Nymph, Nymph, Nymph!
Montana
Hebgen: Fishing is good on the lake currently. Anglers are catching fish all over the lake, focus your efforts on glassier, less windy areas. Callibaetis season is here, and so too are the gulpers – cruising around shallow. Hanging/stripping leeches and nymphs has also been productive (more so now with the cold front that moved in ((again 8/19)).
Flies: #8 Black or Olive Simi Seal Leech, #6 Flash-a-Bugger, #6 Olive or Black Hot Bead Leech, #8 Thin Mint, #18 BBQ Baetis, #14-16 Turkey Callibaetis, #12 O.S. Buzzer, #16 Found Link Callibaetis, #16 Purple Missing Link, #16 Long Tailed Callibaetis Spinner
Flows:
Inflow to Hebgen Lake: 556 cfs
Hebgen Lake Outflow: 1018 cfs
Kirby Flows: 1140 cfs
** Flows as of 8 am August 19th, 2023 **
Upper Madison: Nymphing a two fly set up will still be your most productive method right now, think smaller if you’re nymphing (#16 and smaller). Fish are feeding sparsely on PMD’s and BWO’s, but expect more eats as the overcast/rainy days continue. Hoppers, beetles, and ants are also beginning to fish well as the month goes on. Streamers should move some fish in the mornings and evenings.
Flies: #16-18 Redneck, #16-18 Shop Vac, #16 PMD Split Case #16-18 PMD Loop-Wing, #14 Olive Hot Spot, #18 BWO Comparadun, #16 BWO CDC Comparadun, #16 Pink or Tan Chili-Dog, #14 Butch Sally, #16 Klinkhammer PMD, #6 Black Hot Bead Leech, #4 Olive/White Barely Legal
YNP
The Yellowstone river and its tributaries are open and fishing great!
Flows:
Madison near West Yellowstone: 415 cfs
Yellowstone below Yellowstone Lake : 1770 cfs
Gibbon: 129 cfs
Gallatin near Big Sky: 542 cfs
** Flows as of 8 am August 19th 2023 **
Gallatin: The Gallatin is low, clear, and cold enough that you don’t need to be there before 10am. Fish are hesitant to look up, but are rising in the evenings on BWO’s and PMD’s. Hopper droppers have been fishing well. Ants are beginning to fish very well with other terrestrials like beetles and spruce moths have been fishing too.
Flies: #16-18 Shop Vac, #16-18 Green Lightning Bug, #16-18 Black Krystal Dip, #16 Pink Chili Dog, #14 Royal Chubby Chernobyl, #18 Parachute Adams, #16 Orange Spruce Moth, #18 Tilt Wing BWO, #16 Rocky Mtn Mint PMD, #18 Baetis Cripple, #14 Royal Stimulator, #16 Arrick’s Ant
Madison/Firehole/Gibbon: As we anxiously count down to the cool fall days of swinging the rivers on the west side of the park, the Firehole is still a bit too warm to ethically fish. The Madison in the park has been slow. The Gibbon above the falls is still cool and fishing well. Try throwing some streamers around the cut banks during these next few overcast days.
Flies: #8-10 Partridge and Orange, #8-10 Partridge and Pheasant Tail, #14 Prince Nymph, #16-18 Frenchie, #14 Diving Caddis, #18-20 Parachute BWO, #18-20 Griffith’s Gnat, #16 Rocky Mtn Mint PMD, #16 Royal Stimulator, #14 Larimer’s Yellow Sally, #8 Black or Olive Hot Bead Leech
Yellowstone/NE Corner: The Yellowstone is fishing well still but should start slowing down as always as august continues. Hunt around for rising cutties when you see bugs flying. The Lamar and its tributaries are all fishing well with fish looking up. Look for fish rising on Sallies, PMD’s and Drakes. Pink, purple, and red chubbies, as well as other terrestrials like will also fish well. Streamers should fish well if dries are slow.
Flies: #18-20 Parachute BWO, #18-20 Sprout Baetis, #16 Rocky Mtn Mint PMD, #16 Butch Sally, #16 Tilt Wing PMD, #14 pink/purp/red Chubby Chernobyl, #6 Black Hot Bead Leech, #6 Olive Slump-Buster, #6 Olive/Black Crystal Bugger
We are still booking float, & walk/wade trips for the 2023 season. Give us a call if you have any questions or are looking to book a guided trip.
