*Pardon our dust, The first report of the year is always a rough one! The Gallatin as well as the rest of Yellowstone National Park opens to fishing on May 27th, the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend!*

The Upper Madison is a lovely chalky green, and flows are right where they should be for great Pre-Runoff fishing! Nymphing has been producing plenty of fish; We’re mainly throwing larger (#12/#10) Stonefly nymphs, with a small dropper (#16/#18) consisting of Perdigons, Baetis. or BWO nymphs. Despite the nymphing being solid, we’ve also seen plenty of steady risers this week in the Walk/Wade section (and presumably throughout the whole system). Most of these picky guys are sipping on small midges, BWO’s, and the occasional early Mother’s Day Caddis or larger, late March Browns. Be sure to pop in and get some flies & gear for the upcoming bug bonanza!

The Gallatin is still very, VERY cold and running a bit muddy. You could probably nymph up a few, but our best advice is to find some better, warmer water, at least for the time being. If you do decide to fish the Gallatin, be mindful that the YNP section is closed to fishing until
***May 27th 2024 (MEMORIAL DAY)***.

Some good news is that Montana Fishing License Fees remained the same as last year.  Also, a big change in regulations for the Upper Madison River is that from Varney Bridge to Ennis Lake is:

“2024 Montana FWP Fishing Regulations – Artificial lures with only barbless, single-pointed hooks. No treble or double hooks. Anglers may remove treble or double hooks from the lure and replace them with a single hook, or the shanks may be cut off the other hook points to leave a single hook. Lures with multiple hook attachments may still be used by any treble hook must be replaced by a single hook”

Hebgen Lake

Inflow is 1604 CFS
Outflow is 834 CFS
Lake is 87.4% Full

Kirby Ranch*

Flow 988 CFS
Temp is 42.63 deg F

Cameron*

Flow 1360 CFS
Temp is 45.5

* Some of these gages have been affected by ice.

Just a reminder that most tributary streams in Montana are closed to fishing until the 3rd Saturday in May and Yellowstone National Park is closed to fishing until Memorial Day Weekend.  Be sure to check the 2024 Montana FWP Fishing Regulations for official opening dates.

Photo: MRO Shop Staff Nina Lett with a very pretty midge sippin’ ‘bow!