan & Nancy’s Chili along with cookies and pies from Elle at Elle’s Belles and Vickie Noack at Country Bumpkin Bakery. We will also provide fly tying demonstrations and casting clinics throughout the weekend. For a $65 donation you can get all the food you can eat that day and support a great cause to help Montana’s Families. Additional donations are greatly appreciated. We will also be providing a percentage of sales from the weekend to the Montana Hope Project. Contact us if you need guidance on providing a donation by mail or phone. Phone: 406-682-7525 or email: info@beartoothflyfishing.com.

Oh! the Wild Madison River Summers! Untamed winds, terrestrials abound, PMDs and Caddis still swirling about, hot days and cool nights; what more could you ask for in this Wild West Valley we call home!

Whilst other rivers are experiencing declining flows and hoot owl restrictions, here on the Upper Madison from Quake Lake to Ennis Lake, we are abundant with steady flows, cool water and most importantly a plentiful and healthy Trout population that is eating well this Summer! These past two weeks we have seen epic dry fly fishing; bobber down abound and a sprinkling of hot to trot streamer fishing. Weather conditions, especially the cooler nights, have led to later starts in the day and later evening hatches. The fishing has been consistently good for those that consistently adapt to the changing conditions throughout the day.

Stream flows rose to 1,340cfs at Kirby and 1,470cfs at Cameron for the first two 90-degree days this month, dropping incrementally over the next 4 days to stabilize to 1,080cfs at Kirby and 1,200cfs at Cameron. These bumps in flows are critical to keeping our trout and fishery healthy. As fisherman with all the technological tools at our fingertips and the information it provides us, you think that we would always be able to outsmart those Trout, but thankfully that’s just not the case. If it was too easy, we wouldn’t keep coming back!

Hatches we are still seeing are PMDs, Caddis, Nocturnal Stones, Ants and some nice Hopper days! From above and below the Madison River Trout have been responsive to Dries, Nymphing and Streamers. Streamer fishing has been hit or miss the last week, but they have been a great attractor dead drifted with a juicy trailer! With the cool nights we have been experiencing better Dry Fly action early to mid morning and again later in the evening during the last few hours of daylight. Nymphing has been consistent throughout the day with Nocturnal Stones, Caddis and PMDs being the bread, butter and sugar.

Here at Beartooth Flyfishing hope you are getting out and having way too much fun in the bountiful nature of Southwest Montana! We are open Every day 7:00 am to 5:30 pm; stop on by for the best free coffee, the best fly selection, the best view and the best retail experience in the Valley!

Nymphs: Delektable Jig Head Tungsten Micro Spanker PT, Hare’s Ear or Sally #14-#18; Geppert’s Skinny Dip Black, Brown or Pearl #14-#18; Pat’s Rubberlegs or 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 #18-#14; Delektable Tungsten BH Big Spanker Warrior #16-#18; Jig CDC Brown Trasher #16; JH Quill PMD Spanish Bullet #16; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Red, Silver, Blue, PT or Gold #12-#18; Bloom’s Silver Tung Dart #14-#16; Jig CDC Copper Thrasher #16; 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: Carlson’s Purple Craze #10-#16; Cornfed Caddis CDC Olive or Tan #16; Delektable Halo Tan, Mo’River, Royal or Peacock #14-#16; PMD Parachute Rusty Spinner #14-#16; Delektable Lil’ Chubby Royal, UV Cinnamon, UV Caddis Green #14-#18; Bloom’s Parachute Caddis Amber or Olive #16; CDC Parachute Rusty Spinner #14-#16; Hi-Viz Rusty Spinner #16; Delektable Lil’ Secret Goldrush, UV Caddis Green or UV Pink #14-#16; Delektable Chubbyness UV Cinnamon, Olive Brown, Rootbeer or UV Purple #10-#16; Dornan’s Water Walker Peanut or Pink #12-#10; Delektable Secret Stone UV Dark Olive or Royal #10-#12; Morrish Hopper Tan, Green or Pink #12-#14; Para Ant Black & Red #14-#16; Delektable Flying Ant Cinnamon, Black or Purple #14-#16.

Streamers: JR’s Conehead Streamer Olive or Natural #6; Dalai Lama Olive/White #6-#10; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive or Natural #4; Delektable Single Screamer Olive/White, Olive/Black in Gold or Badger #6; Scuzy Sculp Olive or Natural #4, Sparkle Minnow Olive, Natural or Natural/Copper #4-#6.

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July 2nd-July 13th, 2025 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on July 13, 2025 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Happy Independence Day Madison Valley!

It is Prime Time here in the Madison Valley! We have entered the latter stages of Salmonflies and Goldenstones with the big bugs scattered throughout the Upper portions of the Wade Section and between Hebgen and Quake Lakes. Do not despair though. Still, plenty of other insects to keep all the anglers busy out there. Caddis, PMD’s, Yellow Sallies, a few Green Drakes, Flavs, and Epeourous Mayflies as well in the late afternoons through evening. Hoppers and Nocturnal Stones are also beginning to show up on the menu. 

This is the time of year where your Fly placement needs to be accurate and hit those spots. Accuracy is key as the little tikes are out in full force and will attack your Dry with vengeance. So, accuracy is key to get your bug into the key holding lies where their big brothers and sisters like to live. And for the Caddis, Nocturnal and Hopper action a little twitch here and there goes a long way to teasing up those larger Trout.

If you’re into numbers of fish, Nymphing will get you a bit more action. But hey we have all Winter and Spring to stare at indicators or tight line feel. Flows are up to 1,500 cfs now so it’s perfect for a Dry dropper rig which covers both and helps reduce those snags. The evening bite is still very strong with huge flights of Hydropsyche Caddis, PMD Spinners, and Epeourous Spinners. Keep in mind that magic last hour of light where the action gets fast and furious.

For the Bunny Fur Chuckers out there, Streamers are strongest at first light before that Sun hits the water. As the heat of the day approaches, downsizing your Streamer and trailing it with a small Nymph is helpful. And of course, a little cloud cover helps with all the disciplines this time of year. The safer the Trout feel from their Aerial Predators the more likely they are to eat our offerings.

Fall will be in the air before we know it. Get out there and throw some Dries and you never know when or where that 24 Inch trout of a lifetime just may be lurking to grab your Bug. Stop in for free coffee in the morning and we are happy to help with any advice or tips you might need!

Dries:  Delektable Twisted Baby Tan/Brown, Brown/Black #12-#16; Carlson’s Purple Craze #10-#16; Cornfed Caddis CDC Olive or Tan #16; Delektable Halo Tan, Mo’River, Royal or Peacock #14-#16; PMD Parachute Rusty Spinner #14-#16; Delektable Lil’ Chubby Royal, UV Cinnamon, UV Caddis Green #14-#18; Bloom’s Parachute Caddis Amber or Olive #16; CDC Parachute Rusty Spinner #14-#16; Hi-Viz Rusty Spinner #16; Delektable Lil’ Secret Goldrush, UV Caddis Green or UV Pink #14-#16; Delektable Chubbyness UV Cinnamon, Olive Brown, Rootbeer or UV Purple #10-#16; Dornan’s Water Walker Peanut or Pink #12-#10; Delektable Secret Stone UV Dark Olive or Royal #10-#12;

Nymphs: Delektable Tungsten Gold B.H. Formerly Prince #12-16; Pat’s Rubberlegs or Delektable Guide Stone Black/Brown, Olive/Brown, Black #6-#10; Delektable JH Tungsten Olive Hares Ear Torch Light #14-16; Delektable JH Tungsten Micro Spanker Sally, Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail #14-#16; King Prince Nymph #16-#18; Delektable Kaboom Stone #6-8; Blow Torch  Delektable Gold B.H. Formerly Mega Prince STD #6-8; Geppert’s Skinny Dip Brown #14-18; Jig CDC Brown Thrasher #14-16; Silver B.H. Black Spanish Bullet #16; BH Lightning Bugs Silver, Gold, Pearl #14-#18; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Pheasant Tail #14-#18; Splitback PMD #14-#16. Delektable Root Beer Float Yellow, Gold or Red #14-#16; BH Tungsten Jig Yellow Spot #14-#16; Red Butt Rainbow Perdigon #14-#16; Tungsten BH Jiggy Blow Torch #14-#16; Nygren’s the Flash #14-#16; Delektable JH Tungsten Spanker Miller Time, Holo Pink, Silver, Gold or Red #14-#18.

Streamers: Dalai Lama Olive/White #6-10; Delektable Screamer Single Olive/White, Yellow, Olive/Black or Badger #6; JR’s Conehead Streamer Olive #6; McCunes Sculpin Olive or Tan #4, Trevors Sculpin Olive #4; Sculpzilla Olive/White #8; Sculp Ditty Olive #4; Pocket Rocket Olive #4.

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June 16th – July 1st, 2025 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on July 1, 2025 by Beartooth Flyfishing

It is GAME ON here on the Madison River!! The Dry Fly fishing has been off the charts with some of the heat we saw come in. Salmon Flies, Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies, Caddis, Green Drakes, PMD’s and Nocturnal Stoneflies are all coming off at the same time!

Dry or die folks have had a field day out there, the big fish are keying into all the hatches on the River, especially during those morning or evening hours. Getting out there at the optimal feeding windows is key to target the big boys. Our former employee Kevin Mueller caught an absolute pig out there on a Salmonfly Dry at last light!

Nymphing has also been extremely good with all the hatches and insects in the river. Keying into the larval stages of Caddis, PMD’s and Sallies have been killer at certain times of the day before or when they are starting to come off. Not to mention the multitude of Salmonfly and Golden Stonefly Nymphs in the River currently as well.

Streamer fishing has had its times as well with the evening and early morning hours being the best times to throw them. With the flow bump we received they should be fishing better than in the previous weeks we have had!

Flows have been on the increase as of late by around 200 CFS which has been good to spread out boat traffic. The flow bump has provided great fishing opportunities and more access to water and pockets!

Dries: Delektable Secret Stone UV Salmonfly, Royal, UV Goldenstone #6-12; Delektable Chubbyness Little Yellow Stone, Royal, UV Cinnamon, or Rootbeer #12-#16; Delektable Mega 2 Tone Chubbyness UV Salmonfly #6-8; Delektable Lil’ Chubby UV Olive, UV Tan, UV Cinnamon, Royal #14-#16; Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis Holo Olive, Purple, Olive or Tan #14-16; Delektable Twisted Baby Yellow With a Red Butt #12-16. Cornfed Caddis Tan or Olive #16. Missing Link #14-#16.

Nymphs: Delektable Tungsten Gold B.H. Formerly Prince #12-16; Delektable JH Tungsten Olive Hares Ear Torch Light #14-16; Delektable JH Tungsten Micro Spanker Sally #14-#16; Delektable Kaboom Stone #6-8; Delektable Gold B.H. Formerly Mega Prince STD #6-8; Geppert Skinny Dip Brown #14-18; Jig CDC Brown Thrasher #14-16; Silver B.H. Black Spanish Bullet #16.

Streamers: Dalai Lama Olive/White #6-10; Delektable Screamer Single Olive/White, Yellow, Olive/Black or Badger #6; JR’s Conehead Streamer Olive #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4, Trevor’s Sculpin Olive #4; Sculpzilla Olive/White #8; Sculp Ditty Olive #4; Pocket Rocket Olive #4.

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June 3rd-June 15th, 2025 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on June 15, 2025 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Is that thing in the sky a bird or a plane? Oh no! WAIT!

It’s just a giant adult Salmon Fly fluttering to the water to lay its eggs for the next stonefly cycle that takes place every June here on the Madison River!

While it’s still early on and we are just starting to see the beginning of the hatch down above town. However, it is moving fast upstream, which is very exciting! Often fishing is best upstream of where the hatch is most prevalent on the River as the hatch progresses.

Dry Fly fishing the Salmon Fly Hatch can be a fun and exciting experience but also notoriously difficult at times. Going at the most optimal times of the day makes for more consistent eats and takes on the big bugs. These flies primarily hatch during the late evening or early morning hours so fishing during those times is most effective. Sometimes the action can be through out the day as with Salmon Flies Trout Bing and Purge with these big meals. With that, they can end up eating in different sections and at different times depending on how full they are.

In addition to Salmon Flies there are multiple other consistent hatches this time of year. Yellow Sallies, PMD’s, and Caddis can all be seen on the river at different times of the day so don’t neglect the other hatches as the trout could be just as easily keyed in on the other bugs as well.

When it comes to Nymphing the same rule applies. Covering the most consistent hatches with various Nymphs to try to replicate what is going on the river at that specific time of year often works best but attractor nymphs in bright colors and styles can be very effective.

Streamer fishing has dwindled since the water has come down with runoff but still has remained consistent throwing Sculpins, Juvenile Whitefish, Trout Parr and Crawdad Imitations. Keying into what these fish are feeding on can drastically help your streamer game! Early morning and evening remain our most consistent, but the middle of the day can turn on at times especially with a rolling thunderstorm or overcast days!

It is Prime Time in the West! Hope to see you soon, we are open 7 days a week 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Let us help you stock up on all the good ammo and gear for your epic Montana Vacation!

Dries: Delektable Secret Stone UV Orange, UV Salmonfly, and Royal #6-8; Delektable Secret Stone UV Goldenstone #10-#12; Delektable Chubbyness Little Yellow Stone, Royal, Cinnamon or Rootbeer #14-#16; Delektable Mega 2 Tone Chubbyness UV Salmonfly, Royal #6-8 and UV Goldrush, UV Goldenstone #10-#12; Delektable Lil’ Chubby UV Olive, UV Cinnamon, Royal #14-#18; Delektable CDC Elk hair Caddis Holo Olive, Purple, Olive or Tan #14-16; Delektable Twisted Baby Yellow With a Red Butt #12-16; Delektable Halo Tan, Royal #14-#16.

Nymphs: Delektable Tungsten Gold B.H. Formerly Prince #12-16; Delektable JH Tungsten Olive Hares Ear Torch Light #14-16; Delektable JH Tungsten Micro Spanker Sally, Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail #14-#16; Delektable Kaboom Stone #6-8; Delektable Gold B.H. Mega Formerly Prince STD #6-8; Geppert’s Skinny Dip Brown #14-18; Jig CDC Brown Thrasher #14-16; Silver B.H. Black Spanish Bullet #16; Lightning Bugs Silver, Gold, Pearl #14-#18; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Pheasant Tail #14-#18; Splitback PMD #14-#16. Delektable Root Beer Float Yellow #14-#16.

Streamers: Dalai Lama Olive/White #6-10; Delektable Screamer Single Olive/White, Yellow, White, Olive/Black or Badger #6; JR’s Conehead Streamer Olive #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4, Trevor’s Sculpin Olive #4; Sculpzilla Olive/White #8; Sculp Ditty Olive #4; Pocket Rocket Olive #4.

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May 19th-June 2nd, 2025 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on June 2, 2025 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Once again, this year we were blessed to have the opportunity to team up with Members of the Madison-Gallatin TU Chapter and our good friend Michael Gerhart hosting a wonderful group of Veterans for three days of excellent Fly Fishing on the Upper Madison. A Big Thank You to Michael, Bob Frey, and Andy Moore and the other volunteers for the wonderful time. Great food was had by all at Michael’s place here in the Valley each morning and evening of their stay. Memories to last a lifetime were made each day. The Trout cooperated wonderfully, and the smiles on the faces of each member of the group says it all. As always we are proud and honored to participate in these trips each and every year. Giving back to the Veteran’s who have sacrificed so much for us is priceless!

Mayhem In May here on the Madison River! Our vets group came in on the 19th to some great conditions! Their first day was awesome!

The River took a good drop in flow, which made the wade fishing solid. Many runs in the upper section historically in the spring can become too high to wade out to. The delayed release out of Hebgen has allowed the buckets in the middle of the river to be accessible for wading. In Between the Lakes at a low clear flow, indicator fishing with light tippets such as 4X or even 5X has been effective for catching fish in such a pressured area when surrounding systems have runoff. As for the Madison below Quake Lake you can get away with some heavier tippet as clarity is still somewhat off colored. Keying into the prevalent hatches such as BWO’s and Caddis will get you into some fish this time of year, as well as Egg patterns and Streamers. Nymphing will usually get more numbers, while Streamer fishing or flies such as Eggs or Worms tend to catch larger fish. Not always the case but true in most situations, especially when talking about streamer fishing. Often, folks including Shop Crew have hooked Their largest fish on reaction strikes while throwing streamers in the Spring. Dry Fly eats have been happening with the Trout beginning to look for the larger insects with Salmon Flies a few weeks out.

With temps on the rise in the coming weeks expect hatches to increase and a possible flow bump. The fishing will remain solid as fish in most cases slide into the banks and deep holes still accessible to wade fisherman. Here at Beartooth Flyfishing we are open 7 days a week, 8AM to 5PM! Come on in for the best Free Coffee in the Valley, the best flies and the best stories!

Nymphs: Delektable Gold B.H. Formerly Mega Prince Std #8-10; Pat’s Rubberlegs Brown/Black #6-#10; Delektable Guide Stone Brown/Black #6-#10; Firebead Rays Pink #18; Delektable Jig Hook Tungsten Micro Spanker Hares Ear, Holo Olive, Holo Black, Pheasant Tail #16-#18; Delektable FB Sparkle Kaboom Stone #8-#10; Delektable Tungsten Gold BH Formerly Prince #14-#16, Delektable Mega Prince FB Standard #8-#10; Jig CDC Thrasher Copper, Brown, Rainbow #14-#16, BH Lightning Bug Pearl, Silver #12-#16; Wire Worm Red, Pink #6-#10; Delektable Worm Pink, Red, Wine #12-#16. Delektable Lil’ Spanker Silver, Pheasant Tail #12-#18; Jig Duracell Original, Copper Top #16; Stoker’s Two Hot Baetis #18; Silver BH Black Spanish Bullet.

Streamers: Dalai Llama #6-#10; Delektable Screamer Single Olive/White, Olive/Black and Gold, Black #6;  Trevor’s Sculpin Olive #4; Coffey’s Conehead Sparkle Minnow Smoke, Sculpin #6; Zonker Natural/Pearl, Natural/Copper #6-#8; Sculpzilla Black, Olive/White #4-#8; McCune’s Sculpin Olive #4-#8.                                                                                                                                                                           Dries: Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis Tan, Holo Olive #14- #16; Delektable Halo Peacock Dark Olive or Royal #14-16; Carlson’s Purple Craze #16; Delektable Mega Chubbyness Royal #8-10; Sparkle Dun BWO #18-#20; Bat Wing Emerger BWO #18; Delektable Teaser BWO #18-#20; Parachute Adams #12-#16; Jake’s Hatchback BWO #18. Delektable Sparkle Bug Dark Olive #14-#18.

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