September 4, 2008 6:00 PM

The Upper Madison remains open for day use only. Yesterday a couple boats floated the lower Upper Madison and reported spotty streamer fishing. The few fish that were caught were mostly larger (high teens-low twenties and a six incher). Today, the streamer reports were better than yesterday. We expect better streamer reports to follow. The current flows at 3,550 CFS are too high for drift boats and rafts to clear the bridges between Lyons and Palisades.

September 4, 1008 11:45 AM PPL UPDATE

PPL has informed us the engineers will be installing the bulkhead this weekend. This is a fairly involved process with multiple resources and heavy equipment. This process, once completed, is expected to block and redirect flows closer to 1,000 CFS. Starting from Friday there will be a number of large trucks and heavy equipment in the area of the dam. For the safety of everyone including traffic flow and especially because the road and area is narrow, folks are asked to not to go to the dam area unless necessary and if in the area, please park in a safe area out of the way of the heavy equipment and workers. PPL hopes to schedule a public meeting in the near future to provide more information.

PPL UPDATE
PPL has informed us that their engineers are still discussing the best method to control the flows. Decision regarding their approach and implementation will probably take a week or more, so flows over 3,000 CFS can be expected through the weekend. PPL repeats that they consider the dam to be structurally sound.

UPPER MADISON IS OPEN FOR DAY USE
The BLM and FWP have reopened the fishing access sites along the Madison for day use only. These sites will continue to be closed for camping until further notice. Flow at Cameron is 3,700 CFS. Visibility at McAtee is around 12 inches.

September 1, 2008 11:35 AM

REPORT FROM PPL MONTANA
We have just been notified by PPL that there is a crane in position at the dam and they are installing a steel plate or bulkhead to stabilize or decrease the flow. This will probably take most of the day or longer. Once this bulkhead is in place a more thorough inspection of the dam will be possible. PPL does not consider this an emergency situation and is working hard to provide information to the people affected by these developments. They will use their website PPL Montana to provide timely information. PPL has an Emergency Action Plan in place, should this be needed.

September 1, 2008 9:35 AM

THE UPPER MADISON IS NOW

CLOSED AGAIN

We have just been notified by FWP and BLM that they are reassessing the situation and are now closing all access sites until further notice.

September 1, 2008 8:45 AM

THE UPPER MADISON IS OPEN FOR DAY USE ONLY
We have just been notified by FWP that they are opening the Upper Madison for day use only – both for driftboats and waders. People should be mindful of possible sudden increases in flows. The FWP will post warnings at the access sites. No overnight camping or night fishing will be allowed until further notice. The river is muddy, with visibility of 12 inches or less. Flow is 3,220 at Kirby Ranch. We will update this site whenever we receive new information.

September 1, 2008 8:00 AM

THE UPPER MADISON IS CLOSED

Problem at Hebgen Dam – Suddenly Triples Flow of Upper Madison on Sunday, Aug. 31

Around midday yesterday a problem occurred at the dam, suddenly increasing the flow from 940 cfs to around 3,300 cfs:

All the campgrounds along the river and the lower areas around Jeffers were reportedly evacuated yesterday afternoon and evening. PPL Montana was reportedly pouring concrete at the dam last night. Flows have been stable through the night.

FWP has notified us that the Upper Madison is closed until further notice.

We will post additional information as it becomes available to us.

McAtee Access Site September 1, 2008:

Downstream From McAtee Bridge Sept. 1, 2008

Dan Marty Nancy Brad

It’s Ant Time on the Lower Upper

Caught between Varney Bridge and 8 Mile on a #16

Delektable Flying Ant–Cinnamon , August 25, 2008

The flow of the Madison is 948 CFS and stable: Upper Madison Flow at Cameron.An excellent discussion of Water Management of Hebgen by PP&L is on the Madison River Fishing Company Fishing Report, August 23: Hebgen Water Management by PP&L: MRFC Hopper patterns, ant patterns, and Spruce Moth patterns are all effective, although Spruce Moth activity is winding down. There have been some slow afternoons recently. Caddis are still coming off, even on the lower river. There was a heavy caddis hatch around Varney two nights ago. Caddis hatching on the Upper Madison in late August–just another amazing thing about this amazing season.

You can pick your favorite hopper, ant, spruce moth, beetle, and caddis patterns and fish dries all day–most days. It doesn’t get any better than that. The nymphing continues to be very good. The streamer fishing is improving and is starting to work in the middle of the day. With the coming cooler weather, the streamer fishing will really start to turn on.

Recommended Flies

To see the Delektables™ go to: Delektable Flies Gallery

Dries :
Delecktable Flying Ant, Cinnamon or Black #16, #18 (sometimes ants are working right out of the gate in the morning); Turk’s Tarantula Gold #12, #14; Half Down Hopper #12, #14 ; Delektable Twisted X tan #14, #12; Delektable Twisted Baby Tan/Brown #12, #14; Fat Albert-red, yellow, chartreuse #14, #12, #10, #8; Triple Decker Hopper–Pink #12, #10; Delektable Twisted X Black with Red Butt #10; Super Spider #12, #14; Delektable Sparkle Bugs, Delektable CDC Elk Hairs, and Delektable Halos #16, #14–tan and olive; La Fontaine Emergent Sparkle Pupa brown #16

Delektable Flying Ant Cinnamon

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Nymphs:
Delektable Lil’ Spanker: Silver, Red, or Pheasant Tail #16, #18; Lighting Bug #16, #18; Tungsten Beadhead Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle #16,#18; Tungsten BH Amber or Olive Studly Nymph #16, #18; BH Superflash #18, #20; WD40 Olive #18, #20; BH Tailwater Tiny Olive #18, #20; many different kinds of beaded nymphs

Delektable Lil’ Spanker

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Streamers:
Delektable Screamer Yellow and Brown, Olive Black, Black, Single and Double, #6, or your favorite pattern.

Dan Marty Nancy Brad