July 24th-July 30th, 2023 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on July 30, 2023 by Beartooth Flyfishing

The heat has been turned up on the Upper Madison this past week but unlike much of the rest of the world, the temperature drops at night, and we have the water to help keep our River ecosystem cool and our trout healthy! Fishing has been unpredictable this week and has us all changing our tactics to accommodate a hearty catching experience.

We have started to see Hoppers and other Terrestrials start to be productive this week especially on the flats and below Varney.  It’s really been a color game from day to day with Peach one day, Green the next and Tan the next. Remember that Terrestrials can be as good, if not better subsurface. Fishing a Hopper and a dropper can give you an attractor and float your Nymph in the perfect water depth for maximum success! Nymphs and Streamers have been the most consistent this last week with a variable success with Rusty Spinners, Chubby’s, Delektable Lil’ Chubbies, and Parachute Adams.

As for next week, the forecast looks like some serious rain to help cool us all down and with that Streamer and possibly some evening dry fly action after a storm. But if the rain has got you down and you need to dry out, we got you covered at Beartooth Flyfishing! This coming weekend, August 5th & 6th Noon to 5PM, we are celebrating our 10th Annual Montana Hope Project Fundraiser! We will be serving Marty’s famous Gumbo, Dan & Nancy’s Chili along with cookies and pies from Elle at Elle’s Belles and Vickie Noack at Country Bumpkin Bakery. We also will be having fly tying demonstrations and casting clinics as the weather allows! For a $50 donation you can get all the food you can eat and support a great cause to help Montana’s Families.

Dries: Delektable Lil’ Chubby UV Tan, Royal or UV Cinnamon #16-#18; White Cloud Hopper Olive, Peach or Tan #12-#14; PMD Parachute Rusty Spinner #14-#16; Delektable Halo Royal, Peacock, Purple or Tan #14-#16; More-Or-Less Hopper Purple, Pink, Peach or Yellow #10-#12; Transparent Ant Black/Black or Black/Red #16; Bloom’s Stealth Ant Purple #14-#16; Hi-Vis Thunder Thighs Hopper Pink or Yellow #10- #14; Yeager’s 409 Olive or Red #12-#16; Delektable Fly Ant Cinnamon or Purple #16-#18; Parachute Adams #12-#16; Delektable Chubbyness Royal, Rootbeer, UV Cinnamon or Purple #12-#16; Dornan’s Water Walker September Stone or Peanut #12-#14.

Nymphs: Geppert’s Skinny Dip Brown, Pearl or Black #14-#18; Psycho Prince GB Purple or Green #14-#16; BH Micro May Olive #16-#18; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Red or Silver #14-#18; Beaverhole Special PMD #16-#18; Duracell Bomb JH UV Black 2.5 #16; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Red, Purple, PT, Olive or Silver #14-#18; BH Lemon Drop #14-#18; Delektable TGBH Big Spanker Warrior, Olive or Light Olive #16-#18; Geppert’s Lightning Bug CH Black, Gold or Silver #16; Delektable Guide Stone Black or Olive/Brown #10-#12; Pat’s Rubberleggs Olive/Brown or Brown/Black #10-#12; Formerly Known as Prince #14-#16.

Streamers: Delektable SS Jointed Screamer Olive/White, Black, White, or Yellow; Delektable Double Screamer Olive/Black, Black, Olive, White, Yellow; Delektable Single Screamer Black, Olive/White, Olive/Black, White, Olive, or Spawning #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4-#6; Zonkers Dark Olive, Tan, or Natural #8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive, Black, or Natural #4; Dali Llama Olive/White or Black/Olive #6; Galloup’s Silky Kitty Black, Tan, White, or Olive; #6; Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6; Conehead Zuddler Olive #6- #8; Flash Fry Olive/Natural #6; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive or Natural #6; Galloup’s Mini Sex Dungeons Olive, Black, or Cream #6.

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July 17th-July 23rd, 2023 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on July 23, 2023 by Beartooth Flyfishing

Notice: FWP has stated Hoot Owl (Closed fishing from 2pm-12am) restrictions for the Lower Madison River from the confluence with the Jefferson River to Warm Springs Fishing Access Site. In addition to the Lower Madison, other rivers have gone under these regulations. See FWP Waterbody Closures for more information.

Greetings from the banks of the Madison River here at Beartooth Flyfishing! At the peak of the Summer season, the fishing has been excellent this week with manageable flows, warm weather, and little rain. With consistent morning and evening hatches of PMD’s, Caddis, Yellow Sallies and now the start of Terrestrials; the Dry Fly Fishing and Nymphing has been excellent. Although it is not peak season, those willing to throw Streamers can find larger predatory Fish in the undercut banks or deep pockets during the day, but the best action is at first or last light.

With Streamflow pulsing this week, flows have been interchanging to keep our fishery cool and help the Lower Madison below Ennis Dam. Streamflows started this week at 1,270cfs @ Kirby and 1,570cfs @ Cameron, with minor daily fluctuations throughout the week and ending the week at 1,310cfs @ Kirby and 1,460cfs @ Cameron. With the pulses and drops of flows from tributaries North of the West Fork we have seen it be a bit more challenging to find the fish; but trust us they are still out there!  

This week’s higher air temps, into the mid 80’s and 90’s, Trout have been holding in deep pocket water around boulders and gravel bars during the day and shallow riffles during the early mornings and evenings.  With sunny days in the forecast, manageable flows and consistent hatches, the fishing should continue to stay good in the coming weeks as the terrestrial hatches begin to really turn on!

Dries: PMD Parachute Rusty Spinner #16-18; Purple Haze Parachute #16-18; Wulff Irresistible #16; Delektable Halo Peacock, Purple, or Tan #14-18; Delektable Chubbyness Royal, Rootbeer, UV Caddis or Olive Brown #10-16; Cornfed Caddis CDC Olive or Tan #16, Delektable Twisted Baby Yellow w/ Red Butt #16; Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis Purple, Tan or Olive #16-18; Delektable Twisted X Brown #14-#16; “X” Caddis Tan or Olive #16-18; Elk Hair Caddis Tan or Olive #16-18; Delektable Sparkle Bug Pale Olive or Tan #14-#16,

Nymphs: Formerly Known as Prince #12-18; Tung Drop Yellow Sally #14; Delektable BH Prince Brandon #12-18; Jig Hook CDC Flashback Pheasant Tail #16-18; BH Lemon Drop #12-18; BH Tungsten Jig Yellow Spot #14-18; BH Jig Hook Olive Lightning Bug #16-18; Duracell Bomb JH UV Black #16; Crack Back Bullet Jig Cream #16-#18; Delektable TGBH Sure Strike Sally or Black/Purple #14-#18; BH Shop Vac Olive or Brown #14-#18; Tungsten BH Jiggy Frenchie #18; Crack Back Bullet Jig Olive #16; Jig Hook BH Iron Lotus #16-#18; Geppert’s Crystal Dips Black, Brown or Crystal #14-18; 3 Dollar Dip Crystal, Brown #16; Geppert’s Skinny Dip Brown, Black or Crystal #14-16; Geppert’s Mega Emerger #16-#18; Gepperts Emerger PMD #16-#18; Delektable Guide Stone Olive/Brown or Black/Brown #8-#10.

Streamers: Delektable SS Jointed Screamer Olive/White, Black, White, or Yellow; Delektable Double Screamer Olive/Black, Olive/Black Gold, Black, Olive, White, Yellow; Delektable Single Screamer Black, Olive/White, Olive/Black, White, Olive, or Spawning; #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4-#6; Zonkers Dark Olive, Tan, or Natural #8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive, Black, or Natural #4; Dali Llama Olive/White #6; Galloup’s Silky Kitty Black, Tan, White, or Olive; #6; Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6; Conehead Zuddler Olive #6- #8; Flash Fry Olive/Natural #6; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive or Natural #6; Galloup’s Mini Sex Dungeons Olive, Black, or Cream #6.

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July 10-July 16th, 2023 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on July 16, 2023 by Beartooth Flyfishing

The Epic Salmonfly Hatch is winding down this week, they are still smacking at the big bug but at a decreased rate. However, the Goldenstones, Yellow Sallies, PMDs and Caddis of all sizes are all over the place this week! Fishing in July on the Madison River with lush green hills, lovely temperatures, and snow still in the mountains; just wow, it feels like a Summer of yesteryear. If you’re here this year you are living a blessed life and when your not watching your Fly, look around at the world around you (never know you may see an Otter, a Moose, a family of Geese and Ducks).

Streamflows this week started at 1,320cfs @ Kirby and 1,700cfs @ Cameron, a gradual drop to 1,190cfs @ Kirby and 1,460cfs @ Cameron by midweek and finishing with a rise on the 16th to 1,300cfs @ Kirby and 1,520cfs @ Cameron. Fishing the drop in flows can be so productive and it proved itself so this week. Nymphing and Dry Fly fishing were both productive means of catching this week. We did see an interesting trend of some Fish rising on surface and then dead spots as the Fish are all over the hatches and if you happened to see those sweet Lil’ Yellow Sallies you were in for a treat at the end of your line!

With the upcoming forecast for next week getting into the high 80’s to mid-90’s; please be aware of your fish handling techniques whilst trying to get that great picture! Here are some guidelines to help you out on the water: Watch the Temps, Fish Barbless Hooks, Play the Fish Quickly Using Strong Leader/Tippet, Keep the Fish in the Water at All Times While Not Taking a Quick Picture, Use a Rubber Landing Net & Keep Fish in the Water, Creatively & Selectively Take Photos and Slowly Revive and Release.

Nymphs: Delektable Jig Hook Tungsten Spanker Pheasant Tail, Holo Olive, Holo Pink or Pale Olive PMD #10-#16; The Fly Formerly Known as Prince #12-#18; Crack Back Bullet Cream #16-#18; Geppert’s Skinny Dip Brown #14-#18; Pat’s RubberLegs Black, Black/Brown or Olive/Brown #4-#8; Delektable Guide Stone Brown/Yellow, Black, or Olive/Brown #4-#8; Jighead CDC Flashback Pheasant Tail #16-#18; BH Lemon Drop #12-#18; Delektable BH Prince Brandon #12-#16; Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear #12-#16; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Gold, Silver, Blue or PT #12-#18; Delektable Tungsten Gold Bead Head Sure Strike Sally or Peacock/Yellow #14-#16; Tungsten BH Yellow Sally #14-#16;  Tung Drop Yellow Sally #14-#16; Delektable Tungsten Beadhead Big Spanker Warrior, Lt Olive, or PT #12-#16; Delektable Rootbeer Float Yellow #16; BH Shop Vac Brown or Olive #16-#18.

Dries: Delektable Lil’ Chubby Royal, UV Cinnamon, UV Olive, Rootbeer or Caddis Green #14-#16; Delektable Secret Stone UV Salmonfly, Orange, UV Goldenstone or UV Dark Olive #8-#12; Dornan’s Water Walker Pink or Peanut #6-#12; Delektable Mega2Tone Chubbyness UV Salmonfly, UV Goldenstone, UV Goldrush or Royal #6-#12; Purple Haze Parachute #14-#18; Micro Chubby Gold #16-#18; Carlson’s Purple Craze #10-#16; Mercer’s Missing Link Caddis #16; Corn Fed Caddis Tan or Olive #16; Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis Tan, Olive or Purple #14-#16; Delektable Halo Royal, Tan, Dark Olive, or Purple #16-#18; “X” Caddis Tan #16;  Split Wing Parachute Purple #12-#16; PMD Parachute Rusty Spinner #14; Delektable Sparkle Bug Olive, Pale Olive or Tan #14-#16; Bloom’s Parachute Caddis Tan #16.

Streamers: Delektable SS Jointed Screamer Olive/White, Black, White, or Yellow; Delektable Double Screamer Olive/Black, Black, Olive, White, Yellow; Delektable Single Screamer Black, Olive/White, Olive/Black, White, Olive, or Spawning; #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4-#6; Zonkers Dark Olive, Tan, or Natural #8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive, Black, or Natural #4; Dali Llama Olive/White #6; Galloup’s Silky Kitty Black, Tan, White, or Olive; #6; Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6; Conehead Zuddler Olive #6- #8; Flash Fry Olive/Natural #6; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive or Natural #6; Galloup’s Mini Sex Dungeons Olive, Black, or Cream #6.

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July 3rd-July 9th, 2023 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on July 9, 2023 by Beartooth Flyfishing

The Swarm has hatched on the Madison River this week! With Salmon Flies, Goldenstones, Yellow Sallies, PMDs, Caddis & sightings of Nocturnals later in the week, we are in hog heaven! The 4th of July brought epic crowds to the little town of Ennis but by the 6th the crowds had dissipated, and the River reports have been just getting more epic by the day.

Streamflows this week were 1,500cfs@Kirby and 2,060cfs@Cameron, a continuous drop to the end of week to 1,200cfs@Kirby and 1,530cfs@Cameron. As the river has come down the color has turned from green to crystal clear. With the drop and the clearer warmer weather, the Fish seem to be holding in the deeper water, except for PMD, Yellow Sallie and Caddis hatches early and later in the day where you can find a 2-footer in the shallows.

The Nymph bite later in the week has been on fire! The Streamer bite has also been steady all Season and you can really beat them up out there by tight lining a Streamer and Nymph dropper. With the Sunny Warmer days coming in the forecast, we should see catching more consistent earlier in the morning and later in the evening; so, if you want to beat the heat you have options!

Nymphs: Delektable Jig Hook Tungsten Spanker Miller Time, Holo Gold, Pheasant Tail, Holo Olive, Holo Pink or Pale Olive PMD #10-#16; The Fly Formerly Known as Prince #12-#18; BH Jighead Yellow Spot #16-#18; Delektable FB Sparkle or Sparkle Kaboom Stone #6 & #8; ; Pat’s RubberLegs Black, Black/Brown or Olive/Brown #4-#8; Delektable Guide Stone Brown/Yellow, Black, or Olive/Brown #4-#8; Jighead CDC Flashback Pheasant Tail #16-#18; BH Lemon Drop #12-#18; Tungsten BH Jig Frenchie #14-#16; Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear #12-#16; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Gold, Silver, Blue or PT #12-#18; Delektable Tungsten Gold Bead Head Sure Strike Sally or Peacock/Yellow #14-#16; Tungsten BH Yellow Sally #14-#16;  Tung Drop Yellow Sally #14-#16; Delektable Tungsten Beadhead Big Spanker Warrior, Lt Olive, or PT #14-#16; Delektable Rootbeer Float Yellow #16; BH Shop Vac Brown or Olive #16-#18.

Dries: Delektable Lil’ Chubby Royal, UV Cinnamon, UV Olive or Caddis Green #14-#16; Morrish Fluttering Stone Salmon Fly #6; Delektable Secret Stone UV Salmonfly, Royal, UV Goldenstone or UV Dark Olive #8-#12; Dornan’s Water Walker Pink or Peanut #6-#12; Delektable Mega2Tone Chubbyness UV Salmonfly, UV Goldenstone, UV Goldrush or Royal #6-#12;  Delektable Twisted Baby Purple, Tan/Brown or Brown #10-#14; Purple Haze Parachute #14-#18; Micro Chubby Gold #16-#18; Carlson’s Purple Craze #10-#16; Mercer’s Missing Link Caddis #16; Corn Fed Caddis Tan or Olive #16; Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis Tan, Olive or Purple #14-#16; Delektable Halo Peacock, Tan, Dark Olive, or Purple #16-#18; “X” Caddis Tan #16; Delektable Sparkle Bug Tan #16; Split Wing Parachute Purple #12-#16.

Streamers: Delektable SS Jointed Screamer Olive/White, Black, Olive, White, or Yellow; Delektable Double Screamer Olive/Black, Black, Olive, White, Yellow; Delektable Single Screamer Black, Olive/White, Olive/Black, White, Olive, or Spawning; #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4-#6; Zonkers Dark Olive, Tan, or Natural #8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive, Black, or Natural #4; Dali Llama Olive/White #6; Galloup’s Silky Kitty Black, Tan, White, or Olive; #6; Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6; Circus Peanut Articulated White/Black #6; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive or Natural #6; Galloup’s Mini Sex Dungeons Olive, Black, or Cream #6.

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June 27th-July 2nd, 2023 | Upper Madison River Fishing Report

Posted on July 2, 2023 by Beartooth Flyfishing

The Big Bug Hatch is here and it’s shaping up to be a long and epic hatch! With the cooler water temperatures and the temperate Summer weather we very well may see extended hatches and just the best fishing! PMDs, Caddis, Salmon Flies, Goldenstones and Yellow Sallies have all been spotted from Ennis to Lyons Bridge. When they aren’t on the Dries, the bite with Nymphs has been epic. All the food groups are present right now and its GAME ON!!

This beginning of this week Streamflows were at 853cfs@Kirby and 1,520cfs@Cameron and a climb to midweek to 1,550cfs@Kirby and 2,200cfs@Cameron and then a drop by the end of the week to 1,390cfs@Kirby and 1,870cfs@Cameron. With these flows the fish have been podded against the banks, behind the rocks, in front of the rocks (in the soft pillow zone) and slower water out of the flow. The Trout are moving and following the hatches and we have had smatterings of hatches throughout the river from day to day.

As always, the pictures tell the best story! Beartooth Flyfishing is open 7am to 6pm Everyday offering the absolute best free coffee, epic fish stories and a fully stocked Fly shop with people to help you on your big adventure to the beautiful place we call home!

Nymphs: Delektable FB Sparkle or Sparkle Kaboom Stone #6 & #8; ; Pat’s RubberLegs Black, Black/Brown or Olive/Brown #4-#8; Delektable Guide Stone Brown/Yellow, Black, Olive/Brown, or Black #4-#8; Formerly Known as Prince #12-#16; Geppert Crystal Dip Olive, Black, or Brown #16-#18; BH Shop Vac Brown or Olive #16-#18; Delektable BH Prince Brandon #14-#18; Psycho Prince Caddis Green, Purple, or Yellow #12-#18; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Silver, Gold, Purple, or Pheasant Tail #14-#18. Delektable Jig Hook Tungsten Spanker Holo Silver, Holo Gold, Pheasant Tail, Miller Time , Holo Olive #14-#18; Delektable Mr. Rubberlegs Goldentstone #10; Delektable CDC Baby #12-#14; Split Case PMD #16-#18; Delektable TGBH Sure Strike Yellow/Peacock #14-#16; Delektable TGBH Big Spanker Warrior or Olive PT #14-#16; Delektable Rootbeer Float Yellow #16, BH Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear #12-#16;

Dries: Delektable Lil’ Chubby Royal, UV Cinnamon, UV Olive, or Caddis Green #14-#16; Morrish Fluttering Stone Salmon Fly #6; Delektable Secret Stone UV Salmonfly, Royal, or UV Goldenstone #8-#12; Dornan’s Water Walker Pink or Peanut #6-#12; Delektable Mega2Tone Chubbyness UV Salmonfly, UV Goldenstone, UV Goldrush, or Royal #6-#12;  Delektable Twisted Baby Purple, Tan/Brown or Brown #10-#14; Purple Haze Parachute #14-#18; Carlson’s Purple Craze #12-#16; Micro Chubby Gold #16-#18; Mercer’s Missing Link Caddis Amber #16; Corn Fed Caddis Tan & Olive #16; Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis Tan, Holo Olive, or Purple #14-#16; Delektable Halo Peacock, Tan, Pale Olive, Royal, or Dark Olive #16-#18.

Streamers: Delektable SS Jointed Screamer Olive/White, Olive/Black, or White; Delektable Double Screamer Olive, Black, White, Olive/Black, or Yellow; Delektable Single Screamer Olive/White, Black, Olive, White, Yellow, Olive/Black or Spawning; #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4-#6; Zonkers Dark Olive, Copper or Natural #8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive, Black, or Natural; #4; Dali Llama Olive/White #6; Galloup’s Silky Kitty Black, Tan, or White #6; Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow #6; Circus Peanut Articulated White/Black #6; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive or Tan #6.

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