Springtime in Montana is georgous

Another incredibley beautiful day in Montana.  Sunny and about 75degrees with a little breeze has almost everyone who walks into the shop today asking me why i'm not on the river?  Good question, gotta make rent is my answer even though in the back of my head i know i'd be very happy living in a tent by the river.  Anyway here is what's happening on the water around the area.

YELLOWSTONE RIVER: 9,740cfs  

Came back up to just under ten grand in flows which is a little fast for me so I'd let the Yellowstone be for now.  Some rafters and kayakers are bouncing around on the Springdale wave but fishing wise not much happening here in high water.

GALLATIN RIVER: 2,020cfs  

Above two thousand cfs is the flow that my whitewater buddies tell me they start looking at the Gallatin to float which usually means bad news for the trout fisherman.  Now i have had some decent days fishing in high water on the Gallatin but usually that's when it's on the way down.  So i would look some place else for a first choice but as with anywaterway in high water if you are going to fish look for soft slow water and get some flashy imitations down deep.

UPPER MADISON RIVER: 1,470cfs  

Fishing awesome with Stonefly, caddis, and baetis the upper is pretty clear yet cold water.  Mostly subsurface but there are top water oppertunities to be had.  Between the lakes is a sure bet and fishing great with cool clear water.  If your gonna float pay attention to the softer inside elbows and if you can get out and wade the holes with thorough drifts, sometimes they don't eat it until the fifth time through.

flies: Hares ear, black stoner, tungsten yellow sally, muskrat golden stone, olive rubberlegs, white zonker, olive zonkers, mega prince, lil spanker PT, lil spanker silver, copper john, lightning bug, sparkle worm, ray charles, zebra midge, WD-40, firebead sow bug, para Adams, Q's midge cluster, Griffith's gnat, para baetis

LOWER MADISON RIVER: 2,160cfs  

Where pretty much all my real good fishing reports have been coming from the Lower continues to fish well.  Clarity your looking at about 2ft. or so of visibility which is just enough for the trout to see an adult insect hatch and your favorite imitation.  Subsuface action has been steady all day long with crayfish trailed by baetis nymph or worm pattern and a few good fish tagged with a big ugly streamer.  The dry fly action has been best late in the afternoon and don't punch the screen or anything but we have seen a couple brown stone adults as well as one or two Salmon fly adults up in the canyon.  This is still 5 days to a week out, if conditions allow, but you can feel it in the air it's going to be epic this year.

MISSOURI RIVER: 4,880cfs  

Low water levels and great insect hatches have provided an excellent window of oppertunity for great fishing on the MO.  4,820cfs is an awesome level for wade fishing around islands and doing some serious stealthy head hunting in the riflles.  Lot's of baetis, drakes, caddis, and midges for a good excercise with your favorite four weight.  Excellent choice right now.

flies:  Para March Brown, tilt wing baetis, BWO film critic, para baetis, Bloom's para Caddis,  Elk Hair Caddis peacock,  Q's cluster midge, griffith's gnat, Para Adams, BWO squeezer, Zebra midge, stalcup's baetis, tungsten ready baetis, CDC baetis emerger, ray charles-tan, pink, or grey, Sparkle minnow, Sculpzilla, Flesh Eating Sculpin, Copper Zonker, small royal wulff, stillborn midge

THE BIG HOLE: 2,720cfs