Butte Fishing:
Recent rain has keep the rivers in SW Montana pushing heavy water. Fishing has been fair considering the volume and velocity.
The Big Hole is fishing fair to Panther Martin spinners. Size 9 are a good choice in heavy water. Gold on gold patterned lures are working well.
Black and Yellow or Yellow and White Streamers are good patterns for fly anglers. Caddis in size 12 or 14 have been effective as well
The Clark Fork is fishing fair between Gold Creek and Deer Lodge for Browns. Golden Stones and Purple Price have been good choices for flies.
The Jefferson has been great fishing for night crawlers or Panther Martin spinners. Fly fishing has been slower with increased flows.
Clark Canyon and the Beaverhead are both fishing well. Large streamers, spinners or bait are catching fish.
Bozeman Fishing:
Hyalite Reservoir and Creek are open and fishing great, fly fishing the creek with small terrestrials such as beetles and ants are always a good option! Small stoneflies, caddis, and mayflies are all out and about so try elk hair caddis, stimulators, and parachute adams.
Madison River: Runoff season is here so watch the weather to see how water clarity will be, don’t be surprised if the upper is blown out. Streamer fishing is always a good bet for those big browns and bow’s so try some big articulated flies. The lower Madison has been fishing well with water clarity varying.
Yellowstone River: Blown out, fish some place else
Gallatin River: The Gallatin has been hit or miss mostly due to run off. During the spouts of colder weather, the water clarity has improved improving the fishing. For the most part the Gallatin is in runoff and not the best place for the moment.
Missouri River: Runoff has made its way to the Missouri, rain has been clouding up the river but when weather improves so does the water clarity and fishing. Land of the Giants has been fishing well along with Craig producing good days. Mayflies, Caddis, and stones are all out, but the best dry fly fishing has been with mayflies. Streamer fishing has been good on cloudy days, with big fishing feeding aggressively.
(Report via Ryan Corwin – Bob Ward’s Sports & Outdoors)
