Hunting:
It might be time to think about purchasing a Super Tag from us. This is a Lottery program put on by Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks. You can purchase one for Deer, Elk, Moose, Sheep, Goat, or Bison, antelope and mountain lion. You have until July 3rd to buy a chance to win a hunt of a lifetime.
Spring Turkey Season is closes this weekend, May 18th.
Spring Black Bear season closes on May 31-June15th depending on the area. Make sure you know what the closing date is for your favored stomping grounds.
Bozeman Fishing:
Yellowstone to Hebgen use lightning bugs, baetis, rubber legs, streamers and definitely use a slow retrieval technique.
Lower Madison- x-caddis and other caddis fly patterns are working well. Fish are stacked up close to the banks so look that way. Use really bright colored streamers and crayfish and you will land some really nice browns.
Gallatin-Use copper johns, prince nymphs, hares ear, and san juan worms. Stick to bright colors the water is kind of dirty and has low visibility.
Yellowstone-Blow out-bummer! Stick to other places for now.
Butte Fishing:
The lower Beaverhead has given up some good brown trout early this spring on Blue Wing Olives and PMD’s in sizes 14 or 16. Float fisherman have been doing well below Pipe Organ Bridge. The rivers in Southwest Montana will open for the season this coming Saturday the 17th of May. The Rainbows will be spawning below Clark Canyon spillway and the fishing should be excellent this year.
Clark Canyon Reservoir is low this year and run-off is not expected to do much for water levels this spring. Fish early and be kind to your spawning trout and release a lot of the egg bearing females.
The Big Hole has been running high this week, but clear. The fishing has been fair below Salmon Fly Bridge at Melrose, but should steadily improve everywhere as levels drop. Clouser minnows, Mohair leeches, Wooly buggers, or Double Bunnies have been good choices for streamers. New Age Conehead Streamers have been effective this past week.
Beadheads and Stonefly Nymphs have been effective on the Clark Fork near Warm Springs.
Rock Creek will open this weekend and the fishing should be excellent. Artificial lures or flies only except for anglers under 14 years of age.
(Report by Ryan Corwin – Bob Ward & Sons)
