Fishing Reports & Tips - Page 26 of 128

August 1st – 7th | Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on August 7, 2021 by Beartooth Flyfishing

It’s hard to believe we are through the first week in August already. Archery season is just around the corner and there is a touch of fall in the air in the early mornings. But still plenty of fishing to be had. We are still under Hoot Owl restrictions here on the Upper Madison. So keep in mind you need to lay the rods down at 2pm and enjoy the scenery with a cocktail after that. Or get out in the middle of the night and find that Brown of a lifetime on a juicy Mouse pattern. We’ve received more much needed rain over the last several afternoons and we are very thankful for that.

After the last two epic Hopper seasons, so far this year is shaping up as a tougher one. Of course the Hoot Owl closures don’t help by taking away a huge portion of the prime Hopper time on the River. If your patient and rotate through some colors and patterns you can get some action on them. But Ant patterns and Chubbies are fishing more consistently each day. And you can never go wrong with the Dry Dropper rig this time of year.

Nymphing remains consistent and is solid to very good most days. Pat’s Rubberlegs in Olive/Brown, Brown/Black, Delektable Guide Stones are working, Lightning Bugs, Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Flashback Pheasant Tails, and Wire Worms have been fishing well over the last several days.

Dead drifting and stripping streamers early in the mornings is bringing in good results. Sculpin imitations in Olive, Natural Zonkers, and White have been popular this week. Trailing your streamer with a small nymph has been a solid strategy too.

Dries: Delektable Mega 2Tone Chubbyness in Royal and UV Purple #10-#12. Delektable Lil’ Chubby in Royal, UV Tan, UV Cinnamon #14-#16. Delektable Chubbyness Rootbeer and Cinnamon #12-#16. Delektable Flying Ant in UV Cinnamon #14-#16. Delektable Twisted X Orange/Brown #10-#12. Royal Wulff Cripple #16. Parachute Adams #10-#16. Rusty Spinners #14-#16. Purple Haze #10-#16.

Nymphs: Delektable Mega Prince Standard and Flashback #8-#10, Pat’s Rubber Legs Olive/Brown, Brown/Black #8-#10. Delektable Guide Stones same size and colors as Pat’s, Delektable Lil’ Spanker Silver, Gold, Red, Blue, Purple #14-#18. Lightning Bugs Silver, Gold #14-#18. 3 Dollar Dips #16-#18. Crystal Dips #16-#18. Shop Vac’s #14-#18. Prince’s, Delektable Prince Brandon, and Formerly Known as Princes #12-#18.

Streamers: Zonkers Natural. Trevor’s Sculpin, Sheila Sculpin, McCune’s Sculpin. Delektable Screamer Single or Double in White, Olive, Olive/Black, Badger. Dungeon’s in Olive and Black.

Posted in Fishing Reports, Upper Madison River | Tagged articulated streamers, beartooth, beartooth fishing report, beartooth flyfishing, beartooth flyshop, Brown Trout, Delektable Flies, double articulated streamers, dry flies, ennis montana, Fishing Madison River, Fishing Report, Fly fishing, Fly fishing ennis, fly shops in ennis, Fly tying, Flyfishing, Madision River Fly fishing, Madison River, Madison river fishing guides, Madison river fishing report, madison river fly fishing, madison river fly shops, Madison River Montana, Montana, Montana fishing guides, Montana fly fishing guides, montana fly shops, Montana Flyfishing, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout, Summer Fishing, Upper Madison River, Upper Madison River fishing report, Upper Madison River fly fishing, upper madison river trout fishing | Comments Off

August 5th | Ruby River Fishing Report

Posted on August 5, 2021 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Posted in Fishing Reports, Other Locations | Tagged beartooth, beartooth fishing report, beartooth flyfishing, beartooth flyshop, Brown Trout, Delektable Flies, Fishing, Fishing Report, Fly fishing, Fly tying, Flyfishing, Montana fly fishing guides, Montana Flyfishing, Rainbow Trout | Comments Off

July 29th – 31st | Beaverhead River Fishing Report

Posted on July 31, 2021 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Posted in Beaverhead River, Fishing Reports | Tagged beartooth, beartooth fishing report, beartooth flyfishing, beartooth flyshop, Brown Trout, Custom Flies, Custom Rods, Delektable Flies, Fishing Report, Fly fishing, Fly tying, Flyfishing, Montana, Montana fishing guides, Montana fly fishing guides, montana fly shops, Montana Flyfishing, Mountain Whitefish, mt, Rainbow Trout, Summer Fishing | Comments Off

July 25th – July 31st | Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on July 31, 2021 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Another week of Summer has come and gone in the Madison Valley. We’ve received a bit of much needed rain at times. The fire situation up around Cliff and Wade has improved and the heavy layer of smoke we’ve been living and fishing in since the beginning of July has lifted some. Improving the air quality and visibility. Hoot Owl restrictions are still in place and will be so until conditions improve enough for Montana FWP to lift them. For any of you that are new to Hoot Owl restrictions this means no fishing between 2:00 PM and 11:59 PM. Please access the Montana FWP link below for a list of all the Hoot Owl restrictions in effect statewide.

https://fwp.mt.gov/new/current-closures-restrictions.

Flows and fishing remain solid here on the Upper Madison. The Streamer game is definitely on in the early morning hours. With trout chasing well from before light to mid morning when that sun begins to hit the water. If you can catch a day with some cloud cover or when the smoke creates a false cover it has been good with the bunny fur all day. We’ve also had great reports from the Upper River with many anglers having success stripping smaller Black Buggers, Bunny Leeches, and Mohair Leeches.
We’ve seen the Mayfly and Caddis hatches begin to slow down over the last week. With the Nocturnals, Ants, Beetles, and Hoppers beginning to be more of the prime game. If it’s slower on the dries definitely go to the dry dropper rig. The Hopper bite is still building and will only improve throughout August and into September.
Nymphing is the most consistent fishing at the moment. With flows bumped back up to around 1500cfs at the Kirby guage, the Wire Worm has been effective on some recent days. Prince variations, Lightning Bugs, Perdigons, Olive and Coffee Pat’s, and Delektable Lil’ Spankers.

It can be a bit crowded at the ramps right now with the restrictions in place and everyone getting early starts. Remember to be courteous and patient out there. Play your fish as quick as possible. Keep them as wet as possible and take that extra moment to revive them before your release. Current conditions give you the opportunity for some unique and fun new ways for photos. With most cell phones and cameras having some waterproof features now. You can get some amazing shots at or under water level. Please call us or stop by with any questions you may have about your fishing needs. Stay safe out there everyone.

Dries: Morrish Hopper in Tan and Pink #12-#14. Thunder Thighs Hopper in Tan, Pink, Yellow #10-#14. Half Down Hopper #12-#14. More or Less Hopper Tan, Peach, #12-#14. Delektable Chubbyness UV Purple, Royal, UV Cinnamon, Root Beer #10 – #14. Delektable Lil’ Chubby Royal, Root Beer, UV Cinnamon, UV Tan #14 – #18. Para Adams #10 -#16. Carlson’s Purple Craze #14-#16. Royal Wulff #12 – #16. Royal Wullf Cripple #14 -#18. PMD Sparkle Dun #16. Delektable Sparkle Bug Tan, Pale Olive #14 – #16. Delektable PMD Teaser #14 – #16. Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis Tan #14-#18. Delektable Halo Caddis #14 – #16 Tan, Royal, Peacock. Delektable Lil’ Secret Royal, Goldrush, UV Caddis Green. Micro Water Walkers Peanut, Pink, September Stone #14-#16.

Nymphs: Delektable Mega Prince Standard and Flashback #8 -#10. Pat’s Rubberlegs Olive/Black, Brown/Black #8-#10. Formerly Known as Prince #16-#18. Psycho Prince Yellow and Purple #14 – #16. Delektable Lil Spanker Silver, Gold, Pheasant Tail #14 – #18. Lightning Bugs Silver and Gold #12-#16. Delektable Tungsten Jig Spanker Silver, Pheasant Tail, Miller Time, #16-#18. Perdigons. Wire Worm #8.

Streamers: Delektable Screamer Single or Double Olive, Olive/Black, Badger #6. Sparkle Minnows #6. Zonkers Copper, Silver #4-#6. Galloups Dungeon’s Standard and Mini Olive, Black, Cream. McCune’s Sculpin Tan and Olive #4 – #6. Black Bunny Leech #8 – #10. Black Buggers and Mohair Leeches #8-#12.

Posted in Fishing Reports, Upper Madison River | Tagged articulated streamers, beartooth, beartooth fishing report, beartooth flyfishing, beartooth flyshop, Brown Trout, Custom Flies, Custom Rods, Delektable Flies, double articulated streamers, dry flies, ennis montana, Fishing, Fishing Madison River, Fishing Report, Fly fishing, Fly fishing ennis, fly shops in ennis, Fly tying, Flyfishing, Madision River Fly fishing, Madison river fishing guides, Madison river fishing report, madison river fly fishing, madison river fly shops, Madison River Montana, Montana, Montana fishing guides, Montana fly fishing guides, montana fly shops, Montana Flyfishing, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout, streamers, Summer Fishing, Upper Madison River, Upper Madison River fishing report, Upper Madison River fly fishing, upper madison river trout fishing | Comments Off

July 18th – July 24th | Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on July 24, 2021 by Beartooth Flyfishing

It’s been an eventful week up in the Madison Valley. Hoot Owl restrictions went into place on July 21st for the entire Madison River. From the mouth to the Yellowstone National Park Boundary. So for those of you who may be unfamiliar with these rules since this has never happened on the Upper section. This means no fishing between 2PM and Midnight. Also Yellowstone National Park has decided to implement Hoot Owl restrictions on all rivers and streams within the National Park beginning at 2PM on July 24th. The one difference with the YNP restrictions is that there is no fishing from 2PM until sunrise rather than Midnight. Water quality is actually good. Flows are currently at 1500 cfs at the Kirby guage. Which is about 200 cfs above the median historical flow at this time of year. Water temps are topping out between 65 and 68 degrees everyday. With early morning to mid morning temps staying in the mid to high 50’s. But with so many rivers under restriction FWP doesn’t want to have a flood of guides and anglers flocking to the Madison if it were one of the few rivers left without restriction. See the below link to Montana FWP for a full list of closures and restrictions throughout the state.

https://fwp.mt.gov/news/current-closures-restrictions

As for the fishing, it remains pretty good. Dries, nymphs, and streamers are fishing well throughout periods of the day. Attractor dries, Caddis, PMD’s, Sallies, Ants, Beetles, and Hoppers are all possibilities. The dry dropper rig is prime right now with a Chubby or Hopper up top with a smaller nymph trailing. Streamer fishing has been good early for the first few hours of the day. Dead drifting, on the swing, or on the strip. PMD spinner falls in the morning. With periods of surface activity to Caddis, PMD’s, and Terrestrials throughout mid day to the closure time at 2 pm.

It’s important to remember to be patient, and courteous as we are all dealing with these restrictions together. Keep in mind the precious resource we have and to keep in mind we are all doing our part to protect it. The boat launches will be a little more crowded with the limited hours of fishing. Enjoy the company and companionship of our fellow anglers and like all things it will be back to normal soon. Be safe and and enjoy our beautiful outdoor opportunities. We have updated our store hours during the restrictions to 6AM to 5PM seven days a week.

Dries: Delektable Chubbyness #14-#16 Rootbeer, Royal, UV Purple, Goldrush. Delektable Lil’ Chubby #14-#16 Royal, Goldrush, Tan. Delektable Twisted X #16 Yellow/Red. Delektable Elk Hair CDC Caddis #14-#16 Tan. Delektable Halo #16 Tan, Royal. Delektable Lil’ Secret #12 Royal, Delektable Lil’ Secret #14-#16 UV Caddis Green, UV Goldrush. Micro Water Walkers #14-#16 Pink, Peanut. Morrish Hopper #12-#14 Tan, Pink. Thunder Thighs Hopper #10 Pink, Yellow. More or Less Hopper #10 Peach, Pink, Goldenrod. Delektable Flying Ant #14-#16 Purple, Black, Red, Red/Black, Cinnamon.

Nymphs: Prince and Prince Variants #12-#16. Lemon Drops #14-#16. Psycho Prince #14-#16 Yellow, Purple. Delektable Lil’ Spanker #14-#16 Silver, Gold, Blue, Red. Delektable Hammerhead #14-#16 Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail. Lightning Bugs #14-#16 Silver, Gold. Pat’s Rubberlegs #8-#10 Olive/Black, Brown/Black. Delektable Root Beer Float #16 PMD. Delektable Tungsten Jighead Spanker #16 Miller Time. Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear #14-#16. Split Back PMD #14-#16.

Streamers: Delektable Screamers Single and Double in Olive/Black, White. Mini Dungeons. McCune’s Sculpin Tan, Olive. Zonkers Copper, Silver. Sparkle Minnows single and articulated. Sculpzilla’s Black, Olive.