Bozeman/Butte Recreation Report by Bob Ward & Sons (4.11.14)
By angelamontana

Posted: April 11, 2014

Hunting:  

  • Spring Turkey Season opens April 12th
  • Spring Black Bear opens April 15th
  • Don’t forget to take your bear ID test in order to get your black bear tags.
  • Moose/Sheep/Goat special permits are due Thursday May 1st.  Grab the new regulations and look them over closely. There are lots of changes this year.

Bozeman Fishing:

Upper Madison-is hit and miss.  Definitely use nymphs but on warmer days don’t be afraid to throw some dries, smaller sized stone flies and midges.

Lower Madison-has has some fantastic fishing; using smaller sized black stone flies and midges.  When the weather snaps to a warmer day there have been some early hatches seen.  Best fishing is going to be towards the middle of the day when the temps are warmer.

Gallatin-has also been fishing well using baetis flies.  Nymphing is still providing the best results using egg patterns and san juan worms.  Stick to the slower deeper waters

Yellowstone-has been improving on the nicer weather days.  For the fly fishers use small streamers and play the slower, deeper waters or try dead drifting some woolly buggers.  IF you are a spin cast fisher the smaller sized brown trout original rapala lure has been doing wonders for bringing in some nice sized browns.

Don’t forget that May 17th is when all the closed for the winter water ways open up.

The 2014 Annual Fishing Newsletter is available at fwp.mt.gov. Inside you’ll find lots of information regarding what’s going around the state, how to preserve a fish that could be a record book maker, and up and coming projects for the different regions.

Butte Fishing:

Nightcrawlers fished about a foot off the bottom is great for a spinning rig.  Big Buggers and Streamers weighted down has been good for the fly fisherman.

The Beaverhead has been temperamental.  The water clarity is very good but the fish have been sensitive to temperature swings.  Blue winged olives, or emergers are the fly of choice in sizes 12 or 14.  Surface action has been best on warm sunny days.

The Big Hole is a little muddy the past few weeks. Streamers fished under the bank have netted some nice brown trout.  Beadheads and weighted buggers are showing slight improvement.

Georgetown has been good fishing for Brook trout.  Corn has been working well for the bait fisherman.

New Podcast!

Riley's Meats - Butte Wild Game Processing