Bozeman/Butte Recreation Report by Bob Ward & Sons (7.18.14)
By angelamontana

Posted: July 18, 2014

Hunting:    

Bob Ward’s 11th Annual Shooter’s Weekend is August 2nd in Missoula, and August 3rd in Butte. All proceeds benefit Operation Valor. Visit https://www.facebook.com/bobwards for event details.

Archery Season begins September 6th. Its a little ways down the road but better to be prepared than wait until the last minute.

Federal Duck Stamps are $15 each at your local Bob Ward’s.

Bozeman Fishing:

Gallatin: Dry fly fishing is good and getting better by the day. Keep an eye out for caddis hatch and PMD’s. There will be a spruce moth hatch in august so if nothing else is hitting you can try this approach with possible success. In the cannon fish are chasing big flies. Go with a size 10 chubby and keep it tight on the bank. If you’re fishing the valley stick to smaller caddis and yellow sallies size 12 and 14. Parachute Adams have somewhat successful along with golden stone flies

Lower Madison: Watch the water temps and get out early or hold off to later in the evening. If the water gets above 70 its best to find a deeper hole where the sun hasn’t affected the temp as much. The chubby bite is on and should be getting better as the month goes on. There are bugs all over the Madison with yellow sallies and caddies being among the most prevalent. May flies have been out as well so throw some PMD’s. Purple haze, brooks sprout, lake caddis and hair wing dun pmd’s hook size 12-16 is the way to go.

Yellowstone river: You will need a park permit, available at your Bozeman Bob Ward’s, to fish these waters. With the water level lowering and clearing up the salmon flies are out in full force. Tie these on to pull in some big browns all along the Yellowstone. Throw streamers early, tight to the bank. By mid morning the bugs will be out. Throw PMD’s, small goldens, Yellow Sallies, and Caddis

Butte Fishing:

Fishing has been great everywhere in Southwest Montana this past week. The alpine lakes are being fished by fly fishermen and spin fishermen alike. Small caddis and mosquito patterns fished with a bubble or fly rod have been equally successful.

Caddis hatches on the Big Hole River have been plentiful this month and the fish have been hungry. Size 6 and 9 Panther Martins have been the hot spinner on the river.

Agnes Lake is fishing hot to Royal Coachmen patterns this week or any beadhead patterns with red or green. The grayling are active and nice sized so the two mile vertical hike is well rewarded.

Golden stone and Caddis hatches have provided good angling action on the Beaverhead this past week. Rapalas or Panther Martin lures are a good bet for spin fishermen.

Georgetown Reservoir is fishing hot for larger leech patterns fished around the weed beds and Damsel Flies are coming out in abundance right now.

Clark Canyon is fishing hot for anglers trolling Rapalas or worm harnesses.

(Report by Ryan Corwin-Bob Ward’s Sports & Outdoors)

New Podcast!

Riley's Meats - Butte Wild Game Processing