Lots of Dry Fly Fishing on The Madison in the Butte and Bozeman Area Outdoor Report
By Matt Schauer

Posted: May 26, 2012

Hi, it’s ANGIE from Bob Ward & Sons…it’s Memorial Day Weekend, so of course it MUST RAIN!

As for your favorite waters near BUTTE, we’re finally getting some solid reports regarding conditions at GEORGETOWN LAKE…Leech Patterns are working very well for the Fly Angler, & for spin fishing, the Red/White Kamloops Spoons with Gold have been STRONG! Hammered Brass or Copper are also excellent choices up on this beautiful mountain lake. Get out the Salmonfly Nymphs or Red San Juans on the BIG HOLE, and stick sub-surface for now…the action on the JEFFERSON has been at Silverstar, Waterloo or East of Whitehall, & the fish like Gold Rapallas, Nightcrawlers or Flatfish best…Trout are responding to Girdle Bugs, Goldenstones & Beadheads on the BEAVERHEAD RIVER, while the spincasters are sticking to below the Spillway near CLARK CANYON and using spawn sacs or Crawlers. Mayflies are out & about on all the rivers, but not in the bigger hatches we will see, thanks to the cooler weather…we’ve got probably a good week before they come along in force!

Over here BOZEMAN way, the chill has kept the Caddis from hatching hugely just yet…still, the GALLATIN is looking better than it has been, thanks to the cool nights, so fish San Juans, Rubberlegs & Stones here just sub-surface…The MADISON, both UPPER & LOWER, have been on positive FIRE for the last week or so. Above Palisades on the UPPER has been great, and you can even go lower when the weather’s like it is now, the clarity should be fine…fish your Caddis or Lightning Bugs in sz 16! Just beware the winds, which can get unbearable at times. LOWER MADDY has possibly the best Dry Fly activity around with Baetis, March Browns & Caddis all active, or you can Nymph with Crayfish, Egghead Stones or Pheasant Tails! Get on up to HYALITE RESERVOIR this weekend, or hit HYALITE CREEK just about anywhere on the drive up…Leeches and Crawlers are great, or get out your smaller Streamers (we like a Brown Bugger or a Copper Zonker in a 6 to 8 up here) for the best results!

Take a short break off the water & shop the Bob Wards annual Memorial Day Sale this weekend…we’re open Monday 9 to 6 PM in Bozeman—for your convenience! We’ve got plenty of specials on summer gear, & as always, the latest and greatest fishing info for our sporting friends! Have a safe and successfully adventurous Memorial Weekend, folks! I’m back next week with more!

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Riley's Meats - Butte Wild Game Processing