Bruce_Staples August 25th, 2010

Best all-around patterns for fishing streams in the Madison and Gallatin river drainages are spruce moth, hopper, and ant patterns. Good gulper fishing continues on Hebgen Lake where fish are taking tricos on the Madison Arm.   Some speckled duns remain on other parts of the lake. Want to get into some fast action from small but active fish?  Try the West Fork of the Madison River.  There are several miles of stream to fish.  Small hopper, traditional attractor, spruce moth, or caddis life cycle patterns will work just fine.

Bruce_Staples August 21st, 2010

Terrestrial insects are making for good action all around.   In particular, the spruce moth population is up and makes for great dry fly action on the Madison and Gallatin river drainages.   The Beaverhead River features good PMD and caddis activity, which along with terrestrial insects are bringing big fish to the surface.  Hebgen Lake gulpers seem to have active and inactive days according to report reaching us.

Bruce_Staples July 22nd, 2010

Reservoir Lake is a real hot spot off the beaten path about twenty five miles north and west of Clark Canyon Reservoir. Its surroundings are mostly a pine forest.   Offering aggressive brookies ranging to fifteen inches taking damselfly, speckled dun, midge and leech patterns, it is an ideal place for float tubing and pontoon boating.  A campground offers a great location for tenting or RV stays.   So this lake is a still water get-away from more crowded places nearby.

Bruce_Staples July 5th, 2010

Beaverhead PMD hatch is ongoing with resulting great action.  Madison River stonefly hatch is moving up the river from the Ennis area.  Best fishing on the Gallatin River is above the Taylor Fork.

Bruce_Staples June 28th, 2010

Some of best fishing here is on the Beaverhead River where PMDs are coming off big time.  Clark Canyon Res. is improving for fishing midge pupa under indicators, go to water 8-20 feet deep. The Madison River from  Slide Inn to the West Fork is producing  for those using rubberlegs.  Midge pupa patterns under a strike indicator remain the best way to find action on Wade & Cliff lakes .  Look for damselflies to begin soon on Smith Lake,  the upper end of Elk Lake as well as shallows on Cliff & Wade Lakes.

Bruce_Staples June 26th, 2010

Want a good still water experience? Try Reservoir Lake north and east of Clark Canyon Reservoir.  Get out on the lake with your choice of boats or float boat and look for shallow water and weedy areas. Not a big body of water, it has a good population of brookies up to 14″ .  They take damselfly nymph patterns, midge pupa and leech patterns with abandon.   It’s a great place for action and to take an entry level person.

Bruce_Staples June 19th, 2010

Little fished Reservoir Lake north and west of Clark Canyon has been a hot spot for those fishing small leech patterns.  Cliff and Wade lake have also been good fishing. Try midge pupa under a strike indicator.

Bruce_Staples June 12th, 2010

Best fishing we’ve heard  of here  is at Clark Canyon Reservoir.  Midge pupa (pick your pattern)under an indicator on a floating line is working very well.   Find the taking depth, twitch or retrieve your tight line, oh so slowly, and hang on!

Bruce_Staples June 8th, 2010

With May rainfall averaging 135% of normal you can bet that most streams are high and discolored. Exceptions are immediate tail waters.

Bruce_Staples May 14th, 2010

General season opens this Saturday (tomorrow). We know that’s a fact because of all the Montana licenses we are selling!  Hebgen Reservoir will be ice free, Clark Canyon is fishing well. We do not have information on Wade, Cliff & Elk lakes yet.