Bozeman/Butte Recreation Report by Bob Ward’s Sports & Outdoors (8.29.14)
By angelamontana

Posted: August 29, 2014

Hunting:  

Grouse and Huns season opens Monday, September 1st. Archery gets underway September 6th. Stop by Bob Ward’s hunting sale this weekend to save on everything from camo to ammo.

The new “Bob Ward’s: How We Gear Up” article is on page 25 of this month’s Big Sky Hunting & Fishing News. Check out the gear the pros at Bob Ward’s recommend for every season.

 Bozeman Fishing:

Lower Madison temps are still high even with the cooler days this week. If you want to venture out hit it in the early morning. You will be more successful elsewhere for now until the temps consistently stay lower.

The Upper Madison is fishing very well when you get out in the cooler temps of the morning. For dries use olive colored caddis, pmds, yellow sallys, occasional attractor flies and switch it up with some terrestrials like ants and hoppers while staying close to the banks. Nymphs to use are streamers and hopper/dropper combos (use copper bobs/johns, bh prince flashback nymphs and others of the sort as your dropper)

On the Gallatin its again best to hit it when on overcast days or early in the morning when its cooler. Get the best results by using spruce moths, hoppers, and hopper dropper combos.

On the Yellowstone hoppers are working well in just about any variety close to the bank. Fish are getting picky and spooked so don’t just fish the holes. Hit some of the faster waters and try hopper/dropper combos or larger nymphs

Butte Fishing:

Drought conditions in Southwest Montana continue to linger and keep the fishing to a minimum.

Jefferson river, Lower Big Hole and Upper Big Hole River are on 24 hour closure. The Ruby River, Beaverhead river and Divide canyon area of the Big Hole River are the only local rivers available for fishing at the present time.

Parachute Purple Haze, Parachute Hoppers, and Spruce Moth have been great flies for the Big Hole. Yellow Sallies, Hoppers, Damsel Flies and Brown Bear Black Nymphs have been hot on the Beaverhead.

Hoppers and small Caddis have been choice flies on the Ruby. Panther Martin spinners and Rapalas in various patterns are great choices for spin fishermen.

Don’t forget the Fly Fishing Festival in Ennis on the 30th and 31st of August this Labor Day Weekend.

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

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Riley's Meats - Butte Wild Game Processing