Bozeman Fishing Report 

The Gallatin River is looking great these days and fishing has been very good, especially down in the valley just outside of the Canyon. The water is warmer out of the canyon making the fish more active. Nymphing has been best with not much dry fly activity to speak of over the past week. The forecast looks warm so it will be a good time to get out because the warmer weather will give the fish more energy to feed. Fish are still in the classic winter holding positions in the deeper slower runs.

Red and pink seem to be the ticket on the Upper Madison these days. Most of the float ice is gone at the moment and the fishing has been pretty good up near Reynolds pass and between the lakes. There is still la fair bit of snow by the river so access is a bit tough. Nymphing has been best but a few fish are looking up in the slow water. The fishing should pick up over the next week due to the warmer weather however the bite has been steady on the Upper Madison already.

The Lower Madison River has really picked up this past week with the little bit warmer weather we have had and should continue to be steady over the next week of warmer weather. Fish are definitely holding in the deeper slower pockets still. There has not been much surface midge activity over the past week but look for that to pick up as we get closer to February. Keep using the old standby nymph rig for now, with the hotter flies being san juan worms, midges, eggs, and crawfish patterns.

Things are still pretty frosty on the Yellowstone River for now, but we have heard of a few people catching some fish up in the Paradise Valley region of the river. Nymphing is about the only game for now but a few warm days will bring on some surface midge activity. We still don’t recommend floating for now and if you go be wary of the shelf ice. There have been reports of floaters running into trouble with the shelf ice lately so be cautious!

Butte Fishing Report:

Ice conditions have been holding in Southwest Montana with colder temperatures. Fishing conditions have been fair to excellent depending on locations for fishing.

Clark Canyon will be hosting the 31st annual Stan Schafer Memorial fishing tournament on January30th from 7am-4pm.There will be a check in at the dam on tournament day. Fishing has been good at Clark Canyon this winter on both ends of the lake.

Vertical jigs from Rapala, Swedish Pimple, or Buck Shot Rattle Spoon work well. Nightcrawlers with marshmallows or maggots served up on a glo hook work well for trout, and suckermeat hooked in Anise oil is great for ling.

Delmo reservoir is fair this past week with fish numbers down presently. Blue/chrome Swedish Pimple (size 3) work fair. Nightcrawlers or maggots served up before 8am work very well on a glo hook.

Fishing has been good on the Ruby Reservoir with bigger fish caught this winter.

Georgetown Reservoir has been good fishing for trout and salmon this winter. Larger salmon numbers are taken when night fishing, however, a lot of salmon are caught during daylight hours as well.

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