Southwest Montana, September 7th, 2024

As the day warms up, ant and hopper patterns are best bets for action on the Madison River. Speckled dun activity on Hebgen Lake is winding down, but tricos remain active during mornings. During evenings, try presenting streamer patterns along the upper portions of the Hebgen’s Madison Arm. Browns and rainbows are staging there to begin their fall run into the river drainage in Yellowstone Park.

Grayling, the prized salmonid in Centennial Valley streams (see above photo), is heading down to the lakes as base level flows, shorter day times, and cooler air and waters signal it to do so.