Bozeman and Butte Recreation Report by Bob Ward & Sons (2.21.14)
By angelamontana

Posted: February 21, 2014

Hunting:

Mark your calendars. The elk and deer special permits are due March 15th.

We have the forms and abridged regulations for the March 15th drawing for the deer and elk special permits.

Or go to fwp.mt.gov

Bozmen Fishing:

If you missed your chance at a Smith River application you can purchase a Super Permit Lottery through March 20th for another opportunity. Each lottery ticket is $5 and can be purchased at any FWP office or Bob Ward’s.

The Yellowstone River has the poorest fishing right now with the Upper Madison a bit better. If you want to see some action, go to the Gallatin and Lower Madison Rivers. Target the slower waters with nymphs like stone flies, baetis nymphs, and egg patterns. The prime flies vary from one area to the next. You can try some streamers and flies but the best option is going to be nymph fishing. Definitely try a larger pattern on top and drop a smaller nymph off it. Some good combos are stonefly patterns with a smaller baetis dropper, crayfish or sculpin with a bh prince nymph, egg pattern, or pheasant tail dropper.

Hyalite- two inch flasher jig with a 3 inch tear dropper jig with worms. Best colors to use are pink and orange.

Bozeman Pond-flipper tear drop jig tipped with maggots in chartreuse.

Butte Fishing:

Colder weather and snow has improved ice conditions over last week. If the cold front continues we may see more action on the ice, but an unseasonably warm winter has led to premature meltoff in many locations slowing fishing.

Glo hooks and maggots are still the ticket at Georgetown

Wooly buggers have been used with some success on the Big Hole.

In general ice fishing action is slowing down and folks are gearing up for fly season and tying their arsenal in hopes of the big one.

(Report by Ryan Corwin-Bob Ward & Sons)

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