Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has extended hoot owl restrictions on the Madison River to include the section from the Yellowstone Park boundary downstream to Hebgen Lake. Centennial Valley streams are at flows below base level. Deep, cool Elk and Hidden lake offer good fishing for westslope cutts (Elk Lake) and rainbow trout (Hidden Lake). A few gulpers are appearing on Hebgen’s Madison Arm.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks began Hoot Owl Regulations last Thursday on several streams. These are closed to fishing from 2:00 PM to Midnight each day until lifted. Many are in the Madison River drainage. Lakes are omitted from Hoot Owl regulations. This is because they have cool water at depth. Hidden Lake is a good example. It is north of Elk Lake and a four wheel drive vehicle is needed to reach it, then a half mile walk. Flotation devices are ideal to fish for its rainbows ranging to trophy size.
If you plan to fish Centennial Valley streams which are small, begin quite early in the day. This is because heavy daytime fishing traffic along them puts fish down until late evening.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks began Hoot Owl Regulations Thursday on several streams. These are closed to fishing from 2:00 PM to Midnight each day until lifted. You can see the lists of streams to which this applies on FWP.MT.gov.
Top water fishing is advancing up the Madison River with AM PMD spinner falls, daytime stoneflies and evening caddis hatches providing action. Green drakes are appearing on the Gallatin River and its stonefly hatch into Park water which offer good top water fishing because thundershowers along the Taylor Fork discolor the river below the Park boundary. Best technique for wind blown Hebgen Lake are leech patterns and damsel fly nymph patterns. Early and late in the day offer best fishing times.
Anglers are seeing success on patterns such as, Harrop’s CDC Parachute Spinner-PMD, Stealth Link Mercer-Green Drake, and the Palomino Caddis-Tan.
Top water fishing is advancing up the Madison River, and the impact is the same as is happening on the South Fork of the Snake River. Crowds are arriving to enjoy the river in any way. There are some places that offer solitude and good fishing. Smith Lake is one. It is three miles up the West fork of the Madison Road and can be fished form shore or a carried in flotation device. It hosts brown trout up to trophy size. Because of weed growth, it is best fished by suspending such as a damselfly nymph or scud pattern under an indicator. Good Luck!
A few big stoneflies are appearing on the lower Madison River and caddis flies are plentiful throughout. Other than some BWOs, no big mayfly activity yet. Fish Hebgen Lake early in the day for best results. Try rubber leg, streamer and damsel fly nymph patterns presented on intermediate lines. Fishing season has opened on Red Rock Lakes Wildlife Management Area. Streams are running in normal flows. Elk Lake is worth visiting. West slope cutts (“westies”) are active and beautiful. There is always the chance of tying into a lake trout here if you use a full sink line to present streamer patterns into deep water.
Some off color in the river between Hebgen and Quake Lakes. Below Quake Lake fish in no boating area fish seem to hold close to banks. So long casts and slow retrieves parallel to banks with nymph or streamer patterns offered by walking the banks instead of wading offers a good strategy through presenting nymph and streamer patterns. Try the good midge actviity on Hebgen Lake early or late in the day as wind makes it difficult to use dropper rigs. During windy periods try leech and streamer patterns using intermediate lines.
General Fishing season opened last Saturday. Go to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks web site to obtain a fishing license. Fishing is slow on Hebgen Lake. Try streamer patterns along the South Fork Arm.. The Madison River is colored up from Hebgen Dam on downstream.
The Madison River is beginning its annual spring fishing season as spring weather is setting in without significant run-off to date.
During AMs, try rubberlegs patterns followed by such as a small Zebra Midge or try a pink San Juan worm. By afternoon keep a look out for fish working the softer water for emerging midges or BWOs. BWO life cycle patterns and Griffiths Gnat patterns should fool rising trout for upcoming days especially those that are wind free.
Purchasing Montana 2024 fishing licenses is now available on line. Go to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) web site. Click on “buy and apply.”