Bozeman/Butte Recreation Report by Bob Ward’s Sports & Outdoors (9.12.14)
By angelamontana

Posted: September 12, 2014

Hunting

Backcountry rifle season opens September 15th so now is the time to get your tags and ammo at Bob Ward’s. Beat the rush on this season’s best gear. Don’t forget to layer and be prepared for all types of weather.

Fishing:

Lower Madison-The cooler temps are improving fishing but also effecting dry fly fishing. Stick to nymphing and when the fish are in the slower and deeper waters use nymphs like copper johns/bobs, pupa patterns, and crayfish.

Upper Madison-up near the dam use all black woolly bugger. On the river use hopper patterns unless the night temps drop too low. Stick with nymph rigs and try a stone fly pattern with a bead head nymph about 18inches from it.

Gallatin-purple haze pattern in the canyon is working wonders but dry flies are not working really well due to the cold snap. Think nymphs and get under the water.

Yellowstone- any nymph is working well along with hoppers. The cooler temps will effect terrestrials-even the drake hatch is inhibited for now but give some a try.

Mountain Lakes and Creeks- the water temps are cooling off and the fish are actively feeding on the surface. Focus on dry flies and concentrate on white winged patterns.

Butte Fishing

The fishing has been good in Southwest Montana with the cooling temperatures this past week.

Morning PMD hatches and Yellow Sally hatches on the Beaverhead River have led to excellent fishing opportunities.

Black and Yellow Streamers or Black Sculpin imitations during the heat of the day still produce fish. An Abundance of Caddis in the early evening has made the fishing below High Bridge excellent.

The Big hole River has been fishing well in the early morning and late afternoon as well when temperatures are cooling. Caddis are still producing nice trout as well as Adams and parachute purple Haze and Red and Brown San Juan Worm have been effective above and below Melrose.

The Jefferson is picking up with early PMD hatches and Rubber Legged Golden Stones fishing during the day. Panther Martin lures in size 6 or larger are great patterns in all the main rivers you opt spin fishing.

Orange glow hooks with maggots or chunk of nightcrawlers has been effective on Georgetown Reservoir this past week.

Clark Canyon is still fishing well on the Red Rocks end with suspended bait.

(Reports by Ryan Corwin-Bob Ward’s Sports and Outdoors)

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