May 22-June 2nd, 2024 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on June 2, 2024 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Besides Memorial Day Weekend, the past two weeks it have been quiet here in the lovely Madison Valley. The river has not really let loose a full runoff, but rather the water has been green and just the best flows for catching lots of spring trout!

Streamflows started the week at 1,380cfs @ Kirby and 1,840cfs @ Cameron climbing to 1,530cfs @ Kirby and 2,310cfs @ Cameron mid-week and dropping to 1,410cfs @ Kirby and 2,210cfs @ Cameron. With the warmer weather and rain predicted this next week we may see some dirtier runoff water. However, it still has been an unpredictable Spring here and if you’re thinking of heading up here to catch some Spring joy give us a call as conditions could be changing daily!

Fishing this week has primarily been most productive with Streamers, Stoneflies and other Nymphs. With the water levels elevated green, buggier and bigger bugs have been the ticket. Some Caddis and BWOs have been spotted throughout the River this week, the Trout have preferred the Nymph to the dry from Lyons Bridge to Ennis. However, the wade section has produced some fish for those willing to work for it.

We are excited to start the Summer, it feels so close you could almost taste it! Our shop is fully stocked for the Season, and we can’t wait to see all the happy faces of our fishing family returning to the waters of the Madison. We are open 7 days a week 8am to 5pm, the coffee is still free and fishing tales are still bigger than life!

Nymphs: Delektable FB Sparkle Kaboom Stone #6-#8; Delektable Sparkle Kaboom Stone #6-#8; Fly Formerly Known as Prince #14-#16; Jig Duracell Original/Red Bead #16; Delektable Lil’ Spanker PT, Silver or Purple #14-#16; Delektable Prince Brandon #12-#16; Psycho Prince Caddis Green or Purple #12-#14; Delektable TGBH Sure Strike Yellow/Peacock or Black/Purple #12-#14; Delektable Mr. Rubberlegs Goldenstone #8-#10; Delektable Mega Prince STD Flashback #6-#8; Wire Worm Pink, Red/Wine or Orange/Red #4-#8; Lightning Bug Gold #14-#16; Delektable Hammerhead GTBH JH Hare’s Ear, Olive or Prince #14-#16.

Streamers: Zonker Dark Olive or Natural #6; Shiela Sculpin #4; Sculpzilla Olive/White #8; Jr’s Conehead Streamer Olive #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive #8; Mini-Loop Sculpin Olive #6; Fish Whacker Mini Olive #6; Delektable Screamer Single Olive/White or Black/Olive Gold #6; Coffey’s CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin or Smoke #6; Galloup’s Silky Kitty Tan #6; Galloup’s Sex Dungeon Mini or Regular Olive/Black #6-#8.

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May 24th, May 30th & June 1st, 2024 | Beaverhead River Fishing Report

Posted on June 1, 2024 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Our Shop Manager Ryan had the chance to bring fellow Beartooth employee RT along on an adventure at the Beaverhead River at the end of the opening week on the Upper River between Clark Canyon Dam and High Bridge. It was so good they had to go back a few more times to test if it was a fluke… it was not!

We were interested to see how the trout were doing after a milder winter with much more solid flows than the previous two winters. And we are happy to report the Trout in the Upper River are in very good shape. They most certainly had their feed bags on all winter and spring. Ryan and RT were both blessed with numerous trout in the 20 – 24 inch class and hooked up with two or three that were over that class but were lost due to straightened hooks or just by being outsmarted by our finny friends.

The Outflow at Clark Canyon Dam was at 489cfs making for a comfortable day of wade fishing the buckets and runs of the Upper River. Nymphing was the name of the game as it often is in this stretch of the Beaverhead. Sowbugs, Annelids, Small Baetis Nymphs and Emergers, and Midge patterns were all effective throughout the day. There’s just something special about showing a good friend a new stretch of river that they have never fished and seeing their delight as they began to unlock the keys to how to fish such a special piece of water.

Nymphs: Delektable Lil’ Spanker PT #16-#20, Delektable Big Spanker Warrior #18, Splitback BWO #18-#20, Hot Bead Soft Hackle Sow Bug Tan or Pink #16-#18, Ray Charles Tan or Pink #18-#20, Ninch’s Pill Popper #16-#18, Barr’s Emerger PMD or BWO #16-#18, Flossy Worm Red #12, Stocker’s Two Hot Baetis #18, Geppert’s Master Emerger #18, RS2 Olive #18, Delektable Worm Red or Pink #12, Delektable Ranch BWO #18.

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May 12th-May 18th, 2024 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on May 18, 2024 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Fake Runoff, Real Runoff…. The lines are usually quite blurred on this subject in Spring on the Madison River. Due to the changing weather, we have had this week, one day we were led to believe that this off-color water would only get worse. But then we woke up to cooler temps the next day and were surprised to see crystal clear waters. However, the way the water looked this week did not stop the fish from eating. And you may have been lucky enough to have the right set up in the right place that trout were eating at the end of your line!

This week was a special pleasure. Jointly with Madison Gallatin Trout Unlimited, Beartooth Flyfishing, and Michael Gerhart we hosted a fantastic group of Veterans for a 3-day fishing adventure on our famous home waters. Fun, laughter, healing, and lots of fish were had by all. The Vets Really enjoyed some great eating and accommodations at Michael’s. We are honored to be apart of a great organization and selfless individuals that make this possible for our most valued members of our nation.

Fishing this week was dominated by Stoneflies, Streamers and of course the Worm. Dead drifted Streamers with a smaller Nymphs trailing were quite productive and double Stoneflies were a favorite for many. With the changing water clarity, buggier, bigger, brighter Nymphs have been the ticket and most likely will continue to be as we are having a strung-out runoff this year.

Stream flows this week started at 1,070cfs @ Kirby and 1,420cfs @ Cameron and steadily rising to 1,420cfs @ Kirby and 2,070cfs @ Cameron. We will be having cooler temperatures next week which will slow down runoff and change water clarity. This time of the year it is always good to call the flyshop and check the conditions from day to day. Here at Beartooth Flyfishing we are open 7 days a week 8 AM to 5 PM. Give us a call or stop by and enjoy the free coffee and even better free advice!! (406-682-7525)

Nymphs: Delektable FB Sparkle Kaboom Stone #6-#8; Jig Duracell Original/Red Bead #16; JH CDC Flashback PT #16; JH BH Zebra Midge Red #18; Delektable Mr. Rubberlegs Goldenstone #8-#10; Delektable Mega Prince STD #6-#8; Delektable Prince Brandon #8-#12; Lightning Bug Gold #14-#16; Delektable Hammerhead Jig Hook GTBH Hare’s Ear, PT or Prince #14-#16; Delektable JH Tungsten Lil’ Spanker PT #14-#16; Delektable Stonefly Candy UV Black BH #6-#8; Pat’s Rubberlegs Black, Olive/Brown or Brown/Black #6-#8; Psycho Prince GB Purple #12-#14; Tungsten Jiggy Blow Torch #14-#16; Wire Worm Pink, Red/Purple or Orange/Red #8-#4.

Streamers: Zonker Dark Olive or Natural #6; Sheila Sculpin #4; Sculpzilla Olive/White #8; Jr’s Conehead Streamer Olive, or Natural #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive #8; Mini-Loop Olive #6; Fish Whacker Mini Olive #6; Delektable Screamer Single Olive/White or Black/Olive in Gold #6; Coffey’s CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin or Smoke #6.

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May 5th-May 11th, 2024 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on May 11, 2024 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Springtime on the Madison River in Montana is best surmised by the famous Mark Twain; “In the Spring I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.” Fishing can also be that way in the Spring. Different bites at different times of day, different places that the fish are holding from day to day and of course different bugs catching different Trout. This week showed all the colors of Spring in Montana.

Streamflows at the beginning of this week were 999cfs @ Kirby and 1,250cfs @ Cameron, with 100 to 150cfs fluctuations everyday as it warmed and cooled and finishing off the week rising to 1,250cfs @ Kirby and 1,430cfs @ Cameron as we saw some warmer weather Friday and Saturday.

Fishing at the beginning of this week was best in the morning until about 1:00 PM and then tapering off the rest of the day. As the week went on, we saw more consistent fishing throughout the day. The most productive bite from Lyons Bridge to Varney Bridge was the Nymphing/Streamer set up. Whereas in the Wade Only section Dry Fly action was to be had with Skwalas, BWOs and Midges. Streamers, Stones & Worms are very productive this time of the year especially on a swing or weighted dead drift.

For those that braved the changing Spring conditions they were rewarded for their efforts; the pictures tell the rest of the story.

Nymphs: Delektable Lil’ Spanker PT or Silver #12-#18; Delektable FB Sparkle Kaboom Stone #6-#10; Delektable Mega Prince Olive Flashback #10; Wire Worms Pink or Red #4-#8; Flossy Worm Pink or Red #12; Delektable Kaboom Stone #6-#10; Pat’s Rubberlegs Olive/Brown, Black or Brown/Black #6-#10; Lightning Bug Silver or Pearl #14-#16; Delektable Mega Prince STD Flashback #6-#10; Delektable Hurless Nymph Gray or Olive #6-#10.

Streamers: Delektable Screamer Single Olive/White, Black or Olive #6; Sculpzilla Olive/ White #8; Zonkers Silver, Copper or Natural #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive #4-#8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive #4; Dali Llama Olive/White #6.

Dries: Para Adams #12-#18; Purple Craze #12-#18; Delektable Mega 2 Tone Chubbyness UV Dark Olive #10-#12; Delektable Secret Stone UV Dark Olive #10-#12.

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May 5th-May 11th, 2024 | Beaverhead River Fishing Report

Posted on May 11, 2024 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Few moments match the thrill of getting on a beautiful River, starting a fishing trip, being with friends and enjoying the majestic experience nature has in store. Our early May trip was one of those beautiful days. The fish were also enjoying the pleasant, relaxing weather, and chose to be slow on the bite. But patience and perseverance paid off with feisty, healthy, beautiful fish being caught. Void of any hatches, the offerings remained sub-surface, with the most productive being the Delektable Screamer Single Olive/White and Delektable Lil’ Spanker PT #20.

Nymphs: Micro May Brown or Olive #18; Soft Hackle Sow Bug Pink, Tan or Gray #16-#18; Ray Charles Pink, Tan, Gray or Orange #16-#18; Split Back BWO #18-#20; Delektable Lil’ Spanker PT #18-#20; Wire Worm Pink or Red #6-#8; Flossy Worm Pink or Red #12.

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

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