All posts in South Western Montana

It’s the time of year when action picks up in Elk, Cliff, Hidden and Wade lakes. Gulpers are still active in shallow waters, and big streamers on ultra fast sinking lines might bring a fish of the season from deeper waters.   Clark Canyon offers streamer action in deeper waters and repsonses to midge pupa patterns under an indicator in shallows.  The Beaverhead River is a bit spotty.  Some gulpers remain active in Hebgen and Quake lakes.  Streamer fishing is picking up on the Madison River from Slide Inn to Ennis.…

Gulpers are diminishing in general, and so are spruce moths.  Its time to start thinking streamers as browns will be active especially during evenings and early mornings.  Look for action to pick up on lakes hosting browns. This means Hebgen Res., Quake Lake, Ennis Lake, Wade Lake, Smith Lake, and Clark Canyon Res.…

Gulpers are beginning to wind down. spruce moths still provide some good dry fly fishing.   Crowds are beginning to thin out, and streamer patterns are becoming more effective.…

Spruce moth, ant, and hopper patterns bring best daytime action on the upper Madison River.   The same goes for the Gallatin River and the West Fork of the Madison River. Gulpers are still active but past their peak on Hebgen Lake.  Dry fly fishing on the Beaverhead River is terrific with spruce moths, craneflies, caddisflies, various mayflies, and terrestrials all attracting trout. All you need to do is find which fish are taking at a given time.…

Hopper and ant action on most streams goes on.   As we cool off and gulper action and that from spruce moths begins to decrease, begin thinking BWOs and streamers.…

Spruce moths are providing action on many streams, and gulpers are still going good on area lakes.…

Gulpers are going great guns on Hebgen, Ennis and Quake lakes.  The Madison River below Slide Inn on down to Ennis is in a great fishing mood.   On such as the Gallatin and Madison River drainages it is time to include spruce moth patterns in your fly boxes.…

Big news here is that Hebgen Lake gulpers are very active. This means getitng out on the lake and fishing mornings to near mid day and praying for wind to hold off.   Fishing on the Madison River (see our last few reports for details) is holding up and so is that on the Beaverhead.…

Spruce moths are now the big addition to trout diets. This holds true on the Madison, Gallatin, Ruby, and Beaverhead drainages.  Tricos are coming on everywhere, too.  On the Madison River just about any type of fly for trout will bring action. Gulpers have been slow to get started, but should pick up any time.…

The Madison River from the Slide Inn area downstream is at its best.  The river between Quake and Hebgen lakes is good, too. But it is much more crowded than below.  On both caddis, PMD life cycle patterms, small nymphs, cranefly patterns, streamers and big nymphs have their time of day.  Hebgen, Quake and Ennis lake gulpers are sparse so far.…