September 16th-October 13th, 2024 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on October 13, 2024 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Wow what a wonderful Fall we have had here on the Madison River! Warmer than normal, some record highs, but just gorgeous! The cooler nights and mornings have turned the Streamer bite on! And the dwindling hatches have still been holding on this past month with Fall Caddis and October Caddis making an appearance most afternoons.

Streamflows have been steady for the past few weeks holding at 890cfs at Kirby and 1,050cfs at Cameron. Water temperatures this past week have been dipping to below 50 degrees at night and rising to the high 50’s in the afternoon. The water temps have helped the streamer bite but have made the fish move into the more marginal shallower water and with the Whitefish spawning, Trout have been following the spawn and stacking up in different parts of the River.

Single Streamers with a Small Nymph trailer, Stonefly and Smaller Nymph combos, and Dry/Dropper combos have all been in the fall rotation. We are still seeing fish come up to the Dries in the afternoon. Watch for the BWO’s also, heads will be poking through the surface for those from now throughout the Fall!

Dries: More-Or-Less Hopper Yellow #12; Mongo Hopper Tan #12; Dry Humper Yellow, Royal Purple, Royal #14-#16; Para Ant Black & Red #14-#16; Delektable Flying Ant Cinnamon, Red/Purple or Black #14-#18; Sparkle Dun BWO #18-#20; BWO Butthead Sparkle Dun #20; Q’s Loopy Cripple Stacker BWO #18; Delektable BWO Teaser #18-#20; Delektable BWO Squeezer #18-#20; Parachute Adams #18-#20; Delektable Lil’ Chubby UV Caddis Green, UV Cinnamon, Royal #16-#18; Delektable Chubbyness Olive Brown, Rootbeer, Cinnamon or Royal #14-#16; Delektable Twisted Sister Orange/Brown #12; Delektable 2Tone Chubbyness UV Goldrush or Royal #14-#16.

Nymphs: Delektable Tungsten Gold B.H. Formerly Prince #14-#18; Delektable JH Tungsten Micro Spanker Holo-Black, Pheasant Tail, Holo-Olive, Holo-Silver, Yellow Spot or Hare’s Ear #16-#18; Delektable Mega Prince STD #8-#10; Delektable JH Tungsten Black Bling #16-#18; Delektable Gold B.H. Formerly Mega Prince STD #8; RS2 Black or Gray #18-#20; Lightning Bug Silver or Pearl #16-#18; Delektable JH Tungsten Olive Hare’s Ear Torch Light #18; Pat’s Rubberlegs Black/Brown or Black #8-#10; Delektable Guide Stone Black/Brown #8-#10; Geppert’s Mega Emerger #16-#18; Jig Duracell Original #16; Skinny Nelson #18; Geppert’s Master Emerger #16-#18; Stocker’s Two Hot Baetis #18; BH Black FB Pheasant Tail #20; Delektable Tungsten Spanker Red BH FB Red Dog #14-#16; JuJu Baetis FB Red #18-#20; Tungsten BH BWO Nymph #18-#20; BH Montana Bullet Black/Red or Black #18; Delektable Kaboom Stone #8-#10; Wire Worm Orange & Red #4-#10; Worm Flossy Red #10-#14; Delektable Worm Red or Wine #12-#16; Delektable Orange Juice Caddis Emerger #14-#16; Hogan’s Red Headed Step Child #18; Psycho Prince GB Purple #16-#18.

Streamers: Dali Llama Olive/White #6 or #10; Delektable Screamer Single Olive/White, Olive/Yellow, Olive or Olive/Black in Gold #6; Galloup’s Micro Dungeon Olive or Black/Purple #10; Zonker Natural, Natural Copper Body, Black or Dark Olive #6-#8; Sheila Sculpin #4; Sculpzilla Olive/White, Black, Olive/Tan or White #4-#8; Jr’s Conehead Streamer Olive #6; Conehead Zuddler Olive #8; Pocket Rocket Olive or Black #4; McCune’s Sculpin Olive #4-#8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive or Black #4; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive #6; Sculpin the One Olive/Natural #4; Butt Monkey Olive #4; Zirdle Olive/Orange #8; Willy’s Fruit Roll Up Black #8-#12; Mini Sculpin Black or Natural #6-#8; Coffey’s Minnow Smoke or JJ #6. Mini Boogeyman Olive #6.

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September 1st-15th, 2024 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on September 15, 2024 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Fall has arrived in the beautiful Madison River Valley and with-it epic fishing days with Behemoth Trout on the menu! We experienced true fall in Southwest Montana; Crazy Storms, Big W, Hot Days and our first snow in the Mountains. The Wild Montana Fall is a shop favorite and for anyone that has been out experiencing it the last two weeks you know why!

Streamflows have been up and down the last two weeks due to the weather and the work for the new dock at Kobayashi Beach on Ennis Lake. Starting the week at 976cfs @ Kirby and 1,090cfs @ Cameron, dropping to 886cfs @ Kirby and 1,020cfs @ Cameron and rising by the end of the week to 1,050cfs @ Kirby and 1,060cfs @ Cameron. These slight bumps and drops in Streamflow Levels the last two weeks can make an impact upon the bite and to the water temperature which in turn can affect the few remaining hatches we have left. So, if you had some odd fishing days the past few weeks it’s most likely due to the outdoor conditions, even the smallest of changes can be the cause!

Terrestrial action has still been active on the clear and warmer days. Nymphing and Streamer fishing has been the most consistent throughout the day. We have been seeing the Fall Caddis, Moths, Midges, Tricos and the start of Blue Winged Olives by the end of the week. Emergent patterns have been working well with some successful top water days also. Additionally, we have started to see the Ennis Lake fish moving up into the river system and some big trout are out there!

Here at Beartooth Flyfishing we are so excited that our New Delektable Flies have come in, were six packed and tested this last week. They are all winners! We have changed our store hours to 8:00AM to 5:30PM Everyday! Stop on in, enjoy some free coffee and tell us about your Fall Fishing Adventures!

Nymphs: Delektable Jig Hook Tungsten Micro Spanker Holo-Black, Holo-Silver, Yellow Spot, Hot Spot Orange or PT #16-#18; Delektable Jig Hook Tungsten Black Bling #16-#18; Delektable Tungsten Gold BH Formerly Prince #16-#18; BH Lightning Bug Gold or Silver #16-#18; Jig Duracell Copper Top or Original/Red Bead #16; Pat’s Rubberlegs Olive/Brown or Black/Brown #8-#12; Flossy Worm Red #10 & #14; Wire Worm Red/Orange #6-#10; Geppert’s Mega Emerger #16-#18; RS2 Gray or Olive #18-#20; Montana Bullet Black or Blk/Red #18; Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear #16-#18; Geppert’s Crystal Dip Crystal, Red or Black #16-#18; Psycho Prince Purple #16-#18; Hogan’s Red Headed Step Child #16-#18; Delektable Prince Brandon #16-#18; Delektable Jig Hook Tungsten Olive Hare’s Ear Torch Light #16.

Dries: Delektable Flying Ant Cinnamon, Purple #16-#18; Bloom’s Stealth Ant Purple #14-#16; Yaeger’s 409 Red #14-#16; Dry Humper Royal or Royal Purple #14-#16; Delektable Chubbyness UV Cinnamon, Olive Brown or Rootbeer #14-#16; Delektable Lil’ Chubby UV Cinnamon or Royal #14-#18; Royal Wulff Cripple #16-#18; Delektable Twisted Baby Tan/Brown, Brown or Purple #14-#16; Dornan’s Water Walker Peanut #12; Super Chernobyl Brown #12; Trico Spinner Double Wing #18; Snowshoe Trico #20; Adam’s Midge Cluster #18-#20; CDC Last Chance Cripple Trico #22; Etha Wing Dun-Trico #20-#22.

Streamers: Dali Llama Olive/White #6 or #10; Delektable Screamer Single Olive/White, Olive/Yellow, Olive or Olive/Black in Gold #6; Galloup’s Micro Dungeon Olive or Black/Purple #10; Zonker Natural, Natural Copper Body, Black or Dark Olive #6-#8; Sheila Sculpin #4; Sculpzilla Olive/White #4-#8; Jr’s Conehead Streamer Olive #6; Conehead Zuddler Olive #8; Pocket Rocket Olive #4; McCune’s Sculpin Olive #4-#8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive #4; Coffey’s CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin or Smoke #6; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive #6; Sculpin the One Olive/Natural #4; Butt Monkey Olive #4; Zirdle Olive/Orange #8.

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August 19th-August 31st, 2024 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on August 31, 2024 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Temperatures have cooled and the Big Boys and Gals have come to play, hopefully at the end of your line! Fall is in the air and the trout are feeling it too and putting on their feed bags to bulk up; Winter is coming sooner than later!

Streamflows the last two weeks has been running fairly consistent with Kirby @ 960cfs and Cameron @ 1,100cfs. The lower consistent flows have really helped the Dry Fly bite but can make putting in and taking out at certain launches challenging but still very much achievable.

Terrestrial activity has been picking up with Beetles, Flying Ants and Hoppers hatching along the riverbanks in the heat of the day. Twitch those Hoppers, give them that shake and bake, Trout just can’t refuse that Tempting Twitch! We are also seeing Spinners, Tricos, Midges and Mayflies all of which are working at the appropriate time of day.

Streamer Junkies have had their fun in the last few weeks as well with the bigger fish starting to chase larger meals as water temps drop. Sculpin patterns stripped or dead drifted under the indicator have been deadly! Running Nymphs under an indicator or tightlined together or behind a Streamer have been catching Fish consistently as well. Various Attractor and Mayfly Nymphs have caught some sizable fish. Midge, Trico or Emerger Nymphs have also seen some success.  

We have some heat in the forecast over the next two weeks, so it will be interesting to see what changes as we head towards Fall on the Madison River. Here at Beartooth Flyfishing we are open Everyday 7AM to 5:30PM; come on in for the best coffee and a retail adventure you won’t soon forget.

Dries: Thunder Thighs Hopper Yellow, Pink, or Tan #10-#14; Delektable Chubbyness UV Cinnamon, Olive Brown, Royal, or Rootbeer #12-#16; Delektable Lil’ Chubby Royal or UV Cinnamon #14-#18; Chernobyl Tan/Gold, Tan/Tan or Tan/Pink #10-#12; KB’s Hop Zone Peach, Tan or Pink #12; Morrish Hopper Tan, Pink or Green #12-#14; Panty Dropper Hopper Yellow, Pink, or Tan #10-#14; Juicy Hopper Pink #10-#12; White Cloud Hopper Tan or Peach #10-#14; Dry Humper Royal Purple, Royal, Purple, or Red #14-#16; Yeager’s 409 Red #10-#16; Bloom’s Stealth Ant Purple #14-#16; Para Ant Black & Red #14-#16; Delektable Flying Ant Red/Purple, Cinnamon, Black or Purple #14-#18; Dornan’s Water Walker Peanut or Pink #10-#12; Delektable Lil’ Secret UV Pink, Goldrush, or Royal #14-#18; Guide Winna Spinna Rust #14-#16; Carlson’s Purple Craze #10-#18; Purple Haze Split Wing Parachute #16; Trico Spinner Double Wing #18; Snowshoe Trico #20; Adam’s Midge Cluster #18-#20; CDC Last Chance Cripple Trico #22; Etha Wing Dun-Trico #20-#22.

Nymphs: Delektable Prince Brandon #14-#18; The Fly Formerly Known as Prince #16-#18; Jig Duracell Original or Copper Top #16; Geppert’s Skinny Dip Black, Brown, or Pearl #14-#18; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Blue, PT, Red, Silver or Gold #14-#20; BH Lightning Bug Silver, Pearl or Gold #14-#20; Delektable TSBH Big Spanker Warrior or TGBH Big Spanker Purple #14-#18; Geppert’s Crystal Dip Red, Crystal, or Black #16-#18; BH Shop Vac Brown #16-#18; Tungsten BH Jiggy Frenchie #14-#18; Tungsten BH Jiggy Blow Torch #16-#18; Pat’s Rubberlegs Olive/ Brown, Tan/Brown, Black, or Black/Brown #10-#12; Delektable Jig Hook Tungsten Spanker Holo Red, Holo Gold, Holo Black or PT #16-#18; Psycho Prince GB Purple or Yellow #14-#18; Wire Worm Red/Orange or Wine/Red #6-#10; Flossy Worm Red #10 or #14; Geppert’s Master Emerger #16-#18; BH Montana Bullet Black or Black/Red #18.

Streamers: Dalai Lama or Mini Dalai Lama Olive/White #6 or #10; Delektable Screamer Single Olive/White, Olive/Yellow, Olive, or Olive/Black in Gold #6; Galloup’s Micro Dungeon Olive or Black/Purple #10; Zonker Natural, Natural Copper Body, Black or Dark Olive #6-#8; Sheila Sculpin #4; Sculpzilla Olive/White #4-#8; Jr’s Conehead Streamer Olive #6; Conehead Zuddler Olive #8; Pocket Rocket Olive #4; McCune’s Sculpin Olive #4-#8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive #4; Coffey’s CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin or Smoke #6; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive #6; Sculpin the One Olive/Natural #4; Butt Monkey Olive #4; Zirdle Olive/Orange #8.

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

Posted on August 18, 2024 by Beartooth Flyfishing

The “W’s” of Change have been blowing through the Valley this last week. By the end of this week Hoot Owl Restrictions from Ennis Bridge to Ennis Lake have been lifted. The cooler rainy days mixed with breaks of sunshine, all be it the Wind was present, and gave us feelings that Fall is just around the corner. Traffic in the Valley has been slowing down as the kids go back to school. Fishing has been just great and still a lot of trout to go around and be caught with a variety of techniques.

Streamflows this week started at 1,100cfs @ Kirby and 1,280cfs @ Cameron and dropped to 976cfs @ Kirby and 1,140cfs @ Cameron by the end of the week. It’s getting a little boney out there, especially the accessibility of some boat ramps. Storey Ditch, Varney Bridge & Palisades have been more difficult to launch and take out at but still achievable if you don’t mind scraping your bottom a bit and doing the walk across slippery boulders! The flows for the dry fly bite, however, have been fantastic.

Terrestrials have really turned on this last week. Storms and the “W” Factor have been challenging some days but regardless the fish have been eating! Small Streamers, and Attractor Nymphs followed by a smaller Nymph have been productive. The Trout are putting on their feed bags for the upcoming Winter season, so get out there and try to get one of those 70 fish days!

As always the pictures tell the best story! Here at Beartooth Flyfishing we open Everyday 6:30 am to 5:30 pm. Come on in for an epic Retail Adventure and the best free coffee in the Valley!

Dries: Grillo’s Hippie Stomper Royal #12-#16; Delektable Chubbyness UV Cinnamon, Olive Brown, Royal or UV Purple #12-#16; Panty Dropper Hopper Yellow or Pink #10-#12; Thunder Thighs Hopper Pink, Yellow, Tan #10-#14; KB’s Hop Zone Tan, Cheese or Peach #12; Dry Humper Royal Purple, Olive, or Red #14-#16; White Cloud Hopper Tan, Olive or Peach #12-#14; Morrish Hopper Green or Tan #12-#14; Purple Craze #10-#20; Para Ant Black/Red #14-#16; Delektable Flying Ant Purple, Red/Purple or Black #14-#16; Delektable Lil’ Chubby Royal, UV Cinnamon or UV Caddis Green #16-#18; Delektable Halo Royal, Peacock or Purple #14-#18; Delektable Twisted X Chartreuse/Sand or Olive/Gold #10-#12; Dornan’s Water Walker Peanut #10-#12; Super Chernobyl Pink or Brown #12; Will Dornan’s Circus Peanut #12; Parachute Adams #10-#20.

Nymphs: Lightning Bug Silver, Pearl or Gold #14-#18; Geppert’s Skinny Dip Brown, Black or Pearl #14-#18; Geppert’s Mega Emerger #16; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Red, Blue, Silver, Gold or PT #16-#18; Delektable TSBH Big Spanker Warrior, TRBH Red Headed, or TCBH Light Olive #14-#16; Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear #16; BH Tung Teaser Black #18; Wire Worm Red/Orange #4-#10; Tungsten BH Jiggy Frenchie #16-#18; The Fly Formerly Known as Prince #14-#18; JH BH Black Zebra Midge #18; Delektable JH Tungsten Spanker PT, Holo Olive, Holo Red or Holo Gold #16-#18; Pat’s Rubberlegs Olive/Brown or Black/Brown #8-#10; BH Shop Vac Brown #16-#18; BH Tungsten Jig Yellow Spot #16-#18; Delektable Mega Prince STD FB #6-#10; Delektable Hurless Nymph Olive FB #10.

Streamers: Delektable Screamer Single Olive/White, Olive/Black or Olive Yellow #6; Mini Dali Llama Olive/ White #10; Fish Wacker Mini White #6; Mini Loop Sculpin Natural or Olive #6; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive or Natural #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4-#8; Zirdle Olive/Orange, Orange or Natural #6-#8; Zonker Natural or Black #6-#8; Jr’s Conehead Streamer Olive #6; Muddy Buddy Olive #8; Sculpzilla Olive/White, Olive/Tan, White #8; Shelia Sculpin #4; Bloom’s JH Zirdle Olive/Orange #10; Pocket Rocket Olive, Copper Brown or Black #4; Bunny Buster #8.

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

Posted on August 11, 2024 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Change has finally come! Goodbye 90’s and hello to rain and cooler temperatures! We are so grateful for the weather and the rain later this past week and rolling into next week. This is just the hydration we need, when we need it the most. The Universe proves again that everything is in perfect order.

Streamflows this week started at 1,220cfs @ Kirby and 1,370cfs @ Cameron and ended the week at 1,080cfs @ Kirby and 1,250cfs @ Cameron. With the drop in flows the Cameron Flats can be tricky, plan your lines accordingly otherwise you may be scraping the bottom of your boat on the rocks!

Fishing this week has been a mixed bag (Catching good but dealing with the weather and “W” Factor tougher) as we are dealing with a weather change and a drop in flows. Streamers have turned on in a more consistent way, Nymphing has been steady (Especially that August Worm Bite), Dries have been good when it warms up and into the evening. There are still some PMD’s out there, the Nocturnals have been very consistent, and the Terrestrial bite is getting better by the day. This coming week we are looking to have some weather earlier in the week followed by warmer days which will hopefully really turn on the Terrestrial bite!

As always, the pictures tell the best story! Here at Beartooth Flyfishing we are open Everyday from 6:30AM to 5:30PM. Stop on in for the Best Retail Adventure and Free Coffee in the Valley!

Dries: Grillo’s Hippie Stomper Royal #12-#16; Delektable Chubbyness UV Cinnamon, Olive Brown, Royal or UV Purple #12-#16; Panty Dropper Hopper Yellow or Pink #10-#12; Thunder Thighs Hopper Pink, Yellow, Tan #10-#14; KB’s Hop Zone Tan, Cheese or Peach #12; Dry Humper Royal Purple, Olive or Red #14-#16; White Cloud Hopper Tan, Olive or Peach #12-#14; Morrish Hopper Green or Tan #12-#14; Purple Craze #16-#20; Para Ant Black/Red #14-#16; Delektable Flying Ant Purple, Red/Purple or Black #14-#16; Delektable Lil’ Chubby Royal, UV Cinnamon or UV Caddis Green #16-#18; Delektable Halo Royal, Peacock or Purple #14-#18; Delektable Twisted X Chartreuse/Sand or Olive/Gold #10-#12; Dornan’s Water Walker Peanut #10-#12; Super Chernobyl Pink or Brown #12; Will Dornan’s Circus Peanut #12; Parachute Adams #16-#20.

Nymphs: Lightning Bug Silver, Pearl or Gold #14-#18; Geppert’s Skinny Dip Brown, Black or Pearl #14-#18; Geppert’s Mega Emerger #16-#18; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Red, Blue or PT #16-#18; Delektable TSBH Big Spanker Warrior, TRBH Red Headed or TCBH Light Olive #14-#16; Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear #16; BH Tung Teaser Black #18; Wire Worm Red/Orange, or Red #4-#10; Tungsten BH Jiggy Frenchie #16-#18; Formerly Known as Prince #14-#18; JH BH Black Zebra Midge #18; Delektable JH Tungsten Spanker PT, Holo Olive Green, Holo Red or Holo Gold #16-#18; Pat’s Rubberlegs Olive/Brown or Black/Brown #8-#10; BH Shop Vac Brown #16-#18; BH Tungsten Jig Yellow Spot #16-#18; Delektable Mega Prince STD FB #6-#10; Delektable Hurless Nymph Olive FB #10; Psycho Prince Purple #16-#18.

Streamers: Mini Dali Llama Olive/ White #10; Fish Wacker Mini White #6; Mini Loop Sculpin Natural or Olive #6; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive or Natural #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4-#8; Zirdle Olive/Orange, Orange or Natural #6-#8; Zonker Natural #6-#8; Jr’s Conehead Streamer Olive #6; Muddy Buddy Olive #8; Sculpzilla Olive/White, Olive/Tan, White #8; Shelia Sculpin #4; Bloom’s JH Zirdle Olive/Orange #10; Pocket Rocket Olive, Copper Brown or Black #4; Bunny Buster #8; Delektable Screamer Single Olive/White, Olive/Black or Olive Yellow #6.

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