Bozeman/Butte Recreation Report by Bob Ward & Sons-1.24.14
By angelamontana

Posted: January 24, 2014

Hunting:

Don’t forget that the license year for Montana ends February 28th. So, your fishing, mountain lion, wolf, and trapping tags are all still good to go. MT FWP has not yet made the new license year license available yet but we will let you know when.

Reminder: Don’t forget to check for quota fills/closures in your hunting districts.

Bozeman Fishing:

The Gallatin is producing the best fishing with its clear and lower waters the fish have been more active. Definitely stick to the slower deeper waters to increase your opportunity. The Yellowstone has had a lot of ice which is preventing anglers from getting to the fish. The Upper Madison has been very windy with the warmer weather, if the wind dies down there has been better success. The Lower Madison has been fantastic if the weather is warmer otherwise the slush makes it all but impossible to land anything.

Nymph fishing is still your best bet. Focus on using larger patterns and use smaller midges and nymphs as a dropper. Focus on using Pats stones, Red spot shrimp, bh rainbow Czech nymph, copper bob greens, pheasant tail flashbacks, bh purple prince flashback, and hot head ray charles pink.

Hyalite-Hit it in the late afternoon or evening, the fishing has been dramatically better at those times than earlier in the day. It is best to have your jig and bait a few cranks up from the bottom. Use maggots and powerbaits with glow in the dark jigs.

Bozeman Pond-Don’t forget this is considered a park and closes at 10pm; fishing has been good any time. Use pink and chartreuse colored tear drop jigs with maggots or crawlers

Butte Fishing:

Ice conditions were reportedly good this week despite warming temperatures. The Stan Shafer Memorial Derby at Clark Canyon scheduled for Jan. 25th has been cancelled due to failing ice conditions.

Fishing on the Ruby Reservoir was productive this past week for local fisherman. Night crawlers with marshmallows reportedly were drawing the trout successfully. Rainbow Trout Kastmaster were being sought by many locals heading to the Ruby, however thy have been in short supply.

Georgetown Reservoir has been steady all month for Ice anglers. Trout and salmon both have been in plentiful supply. Chartreuse maggots and glo hooks continue to draw the days catch, however, Berkeley Powerbait and scents are working for many anglers as well.

Delmo Reservoir continues to draw anglers this week. Catches have been reportedly good for cutthroat trout early in the in the morning and tapering off toward noon. Nightcrawlers with orange marshmallows are the bait of choice.

Clark Canyon is hit and miss as usual, however, anglers are catching fat rainbow trout and browns throughout the early morning and early evening periods. Maggots, nightcrawlers, vertical jigs are reportedly all producing fish. Getting into the feeding lanes and zones has been the daily challenge.

Many anglers out for a good day of fly fishing have been hitting the Clarks Fork River above Warm Springs with bead head nymphs. The Big Hole river above Jerry Creek has been good as of late as well.

(Report by Ryan Corwin-Bob Ward & Sons)

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