South Western Montana 7-13-09
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”.
July 2009
Still Water 7-13-09
Damselflies, nymphs and adults, is the big happening on all of these: Chesterfield, Daniels, Hawkins, Springfield, Twenty-Four Mile. This means try the shallower waters and around submerged vegetation: use floating lines for adults and either floating or intermediate lines for nymphs, all in your favorite patterns. Even holds true on Twin Lakes where warm water types are most numerous. Want to try a different still water? Pack your float tube into Aldous Lake above Kilgore to enjoy the damselflies there. Or drive to Paul Reservoir off Interstate 15 for more of the same.
Henry’s Lake 7-13-09
Damselfly nymphs are swimming, but we have only spotty success reports so far. Things will kick into high gear soon.
Small Streams 7-13-09
Nearly all are in great fishing shape now. There are so many that it is tough to relate all here! Want easy and fast fishing? Go to such as Birch, Bitch, Beaver, Pine, Sawmill, Tincup, Jackknife, Stump, and Robinson creeks or upper Warm River. Want more challenging small stream fishing? Try the upper Blackfoot, the middle and lower Portneuf River, Bufflao River, the Teton River in the Basin, the Teton between the dam site and Hog Hollow. Get in touch with us for info on fishing all of these. We also have the flies and gear needed for these great but mostly overlooked waters.
Henry’s Fork 7-13-09
Flavs, smaller PMDs, evening caddis blooms and diminishing brown drakes are the fare on the upper river. On the lower river we are beginning to leave the early season mayfly emergence peak. Gray drakes are present but diminishing. PMDs are present in good numbers, but their size is decreasing. So go to #18’s-22’s of your favorite dry, emerger, cripple and spinner patterns. Evening caddis emergences remain strong here. Beetle and ant patterns are always good around overhead cover and along banks. We are not far from the days when hoppers will be a major food form for trou up and down the river.
Yellowstone Park 7-13-09
The Firehole is warming to the point that larger fish are seeking cooler waters in spring fed tribs. These streams are now refuges. So we leave them alone. When the river cools later in the season fish return to take advantage of its better living conditions. Other waters are really shaping up in the Park. The Madison River drainage is in great shape with PMDs & caddis giving evening action. PMD spinner falls makes mornings worthy a visit to the river and to tribs such as the Gibbon’s meadow reaches, Duck Creek and Cougar Creek. The Gallatin River now offers a great chance to try traditional terrestrial patterns such as the Wulff series, goofus bug variations, renegades and adams variations as well as your favorite caddis and sally patterns. Fall River Basin streams have dropped very quickly to close to base levels. Big stoneflies are moving through these, and PMDs, green drakes and brown drakes are hatching. If you have never fished Beula Lake at the head of Fall River Basin, you are missing some of the fastest fishing in the region. Get in touch with us for details on how to.
South Fork 7-13-09
Big bugs are up as high as Irwin, and with flow out of Palisades down to 13000 cfs the river in Swan Valley is in great shape for fishing. Bring your favorite dry giant and golden stonefly patterns! The river is slightly discolored but this does not impact fishing. Give a bit more time, and it will clear. PMDs are out along the upper river, and with flows dropping more gravel bars are becoming available. Big news for the lower river is that it is very tough to take out from the Twin Bridges site because the south channel is small and difficult to see as well as shallow enough to require pulling a drift boat through. The river has formed a berm near the top of that channel. But enough water comes up below this berm to allow launching from the Twin Bridges. On the lower river try such such as rubberlegs and super-x’s. The best action here can be had in and around springs that enter the river. Try midge pupa under an indicator or PMD life cycle patterns.
A rod inside a rod case has been found on the South Fork. To identify & claim it, call 589-0385
South Fork 7-11-09
The flow is down another 1000 to 14,600cfs and the water is clearing nicely. About every type of summer bug is out including the big stones, golden stones, yellow sallies, Pale morning duns, and caddis. There are also a good number of Clackacrafts, Hydes, Alumiwelds and other assorted crafts floated down the river along with the bugs. Its a little cozy up there but the good fishing makes up for the crowds.
The big stones are in Swan Valley but I would still use them through the canyon for a week or more. We get asked where the big stones are countless times a day but I think most fish are caught on the smaller stones and sallies.
The good thing about a high and cool water year like we have is that the hatches will be consistent all summer. No slow down in late July and through August because of warm water temps.
We have been fishing Super-X’s and rubber leg nymphs in the mornings and evenings.
Still Waters 7-10-09
Big news here is the damselfly emergence. It’s going on from all our reservoirs, late as it is. Chesterfield, Daniels, Hawkins, Springfield, Twin Lakes and Twenty-four Mile reservoirs all feature this event that makes for a great chance for a fish of the year. Look to fish the coves, submerged weed beds and shallows. Your favorite pattern on an intermediate line will do nicely. Midging is still effective on some of these including Springfield, but when fish begin sipping dry damselflies, most everyone changes over to fishing the surface.
South Western Montana 7-10-09
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.