Water Clarity
Angler Traffic
Fish Caught
|
Showing 1 - 20
out of 20
On the left map, we grouped Guide Fishing Reports that are located close to each other into small circles. Now, you can locate all Guide Fishing Reports on the map at the same time. You can also drag & zoom the map.
Circle numbers - Count of Guide Fishing Reports that are located in and around that circle.
Colored circles - Guide Fishing Reports that are displayed in the list below.
Grey circles - Guide Fishing Reports that are displayed on next page(s).
Half colored circles - Some Guide Fishing Reports in that circle appear in the list below and some on next page(s).
Click on circles to zoom in or highlight Guide Fishing Reports .
page 1 out of 1
Fishing is starting to shift gears on the Madison. Dry fly fishing is starting to slow down and the streamer fishing is getting better every day. Hoppers and ants are still playing ... morepretty well in the late afternoon, but they seem to be getting wise to the combo. Lots of false strikes. Yesterday I fed 3 live hoppers to a fat 16 inch brown. Once I put the fake over him. He came up slashes at it twice, never ate it, then went home.
Fish streamers all day, catch a few giants. Or go to dries in the afternoon for action.
PS. The smoke sux
The spawning rainbow thing is going off between quake and hebgan. The rainbows are moving up out of quake lake and stacking up below hebgan dam, but it's no big secret. You will have ... morecompany. It seems to be a race to the first soft water below hebgan. It's a great hole full of fish but angler density is a little to high for me. Down closer to quake lake there are a couple of small channels on the other side of the river that are chalk full of rainbows, if your a strong enough wader to cross the main river. Due to high snow pack they have already started raising flows. As of yesterday it was up to 1400. Which is high for this time of year. Wading caution is called for.
As far as flies. Spaghetti and meat balls "San Juan worm and an egg ball". Have been the best. Although you can still find the bigger fish on a black biggest. Over all fishin is good just expect company.
Here comes fishin season. The Mother's Day cadis hatch has popped on the lower Madison. More and more bugs every day. Fishing is best when the sun is off the water. Yesterday we fished ... morelate and that seemed to do the trick. We put on at warm springs about 4:00 in the afternoon. Hardly any bug activity until almost 6:30, but they finally did show up and the fish were looking up. We ended up with about a dozen fish by the time we got to the damsel fly takeout. We got out about 8:00 and it was still going off and there was still plenty of light. I wished we would have moved a little slower. As far as mid day is concerned the usual nymph streamer combinations. Seem to be the ticket. Bunny fur or rubber with a size 16 prince has been the best for me. Fishing during the day has been ok but the real show seems to be in the evening all the way to dark
Upper Madison isn't sure whether it is still summer or fall. Everything semis to be working Kind of. Nothing is really killing them. Still if your willing to stay with a streamer. ... moreYou'll end up with a few shots at good fish. Hoppers and ants after it warms up in the afternoon are still getting good action. But not seeing much in the size department.
Calibates hatch still going strong on ennis lake. Good numbers of fish still working on the surface , but are getting smarter. Last week a size 16 pheasant tail couldn't miss. Now ... morenot so much. Actually did better on a size 18 blond parachute Adams. On the surface. Seems like less people lately. Thoughts are turning to shotguns and bows. The hatch usually starts around 9:00 or 9:30. Bugs peak around. 12:00. Then the wind usually comes up by 2:00 and shuts the whole thing down. Upcoming cold weather could Change thing s mayflies don't like cold weather. We will see.
Upper ruby on the forest service is fishing well on nymphs a few hoppers starting to show up. A small bead under hopper seems to do the trick ... more
below the dam has been good on small dries especially late
Water is warming up but fishing is staying on track Eder still seeing good hatches all the way down from quake lake fishing is spotty 5 fish up on one bank then nothing for an hour. ... moreSalmonflies are all the way up near quake And have taken the crowds with them. Small dries in the morning have been producing some good fish and a lot of twinks. Small nymphs the same in the afternoon but with more whites. Seems like a good white population this year. Not much on the streamers yet Fish are still looking for bugs. Hoot owl restrictions in place on lower rivers. Fish on.
Run off is over. It’s game on for the Upper Madison. Recent rains created a slight bump in water levels but they are on their way down again. We fished mostly streamers with a little ... moregreen bead on the end. Most of the action was on the big streamer. We didn't catch high numbers but quality was way up there. A 20-inch brown and a handful of rainbows around 18”. Some caddis showed up later in the day but I think we were gone before the dry show started. Had some friends out last night said they had pretty good caddis fishing fight before dark. Waiting patiently for Salmon flies. Its our turn next. It’s about over on the Big Hole which means were close here. Tight lines. Eric Shores
Went over to rock creek for the last three days for an excellent stay in the mountains With some excellent fishing with salmonflies,
Fishing on the Madison River picked up last week as the water levels continued to fall. Water clarity has been good. The water coming out of Quake lake is a nice steelhead green. We ... morehave been seeing some big chocolate caddis, but not a whole lot has been happening on the surface. Two days ago we fished Ruby to Varney. Fishing was spotty but the fish quality was way up there. We got a 23” rainbow, four browns 18" to 20", and a smattering of 12" to 14". Admittedly we did go almost 3 hours without a strike.
That was a little hard to take, but when they finally started we had a really good two hours. Recent wave of hot weather has the immediate future in question. As a group we are undecided whether this 80-degree weather is going to blow the whole system out again? As of now water levels are starting to creep up again. Fished yesterday from Lyons bridge to Ruby Creek. The west fork has started showing color again so half the river was green half was greenish brown. Actually caught more fish in the dark side than the clear side, but in general fishing was not great. Good size but low numbers. We only got seven fish for a 9-mile float, one really nice 20 inch Brown and we went through every fly in the book. Madison river fish don't like rising water levels. I think we have one more bump which should last about a week then we should be in for a steady decline and some really good fishing Tight lines e
Fished yesterday from pallasades to Macatee Bridge water clarity about 12 to 18 inches. Hooked fifteen fish landed 10. Not exactly a dry fly day. Water bumped up about 200 while we ... morewere on it but fish didn’t seem to mind. The MVPs were big and black right on the bank fished both big black salmonfly nymphs and some large black wooly buggers. Had a red worm as a trailer and in both cases the fish wanted the big meat. Saw a couple of fish on the worm but most of the action was on big and black. The color is coming mostly from the west fork of the madison , but we drove up above quake lake and both beaver creek and Cabin creek are running color but it is about the same color as the Madison so things should stay stable for the foreseeable future. The water color is off (more green than brown)but it is definitely fishable if you're brave enough to face the spring weather.
Like Everything else in the area, good snow pack and good spring rains have waters on the rise, but water clarity is still good enough to fish dries. We have been fishing crawdad patterns ... morewith a small pink scud or a worm on behind it. Fish seem more interested in the small stuff. It has been a little on the cold side but here are still a few caddis coming out in the evening, but are hard to fish blind, need to find rising fish, which can be done look for the dead water next to the bank and check out any foam homes you can find. There are not a lot of salmon flies on the lower but there are some and they are starting to get active big, heavy and black should start working down there soon. The was a lot of angler traffic last week but recent cold rainy weather has pretty much sent most people home. Fishing gets solid B, B+ if you figure in the low angling pressure. The lower madison is dam controlled so water levels do not change as radically as on other rivers. This makes it a more predictable option in these times of spiking and receding water levels. If you want to catch a fish on a dry this is still probably the place to do it.
Cold start, were in the water by 9:30 should probably have been 11:00 Fishing definitly picked up in the afternoon black buggar was MVP for sure. Fish are lazy. Found them in the soft ... morewater on the banks and behind the deep boulders. Took along float covered a lot of water. Ended up with about fifteen fish, one beautiful hook jawed Brown trout that measured out at 19 in.
Tight lines!
Floated the Madison River from Lyons Bridge. It was cool and a little windy and the maiden run for the new boat. We weren't trying that hard and still managed to land some 8 nice fish. ... moreWater was clear and there was no traffic on the river but us. Winter is back on the menu for the next week. Next few days are for skiing.
Ice is receding and the fly tiers are once again becoming fishermen. Temps are supposed to reach in to the 60s this week giving the food chain another bump and waking up the fish. ... moreMost put ins and takeouts are open and the ice has cleared off most sections of most rivers.
Big Changes on the Madison this year the whole river is staying open all year. This makes options limitless. Wade fishing up river between Hebgan reservoir and Quake lake has been good as the rainbows are coming up to spawn and rainbow populations in this area have soared. The wade section between slide inn and Lyons bridge has also been good. Water is still cold so look for the time of day with the slightly warmer water temps usually 1:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon.
A few boats have been putting in up high at Lyons bridge. My buddy Charlie floated Lyons to ruby creek the other day and had good fishing on Girdle bugs for the second half “Morning was cold, fishing was weak” Most of the angler action has been going on below Varny bridge with the colder water temps it is more effective to find some slower water and get out and pound with nymphs on the bottom. Vary has a lot of good get out and wade water. Fishing could get really good down below town at Valley Garden. This is the first time it has been open this time of year. I don’t know anybody that has fished there yet this year but it could be good considering that it is right above the lake and the rainbow are in the mood to move up river.
The ice is off the lake but he waters on the south end is very shallow very difficult to navigate I tried to take a drift boat out to the main channel the other day and failed there wasn’t enough water to float an empty drift boat. Anybody thinking of floating down the river into the lake could be in for a big surprise when they get there. We did find some fish at the north end in the deeper water as usual a little black beggar pulled gently of the ice was the trick for us.
The Bear Trap Canyon has probably been fishing about the best. Warmer water temperatures have the midges and fish moving. Again, later in the afternoon, between the dam and power house. The fish are a little more aggressive down here so you can twitch a streamer and there are a few blue wing olives starting to show up opening the door to a little spring dry fly-fishing.
The stretch from Warm Springs down to Blacks Ford has been fishing well, with lots of drift boats, but good fishing on a brown buggar and a san juan worm. Get in early and stay ahead of the pack get out and wade the slow water.
The warm winds are a coming, ice is melting back, time to let the mind wander from knee deep powder to knee deep water. A long piece of water has opened up, on the west side of Ennis ... morelake. Some fresh water seeps coming up are keeping the ice at bay, and the food chain is slowly coming to life. Went down yesterday with Shawn and my wife and were pleasantly surprised. We were casting a small grizzly buggar out on the ice twitching it off, letting it fall to the bottom then stripping it in super slow. Water is cold in both the lake and river; fish aren’t in the mood to do anything fast. Patience is the key. Let them take a good long look at I it. Shawn and Anni each had a couple of fish before I “got with the program” Once I got the right combination fly and technique I caught up in a hurry, One beautiful 21 in rainbow.
It's game on out there. Ice is coming off everywhere and the fishermen are emerging from their winter slumber. On the way to Bozeman saw 4 or 5 drift boats on the lower Madison one boat had a fish on. The 2016 fishing season has begun. Heading up river tomorrow to see if the fish are awake, higher up. Tight lines everyone!
Upper Madison River - The Upper Madison has been good fishing up around Three Dollar Bridge, Raynold’s Pass Fishing Access and between the lakes. But the snow is around three ... morefeet around the river so it takes some work to get to the river. This weekend will warm up providing some good fishing opportunities. Small zebra midges are working well. Look for holes and deep runs as the water is a bit thin and the fish will be sharing the water. Expect more midge hatches as the weather warms. Another cold front is coming in next week so which should slow things down again. Up near the slide, on warmer days, look for midge hatches.
Lower Madison River - The Lower Madison has been fishing quite well. The recent break in the weather has helped increase the opportunities. The Dam has also been good fishing with Zebra Midges, Czech nymphs, Ray Charles as well as Mayfly nymphs. In the mornings they tend to be deeper with the fish eating on near top in the afternoons. We are also seeing small dries do well when fish are looking up. Look for deeper slower holds to produce. Crayfish patterns are always a good lower Madison option.
Upper Madison River Fishing Report - A winter storm has rolled in with temperatures dropping into the teens mid week and then warming into the low 40’s on Saturday. The bigger ... morefish are feeding more on the overcast days with Nymphs being the most effective. Medium-small dark stonefly patterns with worms, eggs, midge pupa or small attractor patterns have been working great. If you get a hatch, then Midges on top is a good bet. With the fish trying to exert as little energy as possible, look for them in the slower waters including behind rocks, deep, and inside seams and pools.
Lower Madison River Fishing Report - This storm that has moved in should make for some excellent fishing the next week. But, ice has formed around the edges so be careful. Pheasant Tails, Rubber Legs, Midge Larvae, Pink Nymphs, Worms, and Eggs have all been good. Make sure you are fishing the bottoms, especially in the deeper holes. Look for the midges to hatching along the edges. Look for tail water fisheries for consistent fishing action.
Upper Madison River Fishing Report - The fish are down low so make sure you are scraping the bottom. There are some browns late in spawning but mostly that is over. Big stoneflies ... moreand rubber legs are getting action. If it warms up, you may want to try out your favorite streamer.
Lower Madison River Fishing Report - Because of the below zero nights, ice is forming where it is slow and shallow so be careful. As it warms later this week, the midges will begin to catch proving some prime winter fishing. Fishing below Ennis Dam has been working in the deeper holes but stay away from below Blacks Ford as it is unfishable. Streamers with small nymphs floating on or near the bottom can get you some action.
Upper Madison River Fly Fishing - Up high and in between the lakes still has good streamer fishing. This winter weather will also get fish wanting some high calorie meals. Using a ... morestonefly imitation with a small mayfly will bring fish to the net, but use a short section of fluoro off of your leader and your dropper will increase your chance at catching fish. A mega prince or purple hureless are good stonefly options trailed by a lil' spankers and size 18 mayfly nymphs are your best bet. streamers are producing fish as well. Look for slower deeper runs and reds as the browns are spawning. The water is at winter flows and is super for wading, you can get to any spot you want. You can still float if you have a raft.
Lower Madison River Fly Fishing - Fishing is getting back to normal now that they have stopped fluctuating the flow out of the dam. It has been a couple days now without any changes and you can get back to dead drifting or swinging soft hackles and crawfish. In the seam line, keep an eye out for fish to be feeding on emerging midges. The coming days are going to have some increasing winds so the adults will be blown off the water. Get a few drifts thru each spot you fish. More fish are wanting the flies put right in front of their face. Check out our blog on a Perfect Day in the Gardens.
|