As Elizabeth Green once said, “Sometimes the most ordinary things could be be made extraordinary, simply by doing them with the right people”. Fishing with friends and family can really be a special time and we had just that, the Larry Cook Group and Wild Adventure Ladies crew out on the water trying to make things extraordinary and unpredictable. The weather for our anglers was good with a slight “W” factor to compensate for.

HOT FLIES: GTBH Guides Choice Hares Ear, BH Lightning Bug (Purple), Pat’s Rubber Legs (Black/Brown and Olive/Brown), Delektable Hammerhead GTBH Pheasantail), Delektable Lil’ Spanker (Red), Delektable Twisted X (Tan/Brown) and Delektbale Twisted Baby (Tan/Brown).

Thanks to all our guides for another great trip, we appreciate all your hard work, great stories and second sense to find those fish.

Kepp Throwing Darts! Will

So, this is the land of Hoppertunity!!! If you have not got a chance to get the big dry bite yet this summer, you have not missed it! Hoppers are out and about fluttering and sputtering, tempting those who may devour them. Those being: the big, the bad, the slimey elusive browns and rainbows of the mighty mighty Madison River here in beautiful southwest Mantana! Please do yourself a favor and throw hoppers and ants, because the terrestrial game is only going to get better from here on out. August typically can be slower than most of the summer months, so you might have to get your short game on i.e. good ole chip and putt. We here at the shop have learned to use different strategies for this particular month because the fish just get smarter and smarter as the summer season goes on. Throw smaller nymphs and smaller dries to go with the smaller bugs that are hatching. Downsizing your tippet diameter is also a good way to fool those  trout into eating your meal that you have dished out. Another tip might be to set the alarm clock a little earlier than usual and go out before the sun comes up while the surface water is still cool and the trout are not as sluggish and lethargic from the heat. They may tend to be a bit more frisky in the morning and maybe stay out a little later too. Stick it out and try some pitch’n and twitch’n in the darker hours. Also remember you may not see rising pods of fish here and it is typical to twitch your fly a bit and they will come up to it. But don’t just take our word for it, go out there and give it the old college try. 

Now that we’ve thrown a little advice your way its time to get down to it…the FISH, the FLIES and the PICTURES that follow. Another wonderful week at Beartooth Flyfishing with beautiful weather, happy people and good stories. We had Ian, Dan D, Brandon, Dan M, John K, Marty, Ty and Randy all out this week. We had a number of return friends including Big Fish Kim, not to be confused with yet another Big Fish Kim (the Kims have it), Mark, Roger, Jim, and Matt, the Kennedy family and other families along with the Cook and Gray Group join us.  

HOT FLIES for the week included: JR Sculpzilla, Sparkle Prince, Small Red/Purple Nymphs (Sizes #16,#18,#20), Purple Lightning Bug, Pat’s Rubber Leg Tan/Brown (Sizes #10,#12) Cloud Hopper, Green Machine, Tungsten Redemption BWO and Delektable Flying Ant (Black and Red).

We appreciate you tuning in for another Beartooth fishing report. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to call or stop by. Remember fish hard, fish smart and have fun out there because at the end of the day that’s what its all about. Happy Fishing!!

DanG/Will

I know I know, I’m thinking the same thing you are right now…This summer has flown by!! It’s almost August! Crazy huh. Another fishing report from Beartooth Flyfishing and as always we have lots to talk about and great pictures to share with you. This week we had the Clark Group, Neighbors, Fathers and Sons, and Wild Adventure Group join us once again. The temperature has not let up this past week, leveling off in the high 80’s during the day. Don’t worry this hasn’t posed any threat to the Maddy, as the fishing continues to be steady. Constant flow of water regulated by the dam has kept CFS levels around 1200. As the season continues and temperatures spike rivers like the Big hole are facing Hoot Owl Restrictions between stretches, with average CFS levels at 352. Better check with your local Big Hole fly shop before putting the boat in the water. Other River Restrictions are posted in the shop or call us to find out.

HOT flies for the week: Dry Flies: Delektable Chubbyness (Royal,Olive/Brown,UV Purple,Cinnamon and 2Tone UV Dark Olive) all sizes #16 and #18,  Delektable Twisted X (Tan) and Royal Trudes. Nymphs: Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Callibaetis, Soft Hackle Hare’s Ear, various colors of Delektable Hammerheads and Lightning Bugs (Silver) all sizes #16,#18,#20. Hoppers: Fat Albert Tan and the Delektable Slammer in various colors. Ants, yes Flying Ants have started to appear this week which is great to hear.

To start off the week we had the Clark Group guided by Ian and Randy as well as Dan M and Marty on the water.

A new Wild Adventure Crew was here having fun catching fish. Thanks to all our guides for another successful trip!

Remember Ants are making their way to town so keep an eye out. We will keep you updated so stayed tuned.

Keep Throwing Darts! Will

Ladies and fly fishing bums (gentlemen), we have water!! This is now. Realize it. Get out and fish, because next week we are going to see much warmer temperatures resulting in a bunch of hoot owl closures around the area. But as for the very moment, these days are the days that you all have been waiting for! This is the type of flyfishing therapy that you NEED to survive the rest of this summer! The big bug fishing continues!!! Hoppers and nocturnal stones are out and about keeping a well rounded good ole constant with the big dries!

With the river keeping at a steady level, there have been large assortments of flies that have blown up and been good this week. The insect assortment we have in and around the river right now has been between the stones, hoppers, pmds, pmd rusty spinners, tricos, and a variety of caddis, so diligence with experimentation is definitely your best tactic to put fish in the net. If you’re a dry fly person, then a good fly to experiment with would be the Fat Albert or the Delektable Slammer. Colors of choice lately are with Fat Albert: the Tan Foam and Yellow or Red Thread or with The Delektable Slammer: Yellow or Red. These have been very productive in sizes 12-14. Some other dry flies to experiment with are the Delektable Chubbynesses in UV Cinnamon, 2Tone Royal, and Rootbeer, all in sizes 14-16. Most of your Caddis, Mayfly, and PMD Dries are very effective, but if you prefer to fish with nymphs, try a Psycho Prince in sizes 14-16 below an Olive/Brown, or Brown/Black variegated Pat’s Rubber Legs in sizes 10-12. That would be a worthwhile endeavor. Most small Mayfly or PMD Nymphs have been effective in sizes 14-18, therefore they would be worth trying too.

The fire in the picture is one we can see from the lodge that we believe is now under control but scared a bunch of friends who experienced a close call as they were almost evacuated. Thank you to our local fire fighters. Remember if you’re having trouble out there and need any assistance at all or just want to talk to a few fishing nuts come by the shop for your local fix. Happy fishing to all!!

-DanG/Emmett/Will