Hunting:
Hunting employee Richard is the first on the board this year, with a mature bull he took on opening weekend! He is using a Bear Archery Kuma with Easton arrows and Solid Broadheads, all available at your local Bob Ward’s. Congrats Richard!!
The weather is looking warm, so most of your big game activity is going to occur at first and last lights, or during the late morning near water. Make sure to carry bear spray!
Bozeman Fishing:
Gallatin: With great flows, the Gallatin is still a viable option. Our team has been having fun with Spruce Moth up in the canyon, #18 Caddis in the morning hours, or hoppers with a small lightning bug dropper. Your best bet is to fish before noon or in deep water.
Yellowstone: Since mid-summer, the fishing has been inconsistent – Be patient and try multiple options: Caddis in the evening, hoppers on the banks, and mid-size streamers during the heat of the day. Fishing closer to the park is your best bet, or using suspended dropper.
Madison: The furthest along in the Trico Hatch, the Upper (more than the lower at least) is still a good bet for fishing! We recommend only fishing the morning hours, starting with smaller flies then working to hoppers on the bank before Noon. The forecast is showing a lot of heat, so try and be off the water earlier in the day if possible.
Hebgen Lake, direct from Kirkwood Marina: The fish in Hebgen Lake seem to have moved around a bit. The hot spots near the Grayling Arm entrance from the main body of the lake and off Horse Butte haven’t reported as many catches this past week. But, the southwest shore from about 2-3 miles before the dam up to the dam has been a good spot to fish. Rainbow trout or gold colors on spoons were the big producers, about 20-30 ft. from the surface.
Butte Fishing:
Water levels are coming back up on the rivers, now that the irrigation season is about over. This equates to cooler waters & better fishing in SW Montana. The Jefferson river is a little murky from back flushed irrigation, although, the fishing is improving. Mikes golden stone nymphs fished near bottom is a great fly for bigger browns. We have seen some activity at the surface on parachute tricus. I would defiantly recommend a sculpzirla in the deeper runs.
The trico hatches & fall caddis are thick on the Big Hole at present. Streamer fishing has been good most of the season & should continue into the fall spawn. Rainbow & black& yellow panthers in size 9 are working well. Hemmingway caddis, adams, & mosquitos are working well on all the mountain lakes. Grasshopper activity is still hanging on in most drainages.
