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.