September 4th-September 10th | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on September 10, 2023 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Wet and Wild September is here! This week we saw some rainstorms and variable conditions and fishing matched these variable conditions, but some great fishing was achievable if you could crack the code from day to day. Size #16 Olive Caddis have been throughout the river in afternoon to evening and the fish have started eating the Caddis Pupa early and throughout the day. Tricos have also been making a glorious appearance early in the morning and are a great option if you can see your Fly (and even if you can’t sometimes that’s better)! Ants are still strong on the River even with variable light conditions this week. Finding the right color of Ant has been the tricky part, Cinnamon seemed to be the most consistent this past week, subject to change next week!

Streamflows this week started at 1,120cfs@Kirby and 1,350cfs@Cameron and dropped midweek to 1,070cfs@Kirby and 1,210cfs@Cameron. We are looking great flow wise, Hebgen is full and is providing all the great cool water we need to navigate our waterways into the Big Fish Fall Season. Streamers have started to slowly turn on at the end of this week and Oh Boy are we all excited! Smaller light colored and Olive Streamers have been best.

Nymphing has been a solid option; small Stoneflies #10-#12 or Wire Worm trailing a Caddis Pupa or Perdigon style pattern. Targeting deeper runs when the sun is high and moving towards the banks as the sun moves down has been effective.

Dries: Delektable Lil’ Chubby UV Cinnamon, UV Pink, Royal or 2 Tone UV Black #14-#18, Etha Wing Caddis Olive #16; Delektable Mega2Tone Chubbyness UV Goldrush or Goldenstone #12; Micro Water Walker Pink or Peanut #14-#16; Elk Hair Caddis Royal #16; Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis Purple, Olive or Holo Olive #14-#16; Delektable Halo Royal, Mo River or Purple #14-#18; Delektable Lil’ Secret UV Caddis Green, Royal, Goldrush or UV Pink #16-#18; Craven’s Fat Angie Ant Gold/Cinnamon #16; Delektable Flying Ant Cinnamon, Purple or Red #16-#18; Bloom’s Stealth Ant Purple #16-#18; Thunder Thighs Hopper Peach or Yellow #10-#14; More-Or-Less Hopper Purple, Yellow or Peach #10-#12.

Nymphs: RS2 Black or Grey #18-#20; Delektable Guide Stone Olive/Brown, Black or Black/Brown #10; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Red, PT, Silver or Blue #16-#18; Delektable Hammerhead GTBH PT, Prince, Hare’s Ear or UV Purple #16-#18; Tungsten BH Jiggy Frenchie #16-#18; Formerly Known as Prince #14-#18; Delektable JH Tungsten Spanker Holo Red, PT, Holo Silver or Holo Black #16-#18; Wire Worm Red or Orange/Red #4-#8; Delektable Prince Brandon #14-#18; Geppert’s Mega Emerger #16-#18; Geppert’s Master Emerger #16-#18; Pat’s Rubberlegs Black, Brown/Black, or Olive/Brown #8-#10; BH Lightning Bug Gold, Pearl, or Silver #14-#16; Geppert’s Skinny Dip Black, Brown, or Crystal #14-#16; BH Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear #14-#18; Hare’s Ear Caddis Sparkle Emerger #16-#18.

Streamers: Delektable SS Jointed Screamer Olive/White, Black, White; Delektable Double Screamer Olive, Black, Olive/Black in Gold, or White; Delektable Single Screamer Black, Olive/White, Olive/Black, White or Olive #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4-#6; Zonkers Dark Olive, Tan, or Natural #8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive, Black, or Natural #4; Dali Llama Olive/White or Black/Olive #6; Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6; Conehead Zuddler Olive #6- #8; Sculpzilla Black, Olive or Natural #8; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive or Natural #6; Mini Sculpin Black #10; JR’s Conehead Streamer Olive or Natural #6.

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August 28th-September 3rd | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on September 3, 2023 by Beartooth Flyfishing

School is back in session, and it’s been a nice quiet change in the Valley this week. The feeling of Fall has been drifting around especially with the variable weather conditions we have had this past week. We still have some Summer left and the Ants, Nocturnals, Hoppers and Caddis in the evening is the name of the game!

Streamflows this past week stayed consistent at 1,100cfs@Kirby and 1,200cfs@Cameron. These flows are just perfect this time of the year to float, find the fish and have an incredible time!

The Dry game has still been phenomenal with lots of action and some larger Trout mixed in (if you can get ’em); a Dry/Dropper set up has been a favorite. The Worm with a trailing Jig Hook Nymph has been strong this August. We are still waiting for the Streamer game to come any day now, especially with cooler nights predicted in the future.

As always the pictures tell the best stories, especially those big smiles! Here at Beartooth Flyfishing we are open 7AM to 6PM serving the best free coffee in the Valley, the best selection of Flies and the greatest tales to go along with them! Come on by and let us help you have the best adventure possible!

Nymphs: RS2 Black or Grey #18-#20; BH Montana Bullet Black/Red #18; Delektable Guide Stone Olive/Brown, Black or Black/Brown #10; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Red, PT, Silver or Blue #16-#18; Delektable Hammerhead GTBH PT, Prince, Hare’s Ear or UV Purple #16-#18; Tungsten BH Jiggy Frenchie #16-#18; Formerly Known as Prince #14-#18; Delektable JH Tungsten Spanker Holo Red, PT or Holo Black #16-#18; Wire Worm Red or Orange/Red #4-#8; Delektable Prince Brandon #16-#18; Geppert’s Mega Emerger #16-#18; Pat’s Rubberleg Black or Olive/Brown #8-#10; BH Lightning Bug Gold, Pearl or Silver #14-#16; Geppert’s Skinny Dip Black #14-#16; BH Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear #14-#18; Hare’s Ear Caddis Sparkle Emerger #16-#18.

Dries: Delektable Lil’ Chubby 2 Tone UV Black, Royal, UV Cinnamon or UV Pink #14-#18; Delektable Halo Royal or Mo River #16-#18; Delektable Chubbyness Rootbeer, Royal, UV Cinnamon, UV Purple or Olive Brown #12-#16; Micro Water Walker Peanut, Pink #14-#16; Bloom’s Stealth Ant Purple #14-#16; Yaeger’s 409 Red #14-#16; More or Less Hopper Yellow or Peach #10-#12; White Cloud Hopper Tan or Peach #12-#14; Thunder Thighs Hopper Pink or Tan #12-#14; Delektable Flying Ant Red, Purple or Black #14-#18; Delektable Lil’ Secret UV Pink or Goldrush #14-#18; Parachute Adams #14-#18.

Streamers: Delektable SS Jointed Screamer Olive/White, Black, White; Delektable Double Screamer Olive Black, Olive Black in Gold, Black, Olive, White; Delektable Single Screamer Black, Olive/White, Olive/Black, White or Olive #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4-#6; Zonkers Dark Olive, Tan, or Natural #8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive, Black, or Natural #4; Dali Llama Olive/White or Black/Olive #6; Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6; Conehead Zuddler Olive #6- #8; Flash Fry Olive/Natural #6; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive or Natural #6; Mini Sculpin Black #10.

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August 21st-August 27th, 2023 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on August 27, 2023 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Ants fly too and they are flying in swarms throughout the Madison River! While we are still waiting on those epic Hopper days we remember from days of yore; Ants are where the action is at! Later in the week we started to see the grass turning brown on the hills and the green grass is all around the river, perhaps those little Hoppers will find their way down to the water this coming week.

Streamflows this week started at 1,190cfs@Kirby and 1,400cfs@Cameron with a steady drop throughout the week to end at 1,090cfs@Kirby and 1,270cfs@Cameron. Fishing this week has been inconsistent on what has been working from day to day. Ant patterns either as a Dry or as a Nymph (remember most terrestrials are eaten underwater). Tandem small Nymphs and a Streamer/ Nymph combo have been productive. Hopper and Ant patterns on top have been productive for an abundance of juvenile fish and a smattering of large Trout mixed in!

This weekend’s Madison River Flyfishing Festival was a great success; what a wonderful time and way to celebrate our fishing community. Thank you to all the contributors and vendors that make this event so special every year!

Nymphs: Geppert’s Red Machine #18; RS2 Black #18-#20; BH Montana Bullet Black/Red #18; Delektable Guide Stone Olive/Brown, Black or Black/Brown #10; JH Tung Drop French Lick #16; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Red, PT, Silver or Blue #16-#18; Delektable Hammerhead GTBH PT, Prince, Hare’s Ear or UV Purple #16-#18; Tungsten BH Jiggy Frenchie #16-#18; The Fly Formerly Known as Prince #14-#18; Delektable JH Tungsten Spanker Holo Red, PT or Holo Black #16-#18; Wire Worm Red or Orange/Red #4-#8; Delektable Prince Brandon #16-#18; Geppert’s Mega Emerger #16-#18; Pat’s Rubberleg Black or Olive/Brown #8-#10; BH Lightning Bug Gold or Silver #14-#16; or Geppert’s Skinny Dip Black #14-#16.

Dries: Delektable Lil’ Chubby 2 Tone UV Black, Royal, UV Cinnamon or UV Pink #14-#18; Delektable Halo Royal or Mo River #16-#18; Delektable Chubbyness Rootbeer, Royal, UV Cinnamon, UV Purple or Olive Brown #12-#16; Dornan’s Micro Water Walker Peanut, Pink #14-#16; Bloom’s Stealth Ant Purple #14-#16; Yeager’s 409 Red #14-#16; More or Less Hopper Yellow or Peach #10-#12; White Cloud Hopper Tan or Peach #12-#14; Thunder Thighs Hopper Pink or Tan #12-#14; or Delektable Flying Ant Red, Purple or Black #14-#18.

Streamers: Delektable SS Jointed Screamer Olive/White, Black, White, or Yellow; Delektable Double Screamer Olive/Black, Olive/Black in Gold, Black, Olive, White, Yellow; Delektable Single Screamer Black, Olive/White, Olive/Black, White or Olive #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4-#6; Zonkers Dark Olive, Tan, or Natural #8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive, Black, or Natural #4; Dali Llama Olive/White or Black/Olive #6; Galloup’s Silky Kitty Black, Tan, White, or Olive; #6; Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6; Conehead Zuddler Olive #6- #8; Flash Fry Olive/Natural #6; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive or Natural #6; Galloup’s Mini Sex Dungeons Olive, Black, or Cream #6; or Mini Sculpin Black #10.

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August 14th-August 20th, 2023 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on August 20, 2023 by Beartooth Flyfishing

The Heat is on here on the Madison River this week. We saw some of the hottest days of the year this past week with temperatures in the low to mid 90’s. How thankful we are that we had such an epic Winter now. The Madison River Basin has a plentiful amount of water to keep our River cool and ecologically safe from the August Heat.

This week’s Streamflows started at 1,050cfs@Kirby and 1,240cfs@Cameron, a slight mid-week rise to 1,130cfs@Kirby and 1,330cfs@Cameron and a drop back to 1,100cfs@Kirby and 1,280cfs@Cameron. Fishing can be challenging with flows on the rise, but quite epic when the flows drop.

Fishing this week was primarily the most productive with Small Nymphs or a Hopper/Stonefly and Small Dropper set up. The Nocturnal game is still holding strong, and we have started to see flying swarms of Ants and Tricos come off plentifully throughout the River. Hoppers have still yet to make their grand appearance, but Fish are starting to come up to the patterns regardless. Flesh, Pink, Tan, and Royal have been the color of choice for the top water Fly. We are reaching that time of the year when smaller Nymphs, #16-#20, are the most productive. Streamers are working well earlier in the morning and as an attractor for a small Nymph trailing it throughout the day.

This coming weekend, August 26th-August 27th, the 19th Annual Flyfishing Festival will be happening in Ennis, MT. Our dear Dan Delekta will be doing a fly-tying demonstration from 11:00am to 12:30pm at Peter T’s Park next to Madison Valley Bank. If you would like some more information on the festival visit the Ennis Chamber of Commerce Website.

Nymphs: Delektable Hammerhead JH Hare’s Ear, Prince or PT #14-#18; JH Napoleon Light Olive #16-#18; Delektable JH Tungsten Spanker Holo Olive, PT, Holo Silver, Holo Red or Miller Time #16-#18; BH Lightning Bug Silver or Pearl #16-#20; Blue BH Caddis Emerger Tan #16; Geppert’s Madison Purple Death #16; Geppert’s Skinny Dip Black or Brown #16-#18; Geppert’s Crystal Dip Brown, Olive or Red #16-#18; Wire Worm Red & Orange or Red #4-#8; Delektable Prince Brandon #14-#18; Bloom’s Tung Dart #16-#18; JH BH Iron Lotus #16-#18; Copper John #16-#18; Geppert’s Master or Mega Emerger #16-#18; The Fly Formerly Known as Prince #16-#18; BH Micro May Olive #16-#18; or CDC Flashback Pheasant Tail #16-#18.

Dries: Delektable Lil’ Chubby Pink, Royal, UV Olive or UV Cinnamon #16-#18; White Cloud Hopper Peach or Tan #12-#14; PMD Parachute Rusty Spinner #14-#16; Delektable Halo Royal, Mo’ River or Tan #14-#16; Delektable Secret Stone UV Dark Olive or Royal #10-#12; Transparent Ant Black or Black/Red #16; Delektable Flying Ant Minimal Cinnamon or Purple #14-#18; Hi-Vis Thunder Thighs Hopper Pink or Tan #10- #14; Missing Link Caddis Amber #16; Sparkle Emergent Caddis Grey #16; Parachute Adams #12-#16; Delektable Chubbyness Royal, Rootbeer, UV Cinnamon or Purple #12-#16; Dornan’s Water Walker September Stone, Pink or Peanut #12-#14; Yeager’s 409 Red #14-#16; Carlson’s Purple Craze #14-#18; Split-Winged Adams Parachute #16-#18; Delektable Mega2Tone Chubbyness UV Dark Olive, UV GoldenStone or UV Purple #10-#12; Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis Tan or Cinnamon #16-#18; Morrish Hopper Tan or Pink #12-#14; or McKnight Thunder Thighs Tan #12.

Streamers: Delektable SS Jointed Screamer Olive/White, Black, White, or Yellow; Delektable Double Screamer Olive/Black, Black, Olive, White, or Yellow; Delektable Single Screamer Black, Olive/White, Olive/Black, White or Olive #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4-#6; Zonkers Dark Olive, Tan, or Natural #8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive, Black, or Natural #4; Dali Llama Olive/White or Black/Olive #6; Galloup’s Silky Kitty Black, Tan, White, or Olive; #6; Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6; Conehead Zuddler Olive #6- #8; Flash Fry Olive/Natural #6; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive or Natural #6; Galloup’s Mini Sex Dungeons Olive, Black, or Cream #6; or Mini Sculpin Black #10.

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August 7th-August 13th, 2023 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on August 19, 2023 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Sweet August in the Madison River Valley; the dog days of summer have set in, schools are about to begin and the River has seen less traffic this week, which if you have been lucky enough to be out there the fishing has been fantastic!

Streamflows this week started at 1,140cfs@Kirby and 1,330cfs@Cameron, flows have stayed consistent @ Kirby finishing the week at 1,130cfs and we have seen a drop throughout the week at Cameron to finish the week at 1,240cfs. Windy Point to Varney Bridge has been the most consistent section this past week. However we have had some windy days which can make McAtee Bridge to Varney Bridge challenging for anglers out of a boat. We are still waiting for Hoppers to really turn on, hopefully this warmer weather next week will finally push them down to the water, however the Ants and Beetles have been turning on. Nocturnals are still strong on top and fishing with a dropper has been quite productive.

Streamers and Nymphs have been productive, small Nymph combos or Streamer and Nymph dropper fished dead drift tightline or with an indicator. In the evenings the Caddis hatch is has been great and a Caddis with a Rusty Spinner pattern deadly.

Beartooth Flyfishing, aka The Fly Mart, is open for business Everyday 7am to 6pm, we are here to help you with all your fishing needs! Come on in and let us help you have the best adventure here in Montana and beyond.

Nymphs: : Delektable Hammerhead JH Hare’s Ear, Prince or PT #14-#18; JH BH Iron Lotus #16-#18; JH Napoleon Light Olive #16-#18; Delektable JH Tungsten Spanker Holo Olive, PT, Holo Silver, Holo Red or Miller Time #16-#18; Pat’s Rubberlegs Black/Brown or Olive/Brown #8-#10; Blue BH Caddis Emerger Tan #16; BH Madison Purple Death #16; Geppert’s Skinny Dip Black or Brown #16-#18; Delektable Guide Stone Black/Brown, Olive/Brown or Black #8-#10; Geppert’s Crystal Dip Brown, Olive or Red #16-#18; King Prince #14-#16; Lightning Bug Gold, Silver or Pearl #14-#18; Wire Worm Red/Orange or Red #6-#8; Delektable BH Prince Brandon #14-#18; Bloom’s Tung Dart #16-#18.

Dries: Delektable Lil’ Chubby Pink, Royal, UV Olive or UV Cinnamon #16-#18; White Cloud Hopper Olive, Peach or Tan #12-#14; PMD Parachute Rusty Spinner #14-#16; Delektable Halo Royal, Mo River or Tan #14-#16; Delektable Secret Stone UV Dark Olive or Royal #10-#12; Transparent Ant Black/Black or Black/Red #16; Delektable Flying Ant Minimal Cinnamon or Purple #15-#18; Hi-Vis Thunder Thighs Hopper Pink or Yellow #10-#14; Missing Link Caddis Amber #16; Sparkle Emergent Caddis Grey #16; Parachute Adams #12-#16; Delektable Chubbyness Royal, Rootbeer, UV Cinnamon or Purple #12-#16; Dornan’s Water Walker September Stone, Pink or Peanut #12-#14; Cornfed Caddis CDC Tan #16; Carlson’s Purple Craze #14-#18; Split-Winged Adams Parachute #16-#18; Delektable Mega2Tone Chubbyness UV Dark Olive or UV Purple #10-#12; Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis Tan or Cinnamon #16-#18.

Streamers: Delektable SS Jointed Screamer Olive/White, Black, White, or Yellow; Delektable Double Screamer Olive Black, Olive Black in Gold, Black, Olive, White, Yellow; Delektable Single Screamer Black, Olive/White, Olive/Black, White or Olive #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4-#6; Zonkers Dark Olive, Tan, or Natural #8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive, Black, or Natural #4; Dali Llama Olive/White or Black/Olive #6; Galloup’s Silky Kitty Black, Tan, White, or Olive; #6; Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6; Conehead Zuddler Olive #6- #8; Flash Fry Olive/Natural #6; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive or Natural #6; Galloup’s Mini Sex Dungeons Olive, Black, or Cream #6; Mini Sculpin Black #10.

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