June 27th-July 2nd, 2023 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on July 2, 2023 by Beartooth Flyfishing

The Big Bug Hatch is here and it’s shaping up to be a long and epic hatch! With the cooler water temperatures and the temperate Summer weather we very well may see extended hatches and just the best fishing! PMDs, Caddis, Salmon Flies, Goldenstones and Yellow Sallies have all been spotted from Ennis to Lyons Bridge. When they aren’t on the Dries, the bite with Nymphs has been epic. All the food groups are present right now and its GAME ON!!

This beginning of this week Streamflows were at 853cfs@Kirby and 1,520cfs@Cameron and a climb to midweek to 1,550cfs@Kirby and 2,200cfs@Cameron and then a drop by the end of the week to 1,390cfs@Kirby and 1,870cfs@Cameron. With these flows the fish have been podded against the banks, behind the rocks, in front of the rocks (in the soft pillow zone) and slower water out of the flow. The Trout are moving and following the hatches and we have had smatterings of hatches throughout the river from day to day.

As always, the pictures tell the best story! Beartooth Flyfishing is open 7am to 6pm Everyday offering the absolute best free coffee, epic fish stories and a fully stocked Fly shop with people to help you on your big adventure to the beautiful place we call home!

Nymphs: Delektable FB Sparkle or Sparkle Kaboom Stone #6 & #8; ; Pat’s RubberLegs Black, Black/Brown or Olive/Brown #4-#8; Delektable Guide Stone Brown/Yellow, Black, Olive/Brown, or Black #4-#8; Formerly Known as Prince #12-#16; Geppert Crystal Dip Olive, Black, or Brown #16-#18; BH Shop Vac Brown or Olive #16-#18; Delektable BH Prince Brandon #14-#18; Psycho Prince Caddis Green, Purple, or Yellow #12-#18; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Silver, Gold, Purple, or Pheasant Tail #14-#18. Delektable Jig Hook Tungsten Spanker Holo Silver, Holo Gold, Pheasant Tail, Miller Time , Holo Olive #14-#18; Delektable Mr. Rubberlegs Goldentstone #10; Delektable CDC Baby #12-#14; Split Case PMD #16-#18; Delektable TGBH Sure Strike Yellow/Peacock #14-#16; Delektable TGBH Big Spanker Warrior or Olive PT #14-#16; Delektable Rootbeer Float Yellow #16, BH Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear #12-#16;

Dries: Delektable Lil’ Chubby Royal, UV Cinnamon, UV Olive, or Caddis Green #14-#16; Morrish Fluttering Stone Salmon Fly #6; Delektable Secret Stone UV Salmonfly, Royal, or UV Goldenstone #8-#12; Dornan’s Water Walker Pink or Peanut #6-#12; Delektable Mega2Tone Chubbyness UV Salmonfly, UV Goldenstone, UV Goldrush, or Royal #6-#12;  Delektable Twisted Baby Purple, Tan/Brown or Brown #10-#14; Purple Haze Parachute #14-#18; Carlson’s Purple Craze #12-#16; Micro Chubby Gold #16-#18; Mercer’s Missing Link Caddis Amber #16; Corn Fed Caddis Tan & Olive #16; Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis Tan, Holo Olive, or Purple #14-#16; Delektable Halo Peacock, Tan, Pale Olive, Royal, or Dark Olive #16-#18.

Streamers: Delektable SS Jointed Screamer Olive/White, Olive/Black, or White; Delektable Double Screamer Olive, Black, White, Olive/Black, or Yellow; Delektable Single Screamer Olive/White, Black, Olive, White, Yellow, Olive/Black or Spawning; #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4-#6; Zonkers Dark Olive, Copper or Natural #8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive, Black, or Natural; #4; Dali Llama Olive/White #6; Galloup’s Silky Kitty Black, Tan, or White #6; Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow #6; Circus Peanut Articulated White/Black #6; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive or Tan #6.

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June 20th-June 26th | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on June 26, 2023 by Beartooth Flyfishing

How lucky we are to be living, visiting, and enjoying the incredible Madison Valley! Whilst the Winter was hard and Spring has been rainy, we are blessed to have no smoke, a lush green valley and water to last us all year! Fishing this week has been hot and cold with the changing water levels and weather conditions. Those that are willing to change with the conditions and adapt to what the situation calls for have been rewarded tenfold.

Streamers have still been consistent to turn some big heads and produce nice fish. Dries here and there in the late afternoon and evening, Bomber Caddis (Size 14) and PMDs, have been productive. Nymphs have been a go to as the Stoneflies are moving around either fished in tandem or trailing with small PMD Nymphs and Emergers.

We all are chomping at the bit waiting for the big bugs to start flying and we aren’t that far away!! We have seen traces of them here and there; but the first 4-5 days are slower on top due to the Ttrout gorging on the Stonefly Nymphs below.  Bomber Caddis and PMDs are out, fishing well underneath and more top action in the late afternoon and evening. The Salmonflies and Goldenstones are usually a week or two behind them, so next week’s sunnier forecast should turn the tide to GAME ON!

Here at Beartooth Flyfishing our crew is out fishing in the afternoons, keeping our eye on the River and current conditions, and we are here from 7 AM to 6 PM Every day waiting to answer any questions you may have and listen to your great fishing tales!

Nymphs: Delektable FB Sparkle & Sparkle Kaboom Stone #6 & #8; Delektable Mega Prince Olive FB #6-#8; Pat’s RubberLegs Black, Black/Brown or Olive/Brown #4-#8; Delektable Guide Stone Brown/Yellow, Black, Olive/Brown or Black #4-#8; Formerly Known as Prince #12-#16; Geppert Crystal Dip Olive, Black or Brown #16-#18; BH Shop Vac Brown or Olive #16-#18; Delektable BH Prince Brandon #14-#18; Psycho Prince Caddis Green, Purple or Yellow #12-#18; Delektable Lil’ Spanker in Silver, Gold, Purple, or PT, Delektable JH Tungsten Spanker Holo Silver, Holo Gold, PT, or Holo Green #14-#18; Tungsten B.H. Electric Caddis #14-#16; Delektable CDC Baby #12-#14; Split Case PMD #16-#18; Delektable TGBH Sure Strike Yellow/Peacock #14-#16; Delektable TGBH Big Spanker Warrior, Lt Olive, or PT #14-#16; Delektable Rootbeer Float Yellow #16.

Dries: Delektable Twisted Baby Purple, Tan/Brown or Brown #10-#14; Purple Haze Parachute #14-#18; Micro Chubby Gold #16-#18; Delektable Lil’ Chubby Royal, Delektable Lil’ Secret UV Pink or Royal #16-#18; Missing Link Caddis #16; Corn Fed Caddis Tan & Olive #16; Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis Tan, Olive or Purple #16-#14; Delektable Halo Peacock, Tan, Pale Olive, Royal, or Dark Olive #16-#18.

Streamers: Delektable SS Jointed, Double, or Single Screamers Black/Olive, White, Black, Olive, Olive/Yellow or Olive/White #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive, Tan #4-#6; Zonkers Olive, Tan, or Natural #8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive or Black #4; Yo Dali Llama Olive/White #6; Galloup’s Silky Kitty Black, Tan or White #6; Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow #6; Circus Peanut Articulated White/Black #6.

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June 12th-June 18th, 2023 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on June 18, 2023 by Beartooth Flyfishing

The wait is over, fishing on the Upper Madison River has been hot to trot! With the drop of flows since the beginning of the month the River has become fishable throughout, from Raynolds Pass to Valley Garden! Streamflows this week started at 1,400cfs @ Kirby and 2,750cfs @ Cameron, by mid week a drop to 999cfs @ Kirby and 1,820cfs @ Cameron and rising by the end of week to 1,280cfs @ Cameron. The recent rainstorms we have had this past month have had a dramatic effect on streamflows and water clarity. We recommend checking the weather and streamflows daily, and planning your adventure accordingly.

Streamers and Nymphs have been the most productive methods over the past week; Some of the large #10 & #12 Bomber Caddis have been sighted with some top water action being reported. Although most action has been sub surface with Nymphs and Streamers.  The entire river is fishing well from day to day; between Hebgen Lake and Quake Lake and Raynolds Pass to Pine Butte has been quite exceptional and consistent this week. Hopefully we should be seeing Salmon Flies and Goldenstones within the next two weeks.

Here at Beartooth Flyfishing we are fully stocked and just received a shipment of our new Delektable Kaboom Stonefly Nymph patterns. They are a deadly weapon for your arsenal! Stop in and check ’em out before they are all gone!

Nymphs: Delektable FB Sparkle Kaboom Stone, Sparkle Kaboom Stone, or Kaboom Stone #6 & #8; Delektable Mega Prince Olive FB #6-#8; Delektable Hurless Nymph Gray FB #6-#8; Delektable Worm Red, Brown, or Pink #12-#14, Pat’s RubberLegs Black, Black/Brown, or Olive/Brown #4-#8; Delektable Guide Stone Brown/Yellow, Black, or Olive/Brown #4-#8; Formerly Known as Prince #12-#16; Geppert Crystal Dip Olive, Red, or Black #16-#18; BH Shop Vac Brown, or Olive #16-#18; Wire Worm Red #6-#10; ; BH PT Tungsten Soft Hackle #20; Delektable BH Prince Brandon #12-#16; BH Montana Bullet Black or Black/Red #18; Delektable JH Tungsten Spanker, Holo Olive Green, Holo Silver, or Pheasant Tail #14-#18; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Pheasant Tail, Olive, or Silver #14-#20; Delektable Lime Juice Caddis Emerger #14-#16; BH Partridge Caddis Olive #16; Delektable CDC Baby #12-#14; Psycho Prince GB Caddis Green #12-#16; BH Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear #12- #16; Delektable TGBH Sure Strike Yellow/Peacock #12-#16.

Streamers: Delektable SS/Double/Single Screamer Olive/White, Black/Olive, White, Yellow, or Olive/Yellow #6; Zonkers Olive, Natural Copper Body, Black or White #6 & #8; Galloup’s Silk Kitty White or Black & Olive #4;  Trevor’s Sculpin Olive or Black #4; McCune’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4-#8; Delektable Christmas Tree Original, Black, or Olive Yellow #6; Jr’s Conehead Streamer Olive #6; Dali Llama Olive/White, or Black/Olive #4- #6; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive, or Natural #6; Sparkle Shelia Sculpin #4; Wool Head Sculpin Olive #4; Sculpin the One Olive/ Natural #4; BH Dude Friendly Black/Yellow #8-#10.

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May 20th-May 31st | Beaverhead River Fishing Report

Posted on June 10, 2023 by Beartooth Flyfishing

The much anticipated opener of the Beaverhead River has arrived! After closing down the River in Mid-August of last year due to extreme low flows and low reservoir levels, anglers were wondering what to expect. Ryan, our Shop Manager was able to spend a few days on the water of the Beav’ in the past couple weeks. He is happy to report the Browns and Rainbows are fat, happy, and finicky as ever.

Water clarity is very clear to solid visibility downstream to Grasshopper Creek. Below Grasshopper Creek the River is quite dirty still. Trout have been feeding on Small Baetis Nymphs, Midge Pupae and Emergers, Smaller Caddis patterns, Scuds, Sowbugs, and Worm patterns. The Streamer bite has been pretty solid throughout the Beaverhead downstream to Henneberry. The majority of the action has been subsurface, but the die hard dry Fly Fisherman with a sharp eye can take a rising Fish here and there on a Small BWO or Midge adult.

Wow! The Brown Trout is great but look at that Beartooth Custom Burled Wood Kingslayer 5/6 Wt Rod with accompanying Hardy Princess Reel! That’s how you take a picture!

Flows out of Clark Canyon are 332cfs at the Dam and 511cfs at Barrett’s. These are very wading friendly flows. Take advantage of the easier wading while you can before the higher flows kick in for the summer.

Nymphs: Delektable Lil’ Spanker Pheasant Tail #16-#20, Delektable Big Spanker Warrior #18, Splitback BWO #18-#22, Hot Bead Soft Hackle Sowbug Tan, Pink #16-#18. Ray Charles Tan, Pink, Orange #16-#20. Shop Vac Olive, or Brown #16-#18. RS2 #18-#20 Olive or Gray. Delektable Worm Red #12, Flossy Worm Red #12-#14.

Streamers: Delektable Single Screamer #6 Olive/White, Black/Olive, White, or Olive/Yellow.

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May 30th-June 5th, 2023 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on June 5, 2023 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Let it Rain! Spring rains have blessed the Madison Valley this week with temperatures ranging in the low 70’s to mid 60’s and as always it seems that Mother Nature has the best timing. Beginning May 31st Northwestern Energy began dropping flows steadily this week from their planned flush. Streamflows this week started at 3,440cfs @ Kirby and 4,840cfs @ Cameron and incrementally decreased by the end of the week to 2,330cfs @Kirby and 3,890cfs @ Cameron. This week brought all the big water we needed to revitalize our Madison River ecosystem and sets up our Summer to be a cornucopia of phenomenal hatches and even better fishing.

By the 5th we are starting to see the feeder Streams clearing and the River is starting to get that green color we all love. Fishing has been productive through this time from Raynolds Bridge to Pine Butte and as the flows have dropped, we have received reports of people able to go under the Sun West Bridge and the Wolff Creek Bridge. Wolf Creek Bridge does have some logs and debris on the right (east) side and the only passable side is far river left. Sun West Bridge is passable on river right. We do advise caution on floating from Lyons Bridge to Pallisades, experienced rowers and those that are familiar with the bridges will still have a tight squeeze so if you are less experienced with this section we suggest waiting for this section until Streamflows drop.

Fishing this week has been the most productive on Streamers, Stoneflies and of course the Worm Hatch. Fish have started to chase the Streamer hard! As we continue on to the next week and water clarity continues to improve look for Dry Fly opportunities in between scoring huge Fish on the single or double streamer!

Nymphs: Delektable FB Mega Prince STD or Olive #4-#8; Delektable Olive Mega Prince #6-#8; Delektable FB Hurless Stone Gray #6-#8; Delektable Worm Red #12-#14, Pat’s RubberLegs Black, Black/Brown, or Olive/Brown #4-#8; Delektable Guide Stone Brown/Yellow, Black, or Olive Brown #4-#8; BH Tung Teaser Black #20; Geppert Crystal Dip Olive, Red #16-#18; BH Shop Vac Brown, Olive #16-#18; Wire Worm Red #6-#10; ; BH PT Tungsten Soft Hackle #20; Delektable Twinkle Black, or Red #18-#20; BH Montana Bullet Black, or Black/Red #18; Delektable JH Tungsten Lil’ Spanker Pheasant Tail, Olive, Holo Olive Green, or Silver #14-#20; Delektable Lime Juice Caddis Emerger #16; BH Partridge Caddis Olive #16; Delektable TGBH Big Spanker Light Olive #14-#16, Psycho Prince GB Caddis Green #12-#16; Delektable Spark Plug Stoner Egg Head Black, or Egg Head Brown #6-#8.

Streamers: Delektable SS/Double/Single Screamer Olive/White, Black/Olive, White, Yellow #6; Zonkers Olive, Natural Copper Body, Black, or White #6 & #8; Fish Wacker Mini White #6; Blooms Jig Hook Zirdle Gold, or Olive/Orange #10; TBH Balanced Leech Egg Sucking #10; Snapping Craw #8; Claws R Crawfish Olive, or Tan #10; McCune’s Sculpin Olive, Tan #4-#8; Delektable Christmas Tree Original #6; Jr’s Conehead Streamer Olive #6; Yo Dali Llama Olive/White #6; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive or Natural #6; Sparkle Shelia Sculpin #4; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive, Natural #4, Zirdle Orange, Olive, or Tan #6; Bunny Buster #6; Mini Loop Sculpin Natural #6.

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