Top

South Western Montana

Jimmy's All Seasons Angler / South Western Montana

South West Montana, November 11th, 2023

The Madison River downstream from Reynolds Junction offers good fishing that should continue until cold weather arrives. Nymphing and presenting streamers are effective for action. Daytime hours are best, so begin fishing around noon.

It is best to fish the river between Quake and Hebgen Lakes at the lower end. This minimizes interfering with spawning brown trout concentrating at the upper end. Streamer fishing is the name of the game, and you will plenty of company doing so.

Share

Southwest Montana, October 14th, 2023

From Quake Lake on upstream it is ” brown trout time” with streamers running deep being the name of the game in any moving water. Bad weather will offer the best results when pitching streamers. Below Quake lake, in the wading only part of the river, Caddis and small BWO life cycle patterns make for action. Rubber leg and streamer patterns are also effective especially early and late in the day.

Share

Southwestern Montana, October 3rd, 2023

Let’s give Beaverhead and Big Hole browns a break for the rest of the year

It is a fact that the brown trout population in the Beaverhead and Big Hole Rivers has been in decline recently. Reasons for these unhappy circumstances is being studied by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) personnel. For the remainder of this year the Beaverhead is closed by FWP to fishing from Clark Canyon Dam down to Pipe Organ to minimize interference with the brown trout spawning run. The River below remains open. For the same reason the lower Big Hole River is also closed by FWP while the river above remains open to fishing.

Share

Southwest Montana, September 26th, 2023

The Madison River is in good fishing shape anywhere. Most attending fly fishers are on the stretch between Hebgen and Quake Lakes. That is because of easy access and brown trout moving in from Quake Lake. From the US Highway 191 bridge down to the Madison Arm of Hebgen is becoming crowded because of brown and rainbow trout migrating up the river into Yellowstone Park. That part of the river attracts spinning rods anglers and under specific conditions a single trout bag limit applies. Below Quake Lake terrestrial insects and left over caddis provide top water action during mid day hours after warming occurs. Those activities will diminish as unsettled weather is forecast for the upcoming weekend. During that period, BWO life cycle and streamer patterns will become better choices to occupy that fly box.

Share

Southwest Montana, September 2nd, 2023

The gulper hatch and subsequent trout activity has been down compared to that in past years, but a few speckled duns are active on Hebgen Reservoir’s Madison Arm. But you have to search a bit to find where. Flying ants are becoming somewhat numerous and spruce moths have declined on the Madison and Gallatin rivers. With a stormy weekend in the works, it will be time to try streamer patterns just about everywhere. Lake trout will soon become active in Elk Lake, so if you venture there have big streamer patterns and a fast sinking line. In Centennial Valley creeks, cutthroat trout and grayling will begin moving back into the Red Rock Lakes as fall begins it approach.

Share

Southwest Montana, August 29th, 2023

Elk Lake from Hidden Lake Road

Spruce fly numbers are beginning to diminish, but fly ants are making an appearance on both the Madison and Gallatin Rivers. As with so many other streams, hopper dropper combinations are working on both rivers. Above Hebgen Reservoir, an important fly fishing event is beginning; the migration of brown and rainbow trout from Hebgen Lake into the Yellowstone Park portion of the Madison River. True, numbers are small, but are increasing. So what is worth considering is that the number of streamer pitching enthusiasts is also small compared what will be encountered in October!

Elsewhere, lake trout in Elk Lake will be moving into shallower waters having rocky substrate to spawn. Streamer patterns presented on full sink lines will give the best chances to encounter them.

Share

Southwest Montana, August 15th, 2023

Spruce moths are beginning to show up in good numbers on the Gallatin River and soon will do the the same on forested sections of the Madison River. There are specific patterns for these insects, but any simulating a caddis fly ( elk hair caddis, X caddis, etc) work just as well. If you prefer fishing smaller, less crowded steams, check out the West Fork of the Madison River to see if these insects are active. Anywhere you find spruce moths present trout love them as a food form.

Share

Southwest Montana, August 12th, 2023

Tricorythodes (trico) may fly

Speckled dun activity has been spotty so far on Hebgen Lake, but AM trico activity provides good fishing during wind-free days. Below Quake Lake, good top water fishing can be had with traditional attractor ( goofus bug, renegade, P-chute Adams, Wulff series) patterns and hopper-dropper combinations. During rainy periods switch to nymph patterns. Terrestrial insect patterns work best on the Gallatin River. Accept that the closer you approach the Big Sky community, the more anglers you will encounter. Thus fishing this river in the Park upstream from the highway will diminish your angling company.

Share