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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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!

Happy Fishing!!!   -DanG

Blaaaaam!

As the leaves are thinking about the fall and how they might brighten up our little world out here when they turn, we are still crank’n it out here on the mighty Madison as if were still midsummer!  Personally, I can’t wait for the snow to fall and for the browns to start their epic journey up the little criks and crannies to spawn. My favorite time is when the aspens are in raging full bloom in their fall display of beautiful yellows and oranges. But ahhh, it is still august, and we are still fishing the small bugs and terrestrials. Today…yes today the sun is a hot one!

We are still having the cool spell here and there, but only in micro-doses. The weather is looking pretty good right now for us this week as we have some highs and some lows. The sun will come up each day and then go down and the weather will happen as it does around here…it will be completely unpredictable 🙂

We have had some of our favorite groups come in these past couple of weeks along with all the folks from the Yellowstone River (don’t ask). But nevertheless, they have struck gold and we are happy to see happy clients! Check out the smiles and slime!

The bugs that have been working are very specific; flies that float and flies that sink, flies with an eye, shank and hook bend (barb or barbless), flies that have feathers and flies that have synthetic materials….need I go on? The flies have been a one and done around here lately and the guides have been changing up so much as if it were cool to change flies or something. It’s not like it’s been one single pattern that has been really hot, it’s just been the one-fly-wonders. So, when your are out there on your own, go through your box and try some things that maybe wouldn’t be one’s first choice. You may be surprised. Okay, the basics have reported results such as Prince Nymphs, Pheasant Tails, Something small and Green, a variety of Delektable Lil’ Spankers, Various Pat’s Rubberlegs Colors, Small things in Olive, Ants, and the Smaller Delektable Chubbyness Patterns are still working as dries, and Different dries in colors for the nocturnal are working. Oh yeah, there are some streamers to try including Zonkers, and others in various colors. Remember to experiment. There are also always Midges and Tricos abound if you are up to the tiny sizes.

Yesterday someone came in and told me that he caught a 22inch rainbow on a brown beetle on the Madison. So, there ya have it! Try an oddball fly and you might be happy ya did! Good luck and Happy Fishing!!!   -DanG

This past week we had some familiar groups on guided trips with us. The Wild Adventure Girls group was back again with with the same amount of girl power to crush the fishing 🙂 Their guides did an outstanding  job getting them on to some trout despite the cold fingers and wet weather, we saw some nice fish enter and exit the boats safely.  The Wild Adventure Boys were also back and families from Ennis, PA, and afar, one family returned all the way from the U.K., and needless to say, the daughter caught the big trout. Yeah! Martha!

Over the past 5 or so days we have seen the discharge out of the dam drop from about 1000 cfs to almost 700. When the water goes down, it usually means fish on! It still drops as I write, and we shall see where they stop it, but as for the fishing…it remains awesome! The bugs have been pretty consistent lately, in that when you catch a fish on one, that bug will only work once, so cut it off and keep changing it up 🙂

We’ve got a few nocturnals left on the upper upper, some hoppers here and there, but the flying ants have taken over the dry scene. Get your flying ants out and hurl them at the Salmo trutta and Oncorhynchus mykiss while you can still feel your fingers and wear your shorts in the river…because October is coming…and you can’t stop it!

On that note, the streamer fishing has been off-the-charts-epic lately. White as usual will be a good one to throw. The ever so popular Delektable Double Screamers in black/olive and black/northern lights have been notorious for the catching and landing of beautiful Madison River brown trout. Dunking the streamer/nymph combo under the bobber would be a good strategy with some twitching involved. Some good streamers in that area would be Trevor’s Scuplin sz 4 in Natural Barred, Natural, Black and Olive. Just hang a small nymph off the stinger hook in this case. Zonkers and Sculpzilla or Sulpzilla Jr. in their natural colors also work really well for this technique. So, there’s that.

You might find yourself in favor of the fish gods and still be able to get a big boy to come up to eat the big dry in the morning or evening…but that’s only if you have been livin’ right (which may involve you getting up every morning and tying flies for breakfast, throwing them for lunch and then tying new prototypes fer dinner)…maybe gunna go check myself in now…later!!

Happy Fishing!!! -DanG