September 22, 2016 | Yellowstone River Fishing Report

Posted on September 22, 2016 by Beartooth Flyfishing

The Yellowstone River has been through some crazy times this summer with some record lows and a pretty hefty whitefish kill, but it is getting back into the swing of things now. Some friends and I went over and floated from town down about 13 miles with perfect weather for throwing streamers. It was kind of rainy and cloudy at first but the sun came out a little bit later and warmed it up a tad. we saw a few eagles before we set off, and that’s always a good omen, so we knew we would see some fish.

img_0701-sm img_0714-sm

The streamer bite was most definitely on! We did see some nice big fish follow our flies all the way up to the boat and swat at them without total commitment. At least we were seeing them. The flies and colors that were the best where brown/yellow and olive/gold wool-head sculpin patterns. Yellow and brown are just really good fall spawning colors to throw. White was also a good color to throw in the articulated world as white is always right.

img_20160923_201052-sm img_0667-sm

Well, I hope you all are doing well and fishing your little @$$’$ off! May you all fish long and prosper!

Happy Fishing!!! -DanG

 

Posted in Fishing Reports, Yellowstone River | Comments Off on September 22, 2016 | Yellowstone River Fishing Report

September 20, 2016 | Missouri River Fishing Report

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Dan Delekta, Bernie Sundell and Mike Mach went to the Missouri river this past week and it was good for them. They caught rainbows, browns, carp and walley. Long days on the river with your buddies in the Clacka is the best way to spend the fall out here. Articulated streamers in white, black and black and olive were the hottest flies of the day. Dan’s Delektable Double Screamers in white were the best while black and back and olive were good towards the end of the day.

img_2666-sm img_2669-sm img_2672-sm img_2676-sm

the Delektable Chubbyness and other dries were working in the film in the back-eddies, but you know how ya get when the fall comes around…force feeding of the streamer! The weather was perfect for banging walley too. They hit streamers hard and would keep you occupied if you were not catching trout. The limit for walley is 4 each, so they came back img_1956-smwith some white meat that Captain Marty deep-fried in his special Cajun ways that tasted soooo good (just take my word for it). As for the carp, Mike caught that on a white Delektable Double Screamer (I know, wierd)

So, heres to fishing and drinkin with buddies on your day off!

Happy Fishing!!!  -DanG and Danny D

Posted in Fishing Reports, Missouri River | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on September 20, 2016 | Missouri River Fishing Report

September 13th-19th, 2016|Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on September 19, 2016 by Beartooth Flyfishing

This week’s fishing report is brought to you by….me. It’s not a funny one this time either. These reports have been lacking and slacking in what we all really want to see…and that is whitefish after whitefish after WHITEFISH, and these rainbows and browns just keep getting in the way. We still take quick photos of the trout still (just because we kinda feel bad for them), but one day we will have a perfect report with only native mountain whitefish…just how it should be. Who’s with me!?!? I know Grandpa Delekta would be.

img_2111-sm img_2112-sm img_2660-sm img_2818-sm

Hahaha, well, I’m afraid I may be on my own team on this one 🙂

Speaking of the great white fish, if it matters to you, the “whitefish conspiracy” over on the Yellowstone River is somewhat under control and you are now allowed to fish certain sections of the river again. Check it out for yourself if you’re interested. This also provides updates on the analysis of the parasite impact to varied fish. Right! It is not really a conspiracy, just protection. (http://fwp.mt.gov/news/newsReleases/closures/waterbodies/nr_106.html ) We have also seen a lot less people and guide boats over here now and thus less pressure on our slimy, slippery, yet very sneaky little friends.

img_1102-sm img_1104-sm img_2661-sm img_2816-sm

The browns are coming up on a very important annual event here soon…homecoming. Some will be late and some will be early, but it is up to you to see where they may be and what they are going to be focusing on for food during that period of time. Some friends around the shop here and I myself have been experiencing some early birds getting the worm. You may hear things here and there, but I recommend you get out and find out for yourself. So do your homework before it’s too late to turn it in. I can give you some sharp little pointers but that’s going to be the things that are working for me. Every section is going to be fishing differently, so maybe try some different unorthodox tactics (not dynamite) to lure them of their comfortable little underwater dirt/log housing complexes as you bounce around from place to place.

img_1547-sm img_1985-sm img_2270-sm img_2271-sm

As for the nymphing end of things, the little tikes (18’s and 20’s) have been the ticket lately trailing the big Pats Rubber Legs once again. BWO’s and Caddis are out and I know by this time you have those standard little nymph patterns ready to go already, so get those out and get ‘em wet again. If you are out of the loop a little, I will list a few nymph patterns that have scored well that you could try. The Prince nymph (sizes 14-18), Crystal Dip (size 16-20 black bead), Copper John (size 16-20 red and chartreuse), Delektable Lil’ Spanker Pheasant Tail (size 16-18), The Worm (any size), the Panty Dropper BWO (18-20) ,Delektable Sure Strike (size 16-18 peacock), and Delektable Mr Rubberlegs in a couple different colors including rust/olive.

img_20160918_132045-sm img_0724-sm

Like I have previously stated in previously written reports…the streamer/nymph combo under the “bob” is a killer combo for these Madison River fish. Some streamers in that realm would include Shelia (size 6), Trevor (in black, barred natural and olive), Mini Loop (in natural and olive), Delektable Screamers (white, olive/black, black, and olive), and Zonkers (sizes 6-8 in natural and copper).

img959256-sm img_0720-1-sm

Articulated streamers also have been producing some gems. Delektable Double Screamers (white, black/olive/silver, black/olive/gold, badger, black), Bunny Love (black), and the Sex Dungeon (White, black, olive). Also some of Bernie Sundell’s patterns have been going out the door: Sundell’s Badboy (yellow, grey); and his Silver Fire (olive/black/silver).

Overall…get out there and send it!

img_0607-sm

Happy Fishing!!!   -DanG

Posted in Fishing Reports, Upper Madison River | Comments Off on September 13th-19th, 2016|Madison River Fishing Report

September 7th-12th, 2016|Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Beartooth Flyfishing

It’s early morning and nice weather is in the forecast for Bill later today. The “W” is almost nonexistent. He gets out of his truck all bundled up head to toe in his newly purchased gear. The cold crisp fog is rising from the upper Madison River in what seems to be slow motion. He takes a look around and sees an eagle barely visible through the fog flying majestically, looking for an easy target to scoop up for breakfast. Bill is fully equipped and ready for action. He starts walking toward the river from his rig. He immediately spooks a brown right off the bank. He smiles. Bill has been waiting for this all year….the fall run. The leaves are turning yellow quickly and the valley is changing in color day by day. Bill is in his element. He is free, the air is clean and he is alone. This moment is all about him in his favorite Montana surroundings. His soul needs this……it craves it.        20160910_085757-2  The best part about this story is that Bill IS actually here now. He is NOT daydreaming about monster brown trout while he butters his toast at home. He has built a getaway that is healthy for him away from work, and now he is here. He has set himself up for success not only mentally and therapeutically, but for the fishing too. He is fully prepared.

img_1980-sm img_1984-sm img_1095-sm img_1200-sm

The cold weather snap here in Southwest Montana has given the trout a little indication that it is time. It is time to get serious about fattening up, and time to get serious about getting serious in a fishy relationship. It is spawning season soon and the bite is on!! I hope you all will take advantage of these ferocious browns with their vicious takes on the streamer!

img_2064-sm img_2078-sm img_2654-sm img_2655-sm

We are seeing some nice fish enter and exit the boat safely taken on single hooked streamers, articulated streamers and well, you get it. It’s on!

img_2847-sm img_1546-sm

Well, it’s not just streamers that are working. There is also still quite an extensive list of “normal” flies that will be working. Let’s start with the stone flies that are moving around with the colder temps. Pats Rubber Legs in a size 8-12 are working just fine for those little guys. Colors that are strong ones will be brown, black, brown/olive and black/olive (for the Nocturnals still), black/brown and orange/tan. A red headed prince with a tungsten bead on a size 14-16 hook in combination with any of those stones would be good. Small princes, small pheasant tails and small serendipities (size 18-20 on curved hook) have been working lately. Baetis…start looking for ‘em and start throwin ‘em. A wire worm size 8. Delektable Lil’ Spankers in silver, red and pheasant tail have been good. Lightning bugs silver, pearl and purple are working just fine. We have also had some good reports on the little red copper john size 20. That could be for the pseudo mayflies we have had lately, but trout just love the little red copper john….always. There is a 14-16 gray caddis that has been flying around and we have been using the Delektable Rose/Pink Twisted Sister dry size 16 for that lil’ guy. One might want to try that one in the brown color too. It could be time for the Delektable Mega Prince and relatives.

img_1540-sm img_1541-smscreenshot_2016-09-13-17-59-55-sm 20160909_114822-smscreenshot_2016-09-13-18-00-14-sm

As for the weather and the bite during the day, it has been real good in the early morning, a little slower by mid-day, and then it has been picking up a little bit more later in the afternoon.

img_2812-sm img_2264-sm

Back to streamer talk now. Early mornings have been borderline epic on the strip. As for colors, white is right. Olive articulated streamers have been reeeally good along with black here and there. There has been some good nipping going on without the full commitment, but have no fear, it will happen. Personally I would rather strip a streamer than dunk it under a bobber, but dunk’n stinger-hooked streamers with a nymph trailing has been a killer combo for numbers in the boat. They may look at the 20160912_094951_resized-1streamer and hopefully take it, but if not, they usually take the small nymph behind it. Anywho, please get out there and get some fishing time in for yourself with this epic weather. The bite is just simply better with this colder weather. You may have to bundle up a bit more but it usually well worth the effort. To each their own, but I prefer fishing in the snow and blizzard conditions with the way the trout react. Plus, there are a lot less people out there in “your spot” 🙂

Happy Fishing!!!  -DanG

Posted in Fishing Reports, Upper Madison River | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on September 7th-12th, 2016|Madison River Fishing Report

August 28-September 4, 2016 | Madison River Report

Posted on September 4, 2016 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Change is good; especially when it comes in the form of an early fall front bringing chilly temps, welcome and needed rain, and snow on the mountain peaks. The change in the air also means fall fishing (streamers!) is just around the corner.

IMG_1972 SM IMG_1970 SM

 

The transition into fall continued last week, with change also being the theme. Fish were/are being caught, including some true trophies, but during the transitional season, change means being willing to get out of one’s comfort zone, and try different, sometimes multiple patterns. What worked one day often didn’t work the next. So to catch fish, change was very good.

IMG_1192 SM IMG_1193 SM

 

Fly selection the last week has been quite varied, with catches coming on dries, nymphs and streamers. On the dry side, the Delektable Chubbyness, in all colors, has continued to be the go-to fly of the season, with other winning selections including Delektable Teasers, Purple Haze and still some hopper and ant action.

IMG_1973 SM IMG_1533 SM

 

Most of the normal players have worked on the nymph side; Girdle Bugs, Lightning Bugs, Delektable Spankers, along with various Pseudo and BWO patterns. And, of course, worm patterns have been the ticket some days.

IMG_1529 SM

Delektable Double Screamers, Zonkers, wooly buggers and other streamer patterns have worked, mostly in white, black or olive/black. If you are doing poorly catching or moving fish on the streamer, then try changing up the color. If that doesn’t yield any results, then try changing up the silhouette also. Treat it the same as switching up your nymphs or dries. Fear not, for they will eat the streamer! Try all the little bank undercuts and log jams in the shallows along with the deep runs in the middle of the river in the middle of the day.

IMG_2651 SM IMG_1093 SM

 

Well, that’s it for now. Stay tuned for more epic weather brought to you by the great state of Montana and the letter F! (for fly-fishing of course 🙂  ) Happy Fishing!!!

-DanG and Marty

 

Posted in Fishing Reports, Upper Madison River | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on August 28-September 4, 2016 | Madison River Report