Water flows are dropping everywhere, so are great variety of small streams will soon be available for great fishing. By 4th of July the choice will be overwhelming. Right now Birch, Robinson, Beaver, Medicine Lodge, Jackknife, Stump, and Tincup are producing. So are Warm, Portneuf, and Buffalo rivers. Want strategy info for these? Get in touch with us.
Things are looking up as run-off slows on many drainages. The Madison River drainage remains the best, but look for Fall River and Lewis River drainages to begin kicking in soon. The Firehole River PMD, BWO, white miller, and caddis activities bring action. Some of these are giving action on the Gibbon River. Around the 4th of July, brown drakes will begin on Duck Creek and Gibbon River. Right now weed beds in Shoshone and Lewis lakes are producing for those presenting scud, streamer, and small leech patterns on full-sink lines. Want to try attractor patterns? Try Grayling Creek and Cougar Creek. Even the Gallatin is shaping up for presenting these. Want a chance at the biggest ‘bows in the Park? Try damselfly nymphs on Trout Lake. Want more info on strategy and flies for these great places? Get in touch with us.
Chesterfield Res. is producing some great fishing. Damselfly nymphs, speckled dun life cycle patterns, and midge pupa are the top producers. Coves and bays, transitions, weedy areas are best. Don’t overlook trying backswimmer and waterboatman patterns in shallow water. All the same applies for Daniels Res. : the upper end and east shoreline are great places for action. The east shoreline early and late in the day when the wind is not blowing may just provide action that keeps you out of a boat or tube. At Hawkins Res. try the upper end where coves and submerged vegetation host a lot of the same insects. For Twenty-Four Mile Res., try creek inlets with damsefly nymphs and small leech patterns. Twin Lakes bluegills remain active.
Big news here is the gray drake emergence going on up and down the lower river. It’s happening big time. Because Fall River inflow is decreasing they are also showing up on the river below Chester! This is an evening event, so during daytime hours look for PMDs and a few golden stone adults. But expect heavy boat traffic because of the South Fork situation. But look for gray drakes to bring fish up along the lower river.
Not much change here. The reservoir is filled to capacity, but total inflow ( at least 22800 cfs counting Salt River, Grey’s River, Big Elk and Bear creek contributions) currently is about equal outflow (~22500 cfs). So look for flows out of Palisades Dam to maybe dropping sooner than later. We will keep up on this activity and pass info on right here.
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.
Our weekend rain keeps many of these higher than normal. Some, however remain fishable. These include the “ever-fishable” Birch Creek, Warm River, Buffalo River and Portneuf River (above Pebble and Dempsey creeks). For all of these PMDs, sallys, caddis and attractor patterns in sizes 12-18 will work on top. Any standard nymph including princes, hare’s ears, copper Johns, and zug bugs, with and without beads and in small and medium sizes will work underneath.
Fishing remains slow, especially near shorelines. Best thing to do is get a good supply of damselfly nymphs whether you “tie or buy”. And get that intermediate line ready. Come the end of this month and into July, the damselfly emergence will be a great chance for you to get into a fish of the year.
The lower river is the best fishing location. Green drakes are out in the afternoon, then the gray drakes take over in the evening. PMDs and caddis are abundant at these times, too. Use your favorite patterns for these. Expect much boat traffic on the lower river until the South Fork “high tide” diminishes. On the upper river the PMD emergence is the big event and there are plenty of caddis in many kinds. Green drakes have been sparse to non-existent.
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.