A temporary fix has been put on Hebgen Dam, so fishing on the Madison below is improving and will continue to do so throughout the fall season barring more problems with flows out of the dam. Walking the shoreline around Hebgen Lake and presenting streamers and wooly bugger types has been productive.
Flow out of Palisades Dam is just over 8000 cfs. This makes for more walk-in fishing as well as good float fishing conditions. Crowds are down, fall colors are spectacular, and fish are willing to take chernobyl, hopper and golden stone patterns on the surface. Golden stone rubber legs with copper john, prince or zebra nymph droppers work when they choose to take below the surface. During nice weather days BWO and mahogany dun emergences will be concentrated during late afternoon and evening hours. This also will be the time of day to enjoy caddis emergences. If you choose to fish this time of day, be sure to have streamer patterns along with a sink-tip line. As we advance into fall months streamer patterns will be increasingly effective all along the river. Get in touch with us to help you select the taking streamer patterns.
BWOs continue to provide action throughout the river. During bright days, late afternoons and evenings are best times to experience them, but when cloudy weather prevails BWOs will be out all day, so be sure to have BWO life cycle patterns in your fly box. Box Canyon provides the best nymphing on the river. Use big stonefly nymphs with a bead head copper john or other such pattern. Streamer patterns are now very important for fishing success, particularly on the lower river. Specific pattern is not as important, except that one should have some in light colors and some in dark colors. Concentrate fishing streamers on low light areas where ever you are on the river.
Fishing is really picking up here. This includes along shorelines. Intermediate lines are the ticket, whether you are on the shoreline or in a boat. Taking patterns include your favorite leech pattern, halloweens, mity mouse, Henry’s Lake renegade, Henry’s Lake nymph, Carey specials, etc. Look for fishing to be best during periods of the famed Henry’s Lake weather!
Midge and BWO life cycle patterns are providing great action on the river below Mackay Dam. Wading gets you to nearly all of the river. Get out and enjoy this great little river before cold weather sets in.
Flow out of Hebgen Lake Dam dropped to over 1150 cfs giving a small break to the high flows that the Madison has been experiencing. These flows are continuing to drop fairly steady everyday as they are trying to fix the dam. Call the shop for updated flows.
Flows out of the South Fork have dropped to 8500 CFS. Don’t let this drop in water scare you from fishing the South Fork. With the drop in flows look to see the Mutant Stone flies to begin hatching again. Fish chernobyl ants into the bank and riffles, and give them a little twitch. Also look for fish eating mayflies. Mahogany Duns and Blue Wing Olives will be hatching as well. Overcast days will help bring those hatches along. As we get into the fall season it is time to start beefing up your streamer selection, the fish have started to key in on them. We have a great variety of streamers here at the shop. Come on in and we will be happy to help you stock up on your fly selection. This is a good time to fish, and go camping on the river. Small crowds and great fishing!
The whole river is starting to have really good Blue Wing Olive hatches. The Box Canyon is nymphing really good and large fish are being caught on rubberlegs, with mayfly nymphs. This is also the time of year you will want to have some streamers in your fly box. As the weather gets colder and we get closer to winter those trout will want to beef up for winter. The Henry’s Fork is also experiencing small crowds. Great time of the year to hook a big rainbow or a Henry’s brown!
We are getting good reports from Chesterfield Res. where action is picking up for those fish in medium sizes. A few “hogs” are being taken. Use intermediate lines and your favorite leech or damselfly nymph patterns. Daniels Reservoir remains its consistent self with leech, damselfly nymph and midge pupa patterns producing well on the upper end and west side bay. Springfield will improve as weeds disperse, but is producing for those using midge pupa patterns under indicators. Trude and Grizzly springs remain the places to fish on Island Park Reservoir, and blood worm patterns are the ones to use.
Action will begin to slow on higher elevation small waters as we get into frosty nights. Nevertheless, small streams holding brown trout will be great destinations regardless of elevation. This includes such as Robinson Creek, Salt River tribs, Hebgen Lake tribs and the lower Portneuf River. Rely on streamer and wooly bugger patterns for these fish, and bring ALL your stealth skills. Also remember that Warm River below the tunnel closes to fishing on September 30 to protect spawning Henry’s Fork browns.