Bozeman/Butte Recreation Report:
Bozeman Fishing:
The Gallatin is cleaning up and is turning green. If fishing below the Taylors fork, try a big black Pats stone or dead drifting streamers. Small flashy nymphs would be a good bet higher up, or a small stimi with a rubber legs trailing behind it. Caddis and PMD’s should be moving up above the canyon as well.
Dries:
- X Caddis- Olive
- Elk Hair Caddis- Olive
- Parachute Adams
- Purple Haze
- Griffiths Gnat
- Nymphs
- Flashback Hare’s Ear
- Flashback Pheasant tail
- Micro may
- Rainbow warrior
- Lightning bug-olive, silver, pearl
- Pats Stone- Black/Olive, Brown/orange/olive
- Streamers
- Woolybugger-Black/olive, Black
- Zonker- Olive
- Brownish bugger
Lower Madison
Fishing has been great with flows at 1600 CFS, with nymphs being the go to. Crayfish, sanjuans, micro mays and pats stones are a must have in your box. Golden Stones and yellow sallies are movingon top of the water, as well as caddis and PMD’s. Dead drifting streamers would also be productive, especially if a storm is coming in.
Butte Fishing:
Fishing is great for spin fishermen and fly fishermen alike in Southwest Montana. The water levels have dropped dramatically on the Big Hole River this past week and the caddis hatches have been good. Panther Martins size 6 or 9 will keep you out of the rock and fishing.
The Beaverhead has been fishing well with PMD’s this past week and running clear. Size 2 or 4 streamers have been working for anglers who pound the banks. Try some sow bug droppers or Ray Charles pinks in size 16 or 18.
The Ruby has been excellent fishing when the water is let out from the dam. Orange and Royal Stimulators have been effective this past week.
Adams, mosquitos, and ants are catching a lot of cutthroats and grayling in the mountain lakes of Southwest Montana, Delmo, browns, and many others are readily accessible.
