The big stoneflies are in the 3Dollar Bridge- Slide area of the Madison River, with some showing up between Hebgen and Quake Lake. A lot of anglers are showing up between the lakes, too. Some speckled duns are showing up on Hebgen Lake, so the gulper season is not far away.
Big news here is Madison River big stonefly hatch. They are up the river as far as between Hebgen and Quake lakes. So is the “fly-fisher hatch”!.
Big event here is the Madison River stonefly hatch. It is on the river between Hebgen and Quake lakes. But so is the “fly-fisher hatch”.
Big event here is the giant/golden stonefly event on the Madison River. They are into the “wade only” section and moving upstream. Yellow Sallies, PMDs and caddis also provide action up and down the river. We also hear that there are a few flavs coming out. If you want crowded fishing try the river between Hebgen and Quake lakes. The stonefly adults will be flying there soon and will bring in even more anglers. Midging continues to be the best tehnique for taking fish on Hebgen Lake. All you need to do is find the taking depth. Some of the smaller streams are really shaping up. This includes Grayling Creek north of West Yellowstone where the fish run to surprising sizes. Any dry attractor pattern will do the trick there.
The Madison River stonefly hatch is going in the middle reaches of the river. And the number of anglers is approaching the number of stoneflies. It’s a great event, but if you want to get away from the crowds, try the damselfly emergence on Wade Lake, Cliff Lake or Smith Lake or try midging on Hebgen Res. Want to try a great small stream? Drive a few miles up the West Fork of the Madison River with your light weight rod. You will encounter more fish than anglers. Any attractor, caddisor yellow sally pattern will do the trick!
Madison River giant & golden stonefly hatch is above the Varney Bridge. Evening caddis & PMDs action around Raynolds Bridge is worth sampling. If you enjoy good but crowded fishing try the River between Hebgen Dam and Cabin Creek. Use big nymphs. The Gallatin is improving and should provide good fishing thanks to caddis & PMDs in about a week. Midging is the way to find action on Hebgen Lake. Look for damselfly nymphs to provide action from cutts on Elk Lake.
The Madison river below Slide Inn is the star of the show here. Lots’a things going on with emergences. Mayflies, caddisflies and even a few stoneflies are beginning to show up. Even the lowly San Juan worm remains effective. So are big nymphs drifted along bottom. Big Hebgen Lake midges provide action along the north shore. Run-off is subsiding on the Gallatin and the creeks coming into the Madison between Hebgen and Quake lakes.
The Madison River below Slide Inn is shaping up nicely. Mayflies including PMDs and BWOs and PM caddis blooms are getting attention from fish. Big stonefly nymphs and San Juan worm patterns remain the best way to encounter the biggest fish. Hebgen Lake features an emergence of large midges along the north shoreline. along the southern parts of the lake smal leech and streamer patterns seem to bring best action. Further west the Beaverhead River is in great shape and features a good PMD emergence.
The cool rainy weather is helping make the mayfly emergences on the Madison below Quake Lake live up to its name. PMDs and BWOs are leading the way here. The north shore of Hebgen is the place to go if you enjoy presenting midge pupa at taking depths. Along the Hebgen south shore small leech and damselfly nymphs continue to produse and will until weeds interfere. The upper end of Elk Lake is a great remote water experience with small leech, midge pupa, and damselfly nymphs attracting the big resident cutthroat. Yellow sallys and PMDs are attracting very nice fish on the Beaverhead River.
Hebgen Lake is filling and fishing there has leveled off. Midge pupa patterns under an indicator is the best way to find action. A few fish are taken on streamer patterns. The South Fork of the Madison is running high and clear, and fishing is slow. The Madison River between Hebgen Dam and Cabin Creek is fishing well for nymphers, but has a big population of anglers. The Madison River below Quake Lake is improving with respect to conditions. For now try San Juan worms, and big stone fly nymph patterns. The Gallatin below the Taylor’s Fork confluence is high and discolored.