Fishing Report

Montana

Madison River

Fishing well right now in the wade stretch, and also in the float section. In the morning look for PMD’s to start hatching about 9am and they are size #16. You can expect the hatch to last until about 2pm. The nymphs are best matched with pheasant tails and three dollar dips #16, #18. Also, throughout the day you will see olive and yellow colored stoneflies #12, #14. Use stimulators with a PT bead head dropper. There are lots of caddis- mainly tan #14, #16, and small black caddis #20. If it clouds up in the afternoons there will be flav’s and pink ladies #14. In the evenings there has been rusty spinners #16, #18, and olive spinners #14 along with egg laying caddis.

Hebgen Lake and Quake Lake

More and more callibaetis each week and more gulpers as well. We just need the wind to go away. If it’s windy then fish underneath with a sinking line or chironomids. Stripping buggers like black and gold or xmas trees on a clear slow sink line- or if you’d rather-use a floating line, slip strike indicator and an ice cream cone.

Yellowstone National Park

Madison River and Firehole River

The water is very warm and the fishing is poor. Best to give it a rest until things cool down in early September.

Gibbon River, Gardner River, and Gallatin River

These rivers are good for action, and occasionally you do get a nice sized fish. As far as hatches, you will see PMD’s #16 starting at 9am till 2pm. Caddis #14 and #16, and small stoneflies during the day. In the afternoons if it gets cloudy there are flav’s and pink lady mayflies #14. In the evenings rusty spinners #16, #18, and olive spinners #14 along with egg laying caddis. For fun try stimulators, trades, or wulffs.

Slough Creek and Lamar River

These two are starting to really shape up as the water is clearing and coming down to a fishable level. The afternoon storms are keeping the water off color at times, so hope for the best. Hatches have been a mix of PMD’s, caddis, and drakes.

Yellowstone River

Not many fish, but they are big. A real mix of hatches; PMD’s caddis, small stoneflies, flav’s, and drakes. You may still find some salmonflies and goldens in the Black Canyon. In Hayden Valley be prepared to walk a lot for a few big fish.

Idaho

Henry’s Fork

The farmers are calling for water, so the river is up. Early mornings look for spinners and then PMD’s at 9am. Hope for cloudy weather in the afternoon and maybe the flav’s will show up. In the evenings rusty spinners #16, #18, and egg laying caddis #14, and #16.

Henry’s Lake

Doing well, reports of lots of fish and a few big ones. Slow sink lines and a slow strip. Best flies are brown crystal buggers, california leeches, pheasant tails, mity mouse, and halfbacks.