Bozeman/Butte Recreation Report by Bob Ward & Sons – 3.7.14
By angelamontana

Posted: March 7, 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 permits.

March 15th 2013 Wolf hunting season closes.

Bozeman Fishing:

If you missed your chance for a Smith River permit 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 license provider.

The Yellowstone River has the poorest fishing right now nymphing and keep to the slow deep waters. Upper Madison is better, again stick to the slow waters and use egg patterns they seem to be the ticket. If you want to get out and have some action, go to the Gallatin and Lower Madison Rivers be sure to check the water conditions, if the river slushes up it won’t be much fun but if the water is clear of ice and moving it is the best fishing around. Target the slower waters with nymphs such as stone flies, baetis nymphs and egg patterns. The flies that are best used will vary from one area to another. 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 then dropping a smaller nymph off of it. Some good combos; 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 pink and orange.

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

Butte Fishing:

Ice fishing activity in Southwest Montana has stepped up again with the recent cold snap. Ice conditions are good an most reservoirs.

Clark Canyon has been fair for trout few ling still taking bait. With the warm weather coming good idea to take advantage of the ice from the cold spell we have had up to now, also the south side has been looking promising.

Georgetown still slow for salmon. However, rainbow and brook trout are taking vertical jigs and glo hooks with maggot combinations.

No recent report on the Ruby reservoir. The key to a successful day anywhere is to locate the fish and the depth at which they are biting.

(Report by Ryan Corwin-Bob Ward & Sons www.bobwards.com)

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