The clear water is in sight
Cold weather in the last few days even some snow falling around the Bozeman area with the usual spots of sunshine. The fishing has been pretty awesome on the local tailwaters and the freestones are dropping and clearing thanks to the cooler air temperatures. The weather is supposed to be sunny and warm again starting monday and continuing through next week so should be great times to be had on the water.
YELLOWSTONE RIVER: 9,740cfs
The stone has come down considerabley in flow the last few days. It is olive green in color and probably fishable but even at that level moving very fast so still a little questionable in terms of safety. Another couple of days with some drops in flows and could be spectacular especially when the Salmon flies hatch!
flies: bow river bugger, sparkle minnow, zonkers, olive buggers, king prince, blue spanker, lightning bug, rubberlegs, tung yellow sally, red coper john, hares ear, olive soft hackle, primetime pupa, purple caddis, blooms caddis, para baetis, para adams
GALLATIN RIVER: 1,950cfs
Still running pretty fast but clearing and dropping by the hour. Should definately fish well with heavy nymphs and streamers just please be careful wading when the river is this fast. Look for slower pocket water and tailouts of deep runs. Many fish are moved up into the tributaries that are running clear so don't forget the 3wt. for some small creek fishing in the canyon.
flies: rubberlegs, rock n roller stone, stoners, lightning bug, tung ready baetis, BWO bubble back, king prince, bloody mary, silveys pupa, sparkle pupa-bright green, bacon and egg, sparkle worm, new school muddler, olive bugger
UPPER MADISON: 1,590
The Upper has been fishing good mostly higher up around 3$ bridge and the Lyons to Macatee float. Guys have been rockin them on streamers and nymphs with a few select times to catch the dry fly hatch, usually late afternoon. Downstream from Cameron it gets pretty muddy from indian creek towards Ennis, not a lot of great reports from there. Between the lakes has been outstanding as well as cliff and wade lake.
flies: rubberlegs-orange, black, brown, muskrat golden stone, black stoner, sex fly, PT spanker, San Juan, big hare's ear, king prince, zonkers, dream catcher, McCune's sculpin, Bow River Bugger, Sculpzilla, para Adams, para March brown, Chubby chernobyl, tilt wing baetis, para baetis
LOWER MADISON: 2,220cfs
The lower is in great shape with at least 5 ft of visibility with a slight green color to it. The crawfish and sculpin bight continues to be great as well the nymphing through the buckets. Steady flows and good water temps are what make the lower fish the best and that is what we've had for the last week almost. Still some caddis fluttering around and some baetis, a few reports of a couple stone flies hatching. Get out and fish it.
flies: sculpzilla, bow river bugger, deer hair bugger, McCune's sculpin, snapping craw, clouser turkey back, chickabou craw, black and rust wooly bugger, rubberlegs, orange/black stoner, PT spanker, red copper john, Tung. ready baetis, lightning bug, BWO bubble back, tungsten yellow sally, chubby chernobyl, para adams, para baetis, purple caddis, bloom's caddis
MISSOURI RIVER: 4,550cfs
Fishing pretty awesome lately with small baetis nymphs and the usual Missouri river scud bugs and midge pupas. Short leash is the way to go with the bobber about 4ft. from the point fly. The dry fly game has been a little slow but there are shots for those who have the patience and enjoy the challenge. The streamer bite has been hit or miss and mostly miss but is the way to tag one leviathin brown trout, though it may be all you get all day.
flies: stalcup's baetis, BWO bubble back, crackback, bloom's soft hackle brown, Pheasant tail, copper john, hunchback scud, ray charles, firebead sowbug, Q's film critic, para baetis, tilt wing baetis, floating baetis nymph, para Adams, griffith's gnat, zebra midge, sparkle minnow, flesh eating sculpin, dream catcher
BIG HOLE: 3,450cfs
Clear and cool the levels are dropping and the Big Hole is fishing great. it is beleived that most of the snow melt is done and runnoff ending on the Big Hole. The streamer and nymph bite is on and getting lot's of good big browns. Not a ton of bugs to speak of yet but should pick up this next week. Maybe the Salmon flies will be there by then?
flies: silveys sculpin, sex dungeon, screamers, dream catcher, zonker, bow river bugger, JJ's special, yellow yummy, rubberlegs, tung yellow sally, hare's ear, pheasant tail, stalcup's baetis, tung ready baetis, para adams