Big news here is that trouble with head gates at Hebgen Dam has closed the door on fishing the Madison River downstream to Ennis temporarily. Flows as high as 3500 cfs rushed down the river causing minor flooding and erosion. The river will clear soon, and good fishing will return. Some gulpers are active on Hebgen Lake, and spruce moth patterns bring action on the Gallatin River and the West Fork of the Madison River
Flow out of Palisades Dam has remained constant at just above 10,000 cfs because of late demand for water by the agricultural community. Look for flows to drop later this month. Meanwhile, stick to the hoppers and other terrestrial patterns close to banks. We have a few reports of BWOs and mahogany duns and fish taking them along the river during our cooler weather this last weekend, so best include patterns for these in your fly box when weather like we just had during the second half of Labor Day happens. These will be important emergences later this month. See the patterns we recommend for these in the pane on the left. Also be sure to have streamers in your fly boxes if you will be on the river early or late in the day.
Flows have been dropping out of Island Park Reservoir making for tough fishing in Box Canyon. At Last Chance-Harriman, speckled duns and tricos are still providing some activity in the morning with terrestrials giving action during mid day. In the evening the caddis emergence provides some action. From Warm River to Ashton presenting big nymph patterns brings the best action, while below Ashton Dam action has slowed. Terrestrial patterns will be your best bet there for action.
Weather like we had the last two days is just the ticket for improved action. Cool, stormy weather will bring fish to the shorelines. Until that happens creek mouths and spring holes with your favorite small leech patterns is as good as anything for action.
Flow has decreased because of less water out of Palisades Dam, but fishing with streamers tight to undercut banks should hold up through the weekend.
The flow dropped 1500 cfs last night and this morning to 10,500 cfs. While it may slow the fishing a little it will cause the wingless golden stones to be more active which should keep the chernobyl ant patterns producing. We may start to see some blue wing olive mayflies as the weather cools as expected later this weekend. The river below Lorenzo not far above the Henry’s Fork confluence has cleared up and appears stabilized after cutting a new channel.
We sure need some cool weather to bring back fishing action along “The Fork”. Spotty conditions have prevailed, but September is the month in which we begin seeing more activity from fish. Later this month look for BWOs to bring action along the lower river. Streamers are always a good bet for Box Canyon, the Tubs, and when float fishing anywhere on the lower river.
We are beginning to cool off, so look for action to pick up in other places than creek mouths. It will take a while for fish to move in big numbers into and cruise shorelines, but we have reports of a few doing so.
Flow out of Mackay Dam is just over 300 cfs, so a good September is shaping up. You can walk-in and carefully wade now. Use midge life cycle patterns, bead head nymphs and terrestrial patterns for best results.
Spruce moth patterns are producing on the lower end of the Madison in the Park and on the upper reached of the Gallatin in the Park. Terrestrials are bringing action on all streams, and caddis swarms provide evening action. The Snake River at the South Entrance can offer great action this time of year for those offering terrestrial patterns. This is also a great place to offer humpys; they make a great horsefly imitation. The best still water action in the Park is on Beula Lake. Action on Riddle lake is bad either.