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

Posted on May 11, 2024 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Springtime on the Madison River in Montana is best surmised by the famous Mark Twain; “In the Spring I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.” Fishing can also be that way in the Spring. Different bites at different times of day, different places that the fish are holding from day to day and of course different bugs catching different Trout. This week showed all the colors of Spring in Montana.

Streamflows at the beginning of this week were 999cfs @ Kirby and 1,250cfs @ Cameron, with 100 to 150cfs fluctuations everyday as it warmed and cooled and finishing off the week rising to 1,250cfs @ Kirby and 1,430cfs @ Cameron as we saw some warmer weather Friday and Saturday.

Fishing at the beginning of this week was best in the morning until about 1:00 PM and then tapering off the rest of the day. As the week went on, we saw more consistent fishing throughout the day. The most productive bite from Lyons Bridge to Varney Bridge was the Nymphing/Streamer set up. Whereas in the Wade Only section Dry Fly action was to be had with Skwalas, BWOs and Midges. Streamers, Stones & Worms are very productive this time of the year especially on a swing or weighted dead drift.

For those that braved the changing Spring conditions they were rewarded for their efforts; the pictures tell the rest of the story.

Nymphs: Delektable Lil’ Spanker PT or Silver #12-#18; Delektable FB Sparkle Kaboom Stone #6-#10; Delektable Mega Prince Olive Flashback #10; Wire Worms Pink or Red #4-#8; Flossy Worm Pink or Red #12; Delektable Kaboom Stone #6-#10; Pat’s Rubberlegs Olive/Brown, Black or Brown/Black #6-#10; Lightning Bug Silver or Pearl #14-#16; Delektable Mega Prince STD Flashback #6-#10; Delektable Hurless Nymph Gray or Olive #6-#10.

Streamers: Delektable Screamer Single Olive/White, Black or Olive #6; Sculpzilla Olive/ White #8; Zonkers Silver, Copper or Natural #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive #4-#8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive #4; Dali Llama Olive/White #6.

Dries: Para Adams #12-#18; Purple Craze #12-#18; Delektable Mega 2 Tone Chubbyness UV Dark Olive #10-#12; Delektable Secret Stone UV Dark Olive #10-#12.

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May 5th-May 11th, 2024 | Beaverhead River Fishing Report

Posted on May 11, 2024 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Few moments match the thrill of getting on a beautiful River, starting a fishing trip, being with friends and enjoying the majestic experience nature has in store. Our early May trip was one of those beautiful days. The fish were also enjoying the pleasant, relaxing weather, and chose to be slow on the bite. But patience and perseverance paid off with feisty, healthy, beautiful fish being caught. Void of any hatches, the offerings remained sub-surface, with the most productive being the Delektable Screamer Single Olive/White and Delektable Lil’ Spanker PT #20.

Nymphs: Micro May Brown or Olive #18; Soft Hackle Sow Bug Pink, Tan or Gray #16-#18; Ray Charles Pink, Tan, Gray or Orange #16-#18; Split Back BWO #18-#20; Delektable Lil’ Spanker PT #18-#20; Wire Worm Pink or Red #6-#8; Flossy Worm Pink or Red #12.

Streamers: Delektable Screamer Single Olive/White or Olive/Black #6.

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May 9th, 2024 | Lower Gallatin River Fishing Report

Posted on May 9, 2024 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Reporting from the floatable section of the Lower Gallatin below Manhattan and the report is that fishing is RED HOT! This section of the Gallatin really does not see much traffic and the fishing in the Spring can be epic! Caddis, BWOs, and March Browns were hatching heavily throughout the day. A lot of refusals with offerings on the top; however, the Nymph was crushed throughout the day. Some decent Streamer action in the morning but the Nymphing set up was the prevailing winner of the day. If you ever want to get out and enjoy some fishing without a big crowd, the Lower Gallatin is the ticket!

Nymphs: Delektable Kaboom Stone #6-#10; Delektable Sparkle FB Kaboom Stone #6-#10; Delektable Mega Prince STD, STD FB, or Olive FB #6-#10; Pat’s Rubberlegs Black, Olive/Brown, or Black/Brown #6-#10; Delektable Prince Brandon #14-#16; Delektable Lil’ Spanker PT #14-#18; Shop Vac Olive or Brown #14-#16.

Streamers: Delektable Screamer Single Olive/White, Black, or Black/Olive #6; Zonker Dark Olive #6.

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May 6th & 7th, 2024 | Lower Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on May 7, 2024 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Springtime on the Lower Madison can give an eerie feeling if your used to fishing this awesome stretch of river in the Summer. Void of tubes and seas of half clothed bodies; the serene scene of the Springtime makes one forget that this stretch of the River ever sees people.

Fishing this week was productive earlier in the day and more challenging with wind conditions and less productive catching as the day progressed. Trout have yet to be seen holding in the shallows and have been found still holding in the deeper water waiting for a tasty snack to happen their way. Nymphing with Worms, Crawfish and smaller Nymphs have been the most productive.

Regardless of how fishing may or may not be, being out on the water and having the River to yourself is a reward in and of itself, and one that is hard earned by hearty fisherman braving the conditions.

Nymphs: Wire Worms Pink or Red #6-#8; Flossy Worm Red or Pink #6-#8; Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear #16-#18; Shop Vac Olive or Brown #14-#16; Delektable Hammerhead Jig Hook GTBH Hare’s Ear or Holo Green #14-#16; Claws R Crawfish Olive or Tan #8; Chickabou Craw Olive or Tan #6; Snapping Craw #8.

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May 5th-May 7th, 2024 | Jefferson River Fishing Report

Posted on May 7, 2024 by Beartooth Flyfishing

The stunning, meandering waters of the Jefferson have proved to not be void of fish, rather calm waters run deep, and this week proved that life always finds a way.

Stream flows this week were 1,450cfs @ Twin Bridges and 1,650cfs @ Three Forks and rose to 2,260cfs @ Twin Bridges and dropped to 1,610cfs @ Three Forks in a three-day time span. The Jefferson is truly a river that it pays to have a good guide on. Understanding where the fish live and like to hold in changing conditions, which in the Spring can fluctuate dramatically, can make a good day or a tough day. This week there was some Dry Fly Skwala action on top, but it was shadowed by the Nymph bite. A Stonefly followed by a Worm or smaller Nymph was the choice set up. A smattering of Tricos and Caddis were spotted this week with pods of Fish sipping on the surface. Streamers were hit or miss this week, but some great chases did occur.

Nymphs: Pat’s Rubberlegs Black, Olive/Brown or Brown/Black #6-#10; Wire Worms Pink or Red #6-#8; Delektable Twinkle Black or Red #20-#22; Zebra Midge Black, Red #18-#20; Serendipity Red #16-#18; Delektable Mega Prince Olive FB #8-#10.

Dries: Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis Holographic Olive #14-#16; Delektable Sparkle Bug Dark Olive #14-#16; Delektable Halo Dark Olive #14-#16; Para Adams #12-#14; Delektable Secret Stone UV Dark Olive #10-#12; MFC Water Walker Skwala Olive #12; Snowshoe Trico #20; Trico Thorax Dun #20; Etha Wing Dun-Trico #20-#22.

Streamers: Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6; Delektable Screamer Single Brown/Yellow or Olive/White #6.

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