July 2011
End of July 
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Tuesday, July 26, 2011 - 4:26pm
A darn good time to be fly fishing in Montana we are getting some amazing surface action with caddis and goldenstones. The nymphing as usual is consistent and recent water clarity has allowed some visually stimulating streamer fishing. The small creeks are glacial green to gin clear and fishing great with bigger rivers coming into shape as well.
YELLOWSTONE RIVER: 11,500cfs
Finally dropped to a floatable level the Yellowstone has a great glacial green color to it and is fishing. Still a little frightening on the oars anywhere below Carter's Bridge but the Bird Float is a good bet. Still a lot of water for dry flies unless you can get your goldenstone a foot or two next to the bank and nymphing with beadheads will bring in lots of whiteys. Big streamers both stripped against the banks and dead drifted give you the best bet for trout action.
recommended dry flies: chubby chernobyl, green drake, yellow stimulator, fast water caddis, purple caddis
nymphs: lil spanker blue, flashback pheasant tail, olive soft hackle, mangy caddis, copper john, double bead stone, lightning bug
streamers: silveys sculpin, Bow river bugger, Big Gulp sculpin, sheila's sculpin, yellow yummy
GALLATIN RIVER: 1,690cfs
Our most local freestone has finally come into shape and is fishing spectacularly latley. Steady nymphing with a beadhead trailing a rubberlegs during the heat of the day with plenty of good dries when the sun gets low in the sky. Caddis, PMD, and attractor pattern dries are working well up on top and it's also getting to be the time when a swung sculpin on a sinking leader can dig up some big healthy browns.
recommended dries: low rider sally, never sink sally, purple caddis, elk hair caddis, para PMD, PMD transitional, PMD Squeezer, royal wulff, neversink trude, green drake, purple teaser
nymphs: king prince, rubberlegs, lightning bug, olive soft hackle, gallatin glo, tungsten yellow sally, flashback pheseant tail, Hare's Ear, copper john-chartruese/red/copper
streamers: New School Muddler, pearl zonker, flash bugger, sculpzilla
UPPER MADISON: 1,490cfs
Scattered reports of up and down days lately on the upper. It can be difficult sometimes but that is just fishing. For the most part you can expect easy nymphing with technical streamers and dries. The fish are starting to get picky on the top water imitations so get em from all angles with emergers, spinners, cripples, and such. Walk wading is getting good most areas close to Ennis and 3$ Bridge/Raynolds Pass section so if you don't have a boat your still in good shape.
recommended dries: chubby chernobyl, yellow stimulator, Anne's Mo Joe Golden, purple caddis, elk hair, primetime pupa, low rider sally, brown drake, two tone ant, PMD
nymphs: Lightning bug, king prince, crackback PMD, Epoxy back PT, military may PMD, Harrop's soft hackle, rootbeer chocolate, lil spanker blu and PT, red headed stepchild, iron sally
streamers: Morrish Sculpin olive, olive zonker, bow river bugger, JJ's Special, flash bugger, new school muddler
LOWER MADISON: 2,190cfs
It's a lot of subsurface action right now on the lower Madison but it is hot fishing. Some real nice fish are being caught on the crayfish, sculpin, and caddis or mayfly nymph patterns. Early morning you can catch a decent caddis hatch with fish rising mostly tight to the bank with scattered top water action through midday. Midday you can catch a good bikini emergence from their innertube shuck with a slightly innebriated spinner fall shortly thereafter. Aside from that the fishing is just awesome on the lower right now. recommended dries: fast water caddis, Elk hair-peacock, Purple Caddis, Brown Drake nymphs: red headed stepchild, lil spaker-pheasant tail and blue, olive soft hackle, super pupa caddis, silveys beadhead caddis, copper john, King Prince, iron sally, lightning bug-gold streamers: JJ's Special, Bow River Bugger, Copper Zonker, big gulp sculpin, sculpzilla, silvey's sculpin, Snappin craw, Chickabou craw Finally the flows have dropped enough to get away from the bobber on the Mo right now, however the nymphing is still outstanding it is nice to see a few good fish coming to the surface. The whole river is in great shape with folks hooking up all over so pick your favorite float and begin the search for big heads braking the surface. Lots of caddis and PMDs around but be thinking of those species in all stages ie: emergers, adults, nymphs, and spinners. For big flies the streamers are hot and cold but the crawfish bit is on. recommended dries: bloom's caddis, slack water caddis, X Caddis, Purple Caddis, Purple Teaser, Primetime Caddis, Silveys Caddis Pupa, CDC Caddis Emerger, Para. PMD, PMD Transitional, Tilt wing PMD, Q's hackle stacker, Q's film critic PMD, crackback PMD, CDC PMD emerger nymphs: Sparkle Pupa, lightning bug, copper john, micro may, military may PMD, red headed step child, tailwater tiny, ray charles, sowbug rainbow, fire bead scud streamers: Hale Bopp Leech, flesh eating sculpin, sculpzilla, big gulp sculpin, pearl zonker, snapping craw, bottom bouncing craw, chickabou craw Some real good dry fly action in the late evenings with streamers still killing it throughout the day and of course nymphs are consistent. The water is in such great shape but there is still enough to make certain spots challenging under heavy hydraulics so please be careful. Still some good goldenstones flying around as well as some caddis and PMDs. recommended dries: purple caddis, Bloom's caddis, X Caddis, Para PMD, tilt-wing PMD, PMD squeezer, chubby chernobyl, yellow stimulator, annes Mo Joe Golden stone, Royal PMX nymphs: double bead hares ear, rubberlegs, copper john, olive soft hackle, hotwire caddis, red headed stepchild, crackback PMD, king prince, lightning bug gold, iron sally streamers: Yellow Yummy, silvey's sculpin black, JJ's Special, Wooly Bugger black, copper zonker, Dali Lama, flesh eating sculpin
MISSOURI RIVER: 7,480cfs 
BIG HOLE: 1,660cfs
Hot Montana Fly Fishing Powered by Thermal Creative
Wednesday, July 20, 2011 - 5:28pm
More and more things are turning into an actual Montana summertime complete with dry flies and afternoon T-storms. In short the fishing is seriously picking up and for a more in depth analysis here is what's been happening in our area.
YELLOWSTONE RIVER: 15,700cfs
Still high and fast but steadily dropping every day. Once it hits 12,000cfs you can usually float it if your confident on the oars but keep in mind the new channels and sweepers that may have formed since before runoff. Right now if you can find slow moving pockets along the bank there are fish to be found but still difficult wading.
GALLATIN RIVER: 2,410cfs
Recently coming into a good fishable condition the Gallatin has a nice green color to it with a decent two feet of visibility. People are getting into some great trout on nymphs and some amazing dry flies in the evening. Still a little fast and the holes have definately changed since before the high water moved the river around.
recommended dries: fast water Caddis, Elk Hair caddis-peacock, PMD transitional, Para. PMD, Brown Drake, royal wulff, never sink trude-red, black, lime
nymphs: lightning bug-gold, pearl, King Prince, Copper John, Bloody Mary, Red headed step child, Tungsten Yellow Sally, Iron Sally, Olive Soft hackle, Hot wire Caddis, Caddis Sparkle Pupa, Rubberlegs
Streamers: Sculpzilla, New School Muddler, Wooly Bugger black and Olive, Flesh Eating Sculpin
UPPER MADISON: 1,930cfs
Some of Montana's best fishing is going on right now along the Upper Madison with plenty of top water action, streamer chasers, and steady nymphing. It is getting a lot of pressure from many fishermen on almost every stretch but everyone seems happy and all are catching fish. The water clarity is a good 2'-4' depending on where you are but the flow is moving fairly quick so experience on the oars is essential if your floating. Plenty of good walk wade oppotunities are opening up though so it is pretty much game on no matter how you prefer to approach it.
recommended dries: Chubby chernobyl-tan and gold, Annes Mo Joe Golden Stone, Yellow Stimulator, Fast water caddis, Bloom's Caddis, Para. PMD, PMD Transitional, Low Rider Sally, Never sink sally, Never Sink Trude-red and black
nymphs: lightning bug-gold, iron sally, military may PMD, King Prince, Copper John, Double bead stone, rubberlegs, Muskrat Goldenstone, lil spaker-pheasant tail and blue
Streamers: Double Bunny, Morrish Sculpin-olive, Zonker-olive, white, and black, Wooly Bugger, Sculpzilla, Bow River Bugger, New School Muddler, Dali Lama
LOWER MADISON: 2,670cfs
The wind has churned up Ennis lake in the last day or so which has given the Lower an off color low visibility, this should clear up in another day and be back to normal. It's a lot of subsurface action right now on the lower Madison but it is hot fishing. Some real nice fish are being caught on the crayfish, sculpin, and caddis or mayfly nymph patterns. Early morning you can catch a decent caddis hatch with fish rising mostly tight to the bank with scattered top water action through midday. Midday you can catch a good bikini emergence from their innertube shuck with a slightly innebriated spinner fall shortly thereafter. Aside from that the fishing is just awesome on the lower right now.
recommended dries: fast water caddis, Elk hair-peacock, Purple Caddis, Brown Drake
nymphs: red headed stepchild, lil spaker-pheasant tail and blue, olive soft hackle, super pupa caddis, silveys beadhead caddis, copper john, King Prince, iron sally, lightning bug-gold
streamers: JJ's Special, Bow River Bugger, Copper Zonker, big gulp sculpin, sculpzilla, silvey's sculpin, Snappin craw, Chickabou craw
MISSOURI RIVER: 14,000cfs
Finally the flows have dropped enough to get away from the bobber on the Mo right now, however the nymphing is still outstanding it is nice to see a few good fish coming to the surface. The whole river is in great shape with folks hooking up all over so pick your favorite float and begin the search for big heads braking the surface. Lots of caddis and PMDs around but be thinking of those species in all stages ie: emergers, adults, nymphs, and spinners. For big flies the streamers are hot and cold but the crawfish bit is on.
recommended dries: bloom's caddis, slack water caddis, X Caddis, Purple Caddis, Purple Teaser, Primetime Caddis, Silveys Caddis Pupa, CDC Caddis Emerger, Para. PMD, PMD Transitional, Tilt wing PMD, Q's hackle stacker, Q's film critic PMD, crackback PMD, CDC PMD emerger
nymphs: Sparkle Pupa, lightning bug, copper john, micro may, military may PMD, red headed step child, tailwater tiny, ray charles, sowbug rainbow, fire bead scud
streamers: Hale Bopp Leech, flesh eating sculpin, sculpzilla, big gulp sculpin, pearl zonker, snapping craw, bottom bouncing craw, chickabou craw
BIG HOLE: 2,610cfs
Some real good dry fly action in the late evenings with streamers still killing it throughout the day and of course nymphs are consistent. After the spike last week the river is starting to come back in to good shape. Still some good goldenstones flying around as well as some caddis and PMDs.
recommended dries: purple caddis, Bloom's caddis, X Caddis, Para PMD, tilt-wing PMD, PMD squeezer, chubby chernobyl, yellow stimulator, annes Mo Joe Golden stone, Royal PMX
nymphs: double bead hares ear, rubberlegs, copper john, olive soft hackle, hotwire caddis, red headed stepchild, crackback PMD, king prince, lightning bug gold, iron sally
streamers: Yellow Yummy, silvey's sculpin black, JJ's Special, Wooly Bugger black, copper zonker, Dali Lama, flesh eating sculpin
More Summertime, More Fishing Powered by Thermal Creative
Saturday, July 16, 2011 - 1:20pm
It's mid July and fishing is great. The Madison offers lots of dry action as do the smaller creeks around Bozeman with the big Missouri giving up big trout on big nymph rigs so we are feeling like Summer is here and we are fishing every chance we get. Can't wait for that Yellowstone to get fishable but shouldn't be too much longer now.
YELLOWSTONE RIVER: 18,200cfs
The stone keeps dropping in flows so it may be fast and high but if this trend continues we could be looking at fishing it by early next week. The fish are there and we can't wait to see the new side channels and holes formed by this years massive run off. It is so close you can almost see the hoppers being sucked down by big Yellowstone browns.
GALLATIN RIVER: 2,930cfs
Shaping up nicely and a few folks starting to fish the Gallatin with some decent luck on beadheads. The fish are as hungry and aggressive as they will be all year for the next couple of weeks so if you can find a safe wading spot with a nice deep mountain stream hole your going to catch fish. Dry flies? In certain spots where the flow slows a bit get those stack mends going and if your fly stays drag free long enough you will catch fish.
recommended flies: rubberlegs, new school muddler, sculpzilla, red copper john, lightning bug, silveys beadhead pupa, olive soft hackle, san juan worm, iron sally, elk hair caddis, chubby chernobyl
UPPER MADISON: 1,980cfs
Some of Montana's best fishing right now is on the Upper Madison. The Salmon flies are hanging around way up high by the walk wade section and the valley has good golden stone, caddis, and yellow sallies. Lot's of good dry fly and nymphs and with 2-4ft. of visibility the whole river is a green light right now. Streamer bite was slow yesterday but can change day to day. The flows are still fairly quick so it helps sometimes to hit the banks from a drift boat if your going below 3$.
recommended dries: Chubby Chernobyl, Annes Mo Joe Stone, Yellow Stimulator, never sink yellow sally, low rider sally, fast water caddis, Elk hair Caddis, BLT Salmon fly, Terranasty, egg layer salmon
Nymphs: Gold lightning bug, iron sally, king prince, copper john, silvey's beadhead pupa, olive soft hackle, rubberlegs, Mega Prince, lil spanker pheasent tail, military may PMD
Streamers: Olive zonker, Bow river bugger olive and black, Flash Bugger, Silveys sculpin black, JJ's Special, Double Bunny, Flesh Eating Sculpin
LOWER MADISON: 3,630cfs
Good fishing on the Lower right now on subsurface crayfish patterns and caddis nymphs with a few heads coming up for caddis dries early in the day. The color is nice and green with a few feet of visibility so it's a great close to town option, even saw three or four boats heading out there late afternoon for after work floats. Midday has lots of pleasure floaters catching a buzz, one thing that is for sure you can catch.
recommended dries: Elk hair Caddis peacock, bloom's caddis, fastwater caddis, neversink yellow sally, low rider sally
nymphs: Lightning bug gold, silvey's beadhead pupa, olive soft hackle, bloom's soft hackle brown, king prince, rock n roller stone, red copper john, sex fly, pheasant tail flashback
streamers: JJ's Special, Bow River Bugger, Copper Zonker, Sculpzilla, chickabou craw, snapping craw
MISSOURI RIVER: 13,400cfs
Still a lot of good fish taken with the long leader indicator rig but the length is getting shorter since the water level is receding. Dry flies are more of a possibility lately and the late evening hatch might be the best time to hit it successfully. Some real good sallies and PMD spinners are pretty much the key in the dwindling sunlight. For nymphs it is real consistent and the crawfish bite is back on! Streamers, your better off fishing them under an indicator like a nymph.
recommended dries: PMD sparkle dun, PMD transitional, film critic PMD, low rider sally, griffith's gnat, CDC PMD emerger
nymphs: military may PMD, iron sally, micro may olive, copper john, PT flashback, Crackback PMD, Snapping craw, TC's craw
streamers: Double Bunny, Olive Bugger, Flesh eating sculpin, sculpzilla, mini-loop sculpin, new school muddler
BIG HOLE: 4,180cfs
Not a whole lot of dry fly action in the last few days but the streamer bite is so good who wants to throw dries? Just kidding, everybody likes dries. Streamers in almost all colors have been great olive, black, red, chartuese, and yes indeed yellow. The nymphing is of course great as well with golden stones and caddis imitations.
dries: chubby chernobyl, PMX stone, fastwater caddis, purple caddis, low rider sally, never sink trude red
streamers: JJ's Special, Yellow Yummy, Silvey's Sculpin, Sculpzilla, Zonkers, Big Gulp, Buggers, new school muddler, Spruce fly
Dry Flies and Clear Water Powered by Thermal Creative
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 - 12:15pm
It is starting to really feel like an actual Montana summer complete with rising trout, clear rivers, sunny days and afternoon T-storms to cool you down. The most interesting thing about this high water year has been the change in the insect hatches occuring about two weeks later than usual. Perfect timing if you ask me, the hatches waited till we had some water clarity so the fish could see them and eat them. The light at the end of the tunnel is here so now is the time to wet a line.
YELLOWSTONE RIVER: 22,000cfs
Still a little to high for comfort and definately not a floaters option unless your into white water rafting. However we've seen the stone come down about 10,000cfs in the last week so if we have another week like that we're looking at floating up high by July 20th. If you can find slower moving back eddies from shore you might find a few rising trout but we are so close to having our favorite freestone back in shape. Can't wait to see the newly formed side channels from the runoff.
GALLATIN RIVER: 3,570cfs
Getting a nice olive/brown tinge to it the Gallatin is starting to look a bit nicer but still pretty fast so difficult walk wading. It is possible to fish in slower pockets close to the banks and above the Taylor's Fork but it still is not our first choice right now. Give it about a week at this rate and we should experience some clear dry fly oppurtunity, till then it's indicator fishing.
recommended flies: Prince nymph, Rubberlegs, sex fly, Rock n Roller stone, Lightning bug, copper John, Bloody Mary, Flash Bugger, Sculpzilla, San Juan red
UPPER MASDISON: 2,050cfs
River clarity is a good two feet even at Ennis and just gets better the further upstream you go so pick your float cause it's fishing awesome pretty much the whole way. The big fish are on the bite for big sculpins so the streamer option is reliable as is nymphing but as the hatches are pushed back about two weeks right now we have Salmon flies, Golden Stones, PMDs, and Caddis to choose from. The walk wade stretch up by three dollar bridge is consistent and fishing well with caddis dries.
recommended flies: Olive zonker, Olive Bow River Bugger, Sculpzilla, king prince, iron sally, rubberlegs, Copper John, Military May PMD, lil spanker red, blue, and pheseant tail, Silvey's Beadhead pupa-tan
dries:Terranasty, Anne's Mo Joe Salmon, Egg layer Salmon, True Salmon fly, Anne's Mo Joe Golden Stone, Chubby Chernobyl-tan, PMX Stone Golden, Bloom's Caddis, Purple Caddis, Para PMD, PMD Transitional, Para Adams
LOWER MADISON: 3,940cfs
Lot's of good subsurface action on the lower right now and still enough water to float over those big grass mats and fish the green shadows. Some nice big browns hanging tight to the bank ready to attack a crayfish or sculpins so don't forget to search the slow pockets. A lot of caddis coming off with a few opportunities for pods of rising fish but a much more consistent bet is the nymphs and streamers. Also has become the summertime hangout for the pleasure cruise crowd which is fine it's there resource to. If you get to the river before 9am your pretty much amongst other fishermen so wake up early and hit the morning hatch.
recommend flies: Copper zonker, Bow River Bugger, chickabou craw, Snapping Craw, Mini loop sculpin, JJ's Special, Yuk Bug, copper john, lil spanker blue, silvey's Beadhead pupa-tanb, silvey's primetime pupa, sparkle pupa, rubberlegs, purple caddis
MISSOURI RIVER: 16,700cfs
Still some great nymphing to be had under a 12' leader with two BB's with a few good risers up on top starting to arrive. Lot's of fish being taken on the emerger form of caddis and PMD flies. You may have to seek out the dry fly action in little back eddies and below islands but those with patience and delicate presentation will be graciously awarded. Lot's of fishermen in this neck of the woods but the entire river is pretty clear so pick your float and you might find some solace. recommended flies: rainbow scud, red headed stepchild, military may, Crackback PMD, micro may, wire worm, I. E. D., tilt wing PMD, PMD Transitional, Griffith's Gnat, Purple Caddis, silvey's Primtime Pupa, Silvey's Beadhead Pupa Some awesom top water action on the Golden stones and Caddis mostly but there is always the PMDs and Mahoganies to look out for. Great streamer fishing early in the morning with Olive, Black and of course Yellow. The nymphing is as consistent as ever but with such good dry flies it is hard to watch the bobber, unless it's real windy like it occassionaly is on the Big Hole. A great option right now. recommended flies:JJ's Special, Yellow Yummy, Silvey's Sculpin-black, Olive Zonker, Crispy Critter, Big Gulp-olive, Hare's Ear, king prince, olive soft hackle, Military May PMD, red headed stepchild, Rubberlegs, iron sally, copper john-red, blackTHE BIG HOLE: 3,790cfs
It sure feels nice to see clear water again Powered by Thermal Creative
Friday, July 8, 2011 - 11:10am
Some good fish are being taken all along the madison, from the boat on the lower and mostly from walk wading on the upper stretch. The smaller creeks around the area are running very clear and fishing great. The Yellowstone and Gallatin are still raging but are on the steady decline so probably within the next ten days the Gallatin should be fishing and maybe two weeks on the Stone.
YELLOWSTONE RIVER: 30,800cfs
The stone is raging along it's high and muddy runoff path. I would not recommend fishing it right now as today's rain have brought it up about another 1,000cfs since we checked it this morning. A lot of guys are getting the sand bags ready in case it floods as bad as in 1997. Should be an amazing late season over here and I'm guessing should be fishable by July 20th, just a guess.
GALLATIN RIVER: 5,900cfs
Still pretty high and fast with little visibility but some decent fishing can be had in slower moving pools and back eddies. Difficult walk wading with the speed of the water but heavy nymph rigs with bright colored flies is the way to go. The visibility increases a little above the Taylor's Fork but still the same bright nymph rig game.
recommended flies: sparkle worm, delektable worm pink, rubberlegs, red copper john, red egg, Bloody Mary, Wooly Bugger, Sculpzilla Jr.
UPPER MADISON: 2,390cfs
The flows are on the steady decline lately and some great fish have been strapping on the feed bag. The small nymphs are proving consistent in the heat of the day with big rubberleg stoneflies being the hot fly early and late. A few good hatches are occuring mostly during evening times including golden stones, caddis, and PMD's. A fairly busy piece of water in terms of the number of fishermen but everyone seems happy and is catching fish so maybe hike a little bit farther and solitude will be your reward. recommended flies: Mega Prince, Rubberlegs, JJ's Special, Pearl and Olive Zonkers, Bow River Bugger, red-headed step child, epoxy back pheseant tail, red copper john, crackback PMD, chubby chernobyl, PMD transitional, Bloom's Caddis The lower has a good 18" of visibility which means good things for the fly selection. Smaller caddis and PMD nymphs are catching some great consistent football sized rainbows and the big browns are on the chase for bigger meals like sculpins, crayfish, and stonefly nymphs. Still not a whole lot of solid dry fly action but shouldn't be too much longer with the ever increasing visibility. recommended flies: copper zonker, JJ's Special, New School Muddler, Morrish Sculpin, Silvey's beadhead pupa, lightning bug, sex fly, epoxy back pheseant tail, rubberlegs, military may PMD, lil spanker blue, king prince Still some great nymphing to be had under a 12' leader with two BB's with a few good risers up on top starting to arrive. Lot's of fish being taken on the emerger form of caddis and PMD flies. You may have to seek out the dry fly action in little back eddies and below islands but those with patience and delicate presentation will be graciously awarded. Lot's of fishermen in this neck of the woods but the entire river is pretty clear so pick your float and you might find some solace. recommended flies: rainbow scud, red headed stepchild, military may, Crackback PMD, micro may, wire worm, I. E. D., tilt wing PMD, PMD Transitional, Griffith's Gnat, Purple Caddis, silvey's Primtime Pupa, Silvey's Beadhead Pupa On a serious decline in water the Big Hole is shaping up for some of the best fishing around right now. Early morning streamers in white, black, and of course yellow are the hot ticket till about 10:30am. After that it is onto some killer top water action with golden stones popping through the canyon. A few scattered Caddis and PMDs here and there but sounds like the sallies are the ticket. Some great fish being taken midday on rubberleg nymphs but the top water and streamer action usually trumps the desire to bobber fish, it's all good if you ask me, especially if your catching fish. recommended flies: JJ's Special, Yellow Yummy, Silvey's Sculpin black and tan, white zonkers, Bow River Bugger, Chubby Chernobyl, rubberlegs brown and olive, double bead Hare's Ear, lightning bug, chubby chernobyl, elk hair caddis tan, Stimulator Yellow, Swisher PMX Stone, Annes Mo Joe Golden stone Steady flows and clear water with big golden stones hatching the Beaverhead is awesome right now. There is a lot of people but everyone seems to be doing okay with the fishing. Pretty clear from the dam on down so floating options are pretty open. Lots of great nymphing water with a few heads coming up sparingly. Streamers have been best dead drifted under the indicator. Either way it is just nice to look at clear water at the moment. recommended flies: Double bead stone, Military may, Hares Ear, copper john, Batman Blue, lightning bug, Snapping Craw, chubby chernobyl, yellow sally, elk hair caddis 
LOWER MADISON: 4,790cfs
MISSOURI RIVER: 22,400cfs THE BIG HOLE: 4,780cfs
THE BEAVERHEAD: 305cfs
It's getting better all the time Powered by Thermal Creative
Tuesday, July 5, 2011 - 10:34am
Some of the smaller creeks are starting to clear up and fish well and the Madison is offering some awesome fishing in the dirty water. The heat gives us the cool clean high elevation snow melt we need to get the rivers in healthy shape. The Yellowstone and Gallatin are still raging but should be fishable in another week or so.
YELLOWSTONE RIVER: 30,800cfs
The stone is raging along it's high and muddy runoff path. I would not recommend fishing it right now as today's rain have brought it up about another 1,000cfs since we checked it this morning. A lot of guys are getting the sand bags ready in case it floods as bad as in 1997. Should be an amazing late season over here and I'm guessing should be fishable by July 15th, just a guess.
GALLATIN RIVER: 5,900cfs
Still pretty high and fast with little visibility but some decent fishing can be had in slower moving pools and back eddies. Difficult walk wading with the speed of the water but heavy nymph rigs with bright colored flies is the way to go. The visibility increases a little above the Taylor's Fork but still the same bright nymph rig game. recommended flies: sparkle worm, delektable worm pink, rubberlegs, red copper john, red egg, Bloody Mary, Wooly Bugger, Sculpzilla Jr. Some decent walk wading available up by Raynold's Pass and 3$ bridge with good fish being taken on dead drifted sculpins trailed by smaller nymphs. Floating wise has been good as long as you take the time to get out and really work the slower moving water and inside seams. Clarity wise you get about a foot of visibility above the West Fork and little to none as you get closer to Ennis. Some good water and good fishing equals a real popular place at the moment, a great choice but if your seeking solitude look elsewhere. recommended flies: Sculpzilla, Bow river bugger, Yellow Yummy, Black Flash Bugger, Yuk Bug, Sparkle worm, Silvey's beadhead pupa, hotwire caddis, red copper john, lightning bug, bloody mary, tungsten yellow sally, Para. Baetis, Blooms Caddis, H's Low Rider Sally Still pretty brownish with about 6" of visibility so if you wanna catch fish on the lower right now get it into the slow water pockets and the seams below islands. Folks are catching steady spawner sized rainbows and a few big browns here and there mostly on nymphs and streamers. The 4th of July also brought out the bikini hatch so unless you want to spend the day dodging inebriated sunburned buoys get to the boat ramp early and beat the crowd. recommended flies: Bow River Bugger, Yuk Bug, JJ's Special, rubberlegs, Silvey's beadhead pupa, lightning bug, chartruese copper john, hotwire caddis, sparkle worm, lil spanker pheseant tail Still some great nymphing to be had under a 12' leader with two BB's with a few good risers up on top starting to arrive. Lot's of fish being taken on the emerger form of caddis and PMD flies. You may have to seek out the dry fly action in little back eddies and below islands but those with patience and delicate presentation will be graciously awarded. Lot's of fishermen in this neck of the woods but the entire river is pretty clear so pick your float and you might find some solace. recommended flies: rainbow scud, red headed stepchild, military may, Crackback PMD, micro may, wire worm, I. E. D., tilt wing PMD, PMD Transitional, Griffith's Gnat, Purple Caddis, silvey's Primtime Pupa, Silvey's Beadhead Pupa recommended flies: JJ's Special, Sculpzilla, Yellow Yummy, H's Flesh Eating Sculpin, Hares Ear, rubberlegs, sex fly, iron sally, olive soft hackle, peacock Elk hair caddis, Bloom's Caddis, PMD transitional, PMD tilt-wing, PMD Squeezer, Chubby Chernobyl, Yellow Stimulator, Anne's Mo Joe Stone THE BEAVERHEAD: 802cfs The Beaverhead is very clear from the dam down to about Heneberry and then gets pretty muddy but fishing awesome throughout. Lots of great nymphing water with a few heads coming up sparingly. Streamers have been best dead drifted under the indicator. Either way it is just nice to look at clear water at the moment. Definately a good choice right now even if you have to do two short floats from the dam on down. recommended flies: Double bead stone, Military may, Hares Ear, copper john, Batman Blue, lightning bug, Snapping Craw, chubby chernobyl, yellow sally, elk hair caddis 
UPPER MADISON: 3,140cfs
LOWER MADISON: 5,840cfsMISSOURI RIVER: 21,800cfs THE BIG HOLE: 5,690cfs The Big Hole continues to drop and the fishing just gets better. Sounds like the Salmon flies are pretty much past aside form a few here and there but lots of good fish are being taken on bigger Golden Stone patterns like the favored Chubby Chernobyl. The water is still cranking and serious business below Wise River so be prepared or check out the upper stretch and go after some Grayling. Streamers still doing well banged against the banks!
