Hunting

Winter mountain lion season with use of hounds goes until April 14th. Remember any tag purchased after August 31st of this year will not be valid until five days following the purchase date. There is an exception with a drawn special tag, it is automatically valid.

We always want to see your photos of trophy game or catches so bring em down!

Bozeman Fishing

Fishing is pretty darn awesome in the Bozeman area right now. The warm weather and lack of snow has helped clear the ice for open water opportunities. Some folks have even taken their boats out already.

The Yellowstone is running above 1600 cfs with a little mud but OK visibility. Use rubberlegs, rainbow warrior, parachute Midge, Czech Nymphs, and Wooly Buggers.

The Gallatin is good when the sky is gray. Head to the canyon and bring rubberlegs, worms and eggs, and copper johns.

The Upper Madison has just a little ice left making access a breeze. Watch for Baetis as the water warms, we’re looking at very high temps for the season this week. Take you midge pupa, copper johns, rubberlegs, and czech nymphs.

The Lower Madison is good for dries. Watch the gusting wind. This is the more crowded of the rivers.

Butte Fishing

Florescent Orange Ice Crabs tipped with a meal worm provided the best action on the Ruby this week. We threw Ratfinkee vertical rapalas, Swedish pimples, and glohooks at the front but nothing else succeeded for us. The ice is thinning with these warm temperatures.

The Beaverhead was fishing well near Poindexter Slough. A bead head pheasant tail with a San Juan Dropper was working very well. The browns were picking up at San Juan dropper in most strikes.

Ice shelving and ice flows have provided tough fishing and conditions on the Jefferson and Big Hole Rivers, however, open water provides good opportunities where you find it.

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