South Western Montana

Southwest Montana, July 26th, 2023

Hebgen Lake gulpers have yet to get going big time. Madison Arm is the favored location and there are convenient launch sites along its south shore. Other lakes will have these in some intensity. Some include the south end of Elk Lake, east section shallows of Quake Lake and isolated bays of Wade Lake’s west side. We have been “blessed” with windy PMs all over the region, and this will put gulpers down as soon as it begins.

Widow’s Pool on Picnic Creek , Centennial Valley

The Madison River still provides some good top water fishing below Quake Lake with caddis, Sallys, PMDs and a few golden stoneflies around. Terrestrial insects are beginning to be important here and on such as the Gallatin River. Early AMs and evenings are the best times to fish as daytime water temps are high enough to slow fish activity, and mid-day offers much reduced overhead cover. Centennial Valley creeks are in good shape but are getting hammered by visiting anglers. Nothing puts fish down on small waters as much as bank-side traffic which sends not usual vibrations into the water.

Southwest Montana, July 15th, 2023

Elk Lake

The big news here is the advance of big stone flies up the Madison River. But for the still water fly fisher there are a couple of lakes offering some good fishing. These are Elk and Hidden Lakes just north of Centennial Valley.

Elk Lake is the easiest to approach ( From Red Rock Pass travel the road to where the South Valley and Elk Lake Roads diverge). Follow Elk Lake Road to the lower part of the the lake where a public boat launch and the Elk Lake resort are situated. Damsel fly and speckled dun activity will provide good top water action along shorelines holding submerged vegetation. West Slope cutthroat inhabit these areas. Fish deep water with a full sink line and stout leader to offer streamers to lake trout ranging up to twenty pounds.

Hidden Lake is tougher to approach. A four wheel drive road leaves the resort and ends about a quarter mile from the lake. Packing a flotation device to the lake is practical, but the best way o fish is to rent a boat from the resort. For a rental fee the resort provides oars and a key to unlock a boat at their livery on the lake. Damsel flies and speckled duns can provide top water action from resident rainbow trout ranging well into to trophy sizes. If these events are not ongoing, slow trolling of leech, nymph, and streamer patterns on intermediate lines ill attract the rainbows.

You will not encounter recreational floaters on either lake, and a forgotten camera would be almost tragic.

Southwest Montana, June 27th, 2023

Elk Lake

The Madison River below Cabin Creek can be discolored from time to time, but streamer, big stonefly nymph and rubber leg patterns will produce action. Top water fishing is quite slow here. Hebgen Lake is also spotty with some action from midge pupa patterns under an indicator in shallow water. Centennial Valley streams are running high and cold because of run-off. Elk Lake offers good fishing for west slope cutthroat in shallow water through using leech and streamer patterns. No word yet on the road to the upper end being open, but fishing on the lake around Elk Lake Resort is good.

Southwest Montana, June 20th, 2023

Madison River between Hebgen Dam and Quake Lake can be fished but is low and discolored as the lake above is being filled. Streamer fishing brings some success here and in the lake above. Run-off from incoming creeks depends on weather with rain sure to bring in more discolor through increased run-off.

Centennial Valley streams are high with run-off. The road into Elk Lake and the resort is open and fishing is picking up for those using streamer and woolly bugger patterns along shorelines. Fish these deep, and you may tie into a resident lake trout.

Now is the time to fish Wade Lake before recreational boating gets going big time. Slow trolling streamer patterns close to shorelines can be productive until damsel flies and speckled duns emerge in numbers good enough to attract trout.

Southwest Montana, May 20th, 2023

Montana general fishing season opens today. Expect streams to be high and discolored with run-off. Hebgen Lake is ice free but discolored in places with run-off from tributaries. If you are a nonresident of Montana, go to the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks website and follow the fishing prompts to obtain a license.

Southwestern Montana, September 10th, 2022

Some gulpers remain active on the Madison Arm and along west shoreline bays of Hebgen Lake. Presenting terrestrial insect patterns remains “the name of the game” on the Madison River and the same for the Gallatin River. A few Hebgen Lake browns and rainbows are moving up into the Madison River making streamer fishing effective. Now is a good time to try for these fish because as their numbers increase, so will the same for of anglers trying for them.

Southwestern Montana, September 3rd, 2022

Gulpers are still chasing speckled dun and tricos in the Madison Arm and along the south shore of Hebgen Lake during AMs. Consider that other lakes in this part of Montana also have gulper action this time of the season.

As with so many steams this time of year, terrestrial insect patterns are best bets for action on the Gallatin and Madison Rivers. Include spruce moth patterns in that fly box..

Southwest Montana, August 20th, 2022

Since the end of July Hoot Owl restrictions ( no fishing from 2 AM to Midnight) have applied to several streams nearby. These include;

Big Hole, Bitterroot, Gallatin, Jefferson, Madison, Ruby and Yellowstone Rivers. See the full list of restricted streams and details on the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park web site’s section on fishing restrictions.

Hebgen Lake’s Madison Arm is the place to be during wind-free periods which bring good gulper action. Gulpers can be found on other nearby lakes under these conditions.

Southwest Montana, August 6th, 2022

Big news here is that gulper activity is improving during wind-free mornings and evenings on Hebgen Lake. The Madison Arm is the best location for this activity but smaller sheltered bays around the lake also have this activity. You will also find gulper action on Cliff, Elk, Quake, and Wade Lakes.

Use terrestrial insect patterns for best results when fishing the Madison River below Quake Lake.

Southwestern Montana, July 16th, 2022

The big stone flies have come and gone on the Madison River below Hebgen Lake. Caddis, PMDs, yellow sallys and a few golden stones provide top water fare for trout there. Morning spinner falls are producing some good fishing and terrestrial insect populations are beginning to flourish along the river the further one ventures downstream. A few speckled duns are making an appearance on Hebgen Lake, with their emergence peak being a few weeks in the future.. We have a bit of info that says that the Gallatin River has shaped up with PM caddis flies providing good action. The big stone flies are hatching just below its Yellowstone Park waters.