Bozeman/Butte Recreation Report Bob Ward's Sports and Outdoors

Bozeman/Butte Recreation Report by Bob Ward’s Sports and Outdoors (5.29.15)
By angelamontana

Posted: May 29, 2015

Hunting:    

June 1st is the deadline to apply for the DeerB, Elk B and Antelope B licenses. Come into your local Bob Wards and pick up your licenses and applications forms.

Results for bull Elk and Buck drawings are now available at www.fwp.mt.gov

Butte Fishing:

Lake fishing is picking up in Southwest Montana. Clark Canyon Reservoir is fishing fair for leaded line rigs and bait fishermen. Gold rapalas and holographic deep running rapalas are good choices.

The Beaverhead is fishing fair for all fishermen. Pale morning duns in size 14 or 16 and San bugs are good choices for fly selection. Strip the banks with sparkle minnows or yellow and black sex dungeons.

Recent rains have kept the Big Hole high and dark, however, caddis hatches have come on strong. Dark Mahogany and brown elk hair caddis have been producing as well. As larger March Browns. Crystal minnows and yellow/black sex dungeons have been great streamer choices. Red and Gold Panther Martin lures are a good color combo in size 6 or 9. We should see some good salmonfly action near Melrose this next week.

Georgetown Lake is fishing fair on the upper end in Rainbow Bay and Red Bridge areas. Leech patterns or Dark buggers slowly stripped from weed beds are providing some good action. Powerbait and Crawlers are good choices of bait.

Delmo reservoir is fishing slow this spring. A good restocking needed at delmo.

Hyalite Reservoir and Creek: Both the creek and reservoir are open and fishing should be 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. For subsurface try small nymphs such as pheasant tails, hares ear, lightning bugs, rainbow warriors, zug bugs, prince nymphs, and san juan worms. Spin fishing the lake should be lights out with fish cruising the banks, use panther martins, rooster tails, and blue foxes.   Gulp and powerbait will get the job done too!

Madison River: Runoff season is here so watch the weather to see how water clarity will be, don’t be surprised if the upper gets blown out. The upper sections are open and fishing very well, with stones, caddis, and mayflies all active. Streamer fishing is always a good bet for those big browns and bow’s so try some big articulated flies such as sex dungeons and swimming jimmys. For the most part the bigger stoneflies such as golden stones and salmonflies along with bigger terrestrials (hoppers) are not out yet but are on the way. Mayflies such as Blue Winged Olives are always a great option along with purple haze flies. Dry dropper rigs are always effective and a good way to cover water. 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)

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