We are starting to get the first glimpses of Spring here on the Upper Madison, bugs are in motion bringing happy fish and happier anglers. Large trout feed heavily in pre-runoff conditions, providing incredible early season angling opportunities on Nymphs and Dry Flies. Specifically, the renowned Mother’s Day Caddis hatch is an annual event every Spring on the Upper Madison. Colder water temperatures help incite eats on Streamers from larger predatory fish, allowing for exciting and engaging early season Streamer fishing. Despite a milder winter, early Spring has provided consistent high number angling days reported by many of our guides and clients
Flows on the Upper Madison are starting to pick up as the snowpack slowly begins to melt. Flows at the Cameron Monitoring station began around 850 cubic feet per second and flows at the Kirby monitoring station began around 700 cubic feet per second at the end of April. By the second week flows peaked at 1,200 at the Cameron and 950 at the Kirby monitoring stations. Flows for the Upper Madison can be monitored through the U.S. Geological surveys stream-gauge at the Cameron monitoring station ( Madison River near Cameron MT – USGS-06040000 ) and the Kirby monitoring station ( Madison River at Kirby Ranch nr Cameron MT – USGS-06038800 )
Nymphing angling has been successful in the early days of Spring runoff, imitating seasonal life history changes in aquatic insects that cold-water species take full advantage of. Specifically, Caddis species with additional Stonefly, Mayfly, and Midge patterns paired to diversify presentations. Hares-ear Nymphs and Emerging Caddis patterns prove to be highly effective imitating vulnerable stages of aquatic insects. Egg and Worm patterns have also proven to be effective as protein dense food options for cold-water species.
Dry or die anglers rejoice as hungry trout show up for Mother’s Day Caddis for their annual carnage. Greedy trout taking small Dry Flies in fast water is something certain anglers look forward to every year, drawing anglers from all over the world. Fishing has been productive with a high number of days on Dry Flies with many of our guides. Additional hatches of BWO and Caddis will slowly persist as Spring melt off ramps up.
Streamer fishing has been productive, targeting larger Trout, stripped or dead drifted under an indicator, or trailing a smaller Nymph or Emerger of of the Streamer. Patterns imitating forage of Sculpin and Crayfish species in natural colors have been productive for many of our guides. Tan and brown as well as black have been effective, in a wide range of profiles.
Nymphs: Delektable Guide Stone Black #6 – #10; Pat’s Rubberlegs Brown/Black #6 – #8, Wire Worm Pink Red/Orange #8 – #4; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Blue #16 – #20; Delektable Tungsten Gold B.H. Formerly Prince #14 – #18; Delektable TBJH Hare’s Ear Torch Light #14 – #18; JH BH Zebra Midge Black #18 – #20; Delektable CDC Prince #14 – #18; BH Lightning Bug Silver #14 – #18.
Dries: Delektable Twisted Baby Brown #10 – #14; Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis Cinnamon #14,; Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis Olive #14; Parachute Adams #14-16; Delektable Twisted Baby Tan/Brown #14; Cornfed Caddis CDC Tan #16, Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis Holo Olive #14-16, Missing Link Caddis Olive #14, Delektable Lil’ Chubby UV Caddis Green #18, Delektable Lil’ Chubby UV Olive #18.
Streamers: Delektable Screamer Single Black and Olive/White and Olive/ Black #6 , Delektable Screamer Double Black and Olive/White and Olive/ Black #6, Mini Lama Olive/White and Black/Olive #4, Jr’s Conehead Streamer Natural or Olive #6, Galloup’s Sex Dungeon Olive.
