May 9th-May 15th, 2023 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on May 15, 2023 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Ennis Town Access is Open!

Green River Color has returned to the Madison with the cooler temperatures this week, and what a pleasurable treat before the Big Mud! Stream flows started this week at 1,350cfs @ Kirby and 1,660cfs @ Cameron, mid-week dropping to 1,150cfs @ Kirby and 1,490cfs @ Cameron and a steady increase to 1,300cfs @ Kirby and 2,160cfs @ Cameron by the end of the week. We should see a continuation of warmer weather this week and run off has started, however, the river is still fishable, and Trout eat throughout the runoff. For the next week our favorite spot is above the West Fork to Quake Lake; big Stone Flies and Streamers can be deadly this time of the year!

This week’s fishing was steady and consistent, the cooler weather brought the green river color that we all love in Spring. Double Stone Flies, Stone Flies and Streamers with a trailing Delektable Lil’ Spanker PT brought the most action, Dry Flies could be productive if fished throughout the day, but the Trout still seem wary about making themselves seen with hungry birds of prey hovering above.

Mother’s Day Caddis made a grand appearance on the Lower Madison this week and there have been sightings on the lower portion of the Upper River this week. It would be worth the effort to fish some Caddis this upcoming week, the Nymphs have been tested and produced Trout this weekend.

As always the pictures tell the best story! Here at Beartooth Flyfishing we are so happy to be seeing all our old friends coming back for the year and can’t wait to be back into the Full Summer Swing, we’ve missed it so!

Streamers: Delektable SS/Double/ or Single Screamers Olive/White, Black/Olive, White or Yellow #6; Zonkers Olive or Natural Copper Body, Black or White #6 & #8; McCune’s Sculpin Olive #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 or Natural #4.

Nymphs: Delektable Hammerhead GTBH Olive #14-#20; Delektable FB Hurless Stone Gray or Olive size #8-#10; Delektable FB Olive Mega Prince #8-#10; Delektable Big Spanker Warrior size #16- #18; Delektable Worm Red #12-#14, Pat’s RubberLegs Black, Black/Brown or Olive/Brown #6-#12; Delektable Guide Stone Brown/Black or Black #6-12; BH Tung Teaser Black #20; Geppert Crystal Dip Olive, Red #16-#18; BH Shop Vac Brown or Olive #16-#18; Wire Worm Red #6-#10; JH CDC Flashback PT #18; BH PT Tungsten Soft Hackle #20; Delektable Mega Prince STD FB #8 & #10;  Delektable Twinkle Black or Red #18-#20; BH Montana Bullet Black, Black/Red #18; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Pheasant Tail #14-#20; Delektable Lime Juice Caddis Emerger #16; BH Partridge Caddis Olive #16; Delektable TGBH Big Spanker Light Olive #14-#16.

Dries: Purple Haze Parachute #18; Parachute Adams #18-#20; Delektable Chubbyness Royal or Olive Brown #14-#16; Delektable Lil’ Chubby Royal or UV Rainbow #16-#18; Delektable Curved Hook Ranch BWO #16; Etha-Wing Dun BWO #20-#22; Q’s Loopy Cripple Stacker BWO #18; Gulper Special #18-#20; Adams Split Wing Parachute #16-18; Adam’s Midge Cluster #18-#20; Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis Holographic Olive #16; Etha Wing Caddis Olive #16.

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May 1st – May 8th, 2023 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on May 8, 2023 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Spring in Montana is such a tricky beast! Cold, wet and maybe still Winter to hot Summer weather and then back to true Spring, overcast and just perfect. This week we saw Spring in true form with temperatures in mid-70s most of the week and dropping back to the mid-50s by the end of the week. We saw a little preview to runoff with flows jumping from 1,275cfs @ Kirby & 1,500cfs @ Cameron starting the week, 1,480cfs @ Kirby & 2,070cfs @ Cameron mid-week and then a progressive drop to 1,250cfs @ Kirby & 1,630cfs @ Cameron by the end of the week. We should see a continuation of drop in flows and improvement of water clarity next week as cool temperatures are predicted.

Stone Flies, Midges, Baetis, some March Brown Nymphs and Streamer action has been the most consistent this week. We saw some water discoloration from the feeder streams this week with the warmer weather, but clarity improved later in the week as temps cooled. This had some impact on catching but anglers that were willing to change their tactics with the conditions had some great catching days!

At Beartooth Flyfishing we are gearing up for the season! We are open Every day 8am to 5pm and we got fantastic free coffee, just the best entertainment and pretty good advice. Let us help you with your next fishing adventure!

Nymphs: Delektable Braided Stone FB Brown/Tan size #8; Delektable FB Hurless Stone Gray or Olive size #8-#10; Delektable FB Olive Mega Prince #8-#10, Delektable Big Spanker Warrior size #16- #18; Delektable Worm Red #12-#14, Pat’s RubberLegs Black, Black/Brown or Olive/Brown #6-#12; Delektable Guide Stone Black/Brown or Black #6-10; BH Tung Teaser Black #20; Geppert Crystal Dip Olive, Red #18; Delektable JH Tungsten Spanker Holo Black #18; Wire Worm Red #6-#10; JH CDC Flashback PT #18; BH PT Tungsten Soft Hackle #20; Delektable Mega Prince STD FB #8 & #10; BH Lightning Bug Silver, Pearl #14-#20; Delektable Twinkle Black or Red #18-#20; BH Montana Bullet Black, Black/Red #18; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Pheasant Tail or Silver #14-#20.

Streamers: Delektable SS Jointed/Double/ or Single Screamer Olive/White, Black/Olive or White #6; Zonkers Olive or Natural Copper Body #6 & #8; McCune’s Sculpin Olive #4-#8; Delektable Christmas Tree Original #6; Jr’s Conehead Streamer Olive #6; Dali Llama Olive/White #6; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive or Natural #6; Sparkle Shelia Sculpin #4.

Dries: Purple Haze Parachute#14-#18; Parachute Adams #14-#20; Delektable Chubbyness Royal or Olive/Brown #14-#16; Delektable Lil’ Chubby Royal or UV Rainbow #16-#18; Gulper Special #18-#20; Adams Split Wing Parachute #16-18; Adam’s Midge Cluster #18-#20.

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April 22nd – April 28th | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on April 28, 2023 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Spring has sprung in this lovely little valley and not a minute too soon! This Winter has been one for the record books and we (including the fish) are ecstatic that it’s over! The river is looking fantastic this week, running at 1,230cfs @ Kirby and 1,390cfs @ Cameron. This week has been a mixed bag of Spring weather conditions, the most productive days have been overcast and the streamer bite has been insane!! Lots of quality fish from the Delektable Single Screamer in Olive/White and Black/Olive. Please see below! Fish have been moving a little slower with the cool water temperatures but have been found in pockets in the bank, in the middle and stacked in deeper riffles. We have seen some March Browns around the upper near Lyons, here at the shop, and most definitely near town. Keep your eyes peeled, you may be lucky enough to get some awesome early Dry Fly action!

This upcoming week we shall be seeing Summer-like weather, highs in the 70’s, in the valley. Come on down to Beartooth Flyfishing and enjoy the sunshine! We are open 7 days a week 8am to 5pm, we would love to help you with your fishing adventure!

Nymphs: Delektable FB Braided Brownstone size #8; Delektable FB Hurless Stone in Gray or Olive size #8-#10; Delektable FB Olive Mega Prince #8-#10, Delektable Big Spanker Warrior size #16- #18; Delektable Worm Red #12-#14, Pat’s RubberLegs Black, Black/Brown, Olive/Brown #6-#12; Delektable Guide Stone Brown, or Black #6-12; BH Tung Teaser Black #20; Geppert Crystal Dip Olive, or Red #18; Delektable JH Tungsten Spanker Holo Black #18; Wire Worm Red #6-#10; JH CDC Flashback PT #18; BH PT Tungsten Soft Hackle #20; Delektable Mega Prince STD FB #8 & #10; BH Lightning Bug Silver or Pearl #14-#20; Delektable Twinkle Black, or Red #18-#20; BH Montana Bullet Black or Black/Red #18; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Pheasant Tail, or Silver #14-#20.

Streamers: Delektable SS Jointed Screamer/Double or Single Screamer Olive/White, Black/Olive, White #6; Zonkers Olive, or Natural Copper Body #6 & #8; McCune’s Sculpin Olive #4-#8; Delektable Christmas Tree Original #6; JR’s Conehead Streamer Olive #6; Yo Dali Llama Olive/White #6; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive & Natural #6; Sparkle Shelia Sculpin #4.

Dries: Purple Haze Parachute #18; Parachute Adams #18-#20; Delektable Chubbyness Royal or Olive Brown #14-#16; Delektable Lil’ Chubby Royal, or UV Rainbow #16-#18; Gulper Special #18-#20; Adams Split Wing Parachute #16-18; Adam’s Midge Cluster #18-#20.

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April 23rd-April 28th, 2023 | Lower Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on April 28, 2023 by Beartooth Flyfishing

FWP NOTICE: Warm Springs access will be closed till early June for a reconstruction project, plan your floats accordingly.

The Lower Madison has been a good choice this week, even though the bite was not consistent, there were some good trout to be caught. With flows running 1,610cfs and greenish blue clarity, BWO’s were all over the place and a few March Browns were flying about, the Lower Madison is looking sweet! Nymphs, Crayfish and slow stripped streamers have been the way to go, still a little hit and miss on dry fly action. Be watchful of the Stream flows coming out of the dam this Spring as spikes and drops in flows can change your fishing routine. As always, the pictures tell the rest of the story.

Nymphs: Delektable Lil’ Spanker Pheasant Tail #18-#20; JuJu FB Baetis #18-#20; RS2 Black #18-#20; Geppert Skinny Dip Black #18; Delektable Mega Prince Standard #8-#10; Pat’s Rubberlegs Olive/Brown #8-#10; BH Tungsten Jig FB Pheasant Tail #18.

Streamers: Bloom’s JH Zirdle Olive/Orange, Gold #10; Snapping Craw #8; Claws R Crawfish Olive #8; Rickard’s MLT Seal Bugger Olive/Burnt Orange #10; Delektable Screamer Single/Double/SS Jointed Olive/White, Black/Olive, Yellow, White #6.

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April 24th-April 25th, 2023 | Yellowstone River Fishing Report

Posted on April 25, 2023 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Consistent bite and very fishy conditions on the Yellowstone this week! Day One from Pine Creek to Carter’s Bridge, Day Two from Carter’s Bridge to Highway 89 and fish on throughout the trip! Starting at 1,760cfs at Livingston and rising to 1,880cfs by the end of the 25th. Fishing during on the rise flows and on the drop flows can be very productive, so we hit it just right! A few March Browns were spotted and Baetis were prevalent. The Nymph bite was hot, especially Stonefly and Baetis patterns. The upcoming warm weather will most likely bring runoff conditions for Ol’ Yellowstone, however this Spring test proved the Yellowstone’s trout population is resilient, there is still a lot of catching and releasing to be done on this iconic fishery!

Nymphs: BH Tung Teaser Black #18-#20; JuJu Flashback Baetis, Flashback Purple Baetis #18-#20; Delektable JH Tungsten Spanker Holo Black #18; Delektable Hurless Stone Olive FB #10; Delektable Mega Prince Olive FB #8-#10; BH Micro May Olive #18-#20; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Pheasant Tail #18-#20.

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