As with the Henry’s Fork drainage, there is some concern about the below normal snowfall to date this winter. The upper Madison River drainage needs more snowfall, in particular, but there is a lot more winter left to bring snow accumulation there back to normal or better.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Gulpers have begun emerging during wind free AMs on the Madison and South Fork Arms of Hebgen Lake. Activity seems to be varying day by day, but is good enough for a visit. There are several launch site along the Madison Arm Road and at Lonesomehurst campground. Consider that other lakes, such as the upper end of Quake Lake Hidden and Elk Lakes, hosting gulper activity.
The best times for fishing success on the Madison River below Quake Lake is not mid day. Try morning hours for spinner falls and upcoming mutant golden stone fly activity. Socialize, visit a good restaurant, or try the South Fork of the Madison and its PMDs being active because of colder water during mid day. Come back to the Madison River during late afternoon to enjoy long drag free float along banks to encounter trout looking for hoppers, beetles and ants and solid caddis fly activity.