The following report is by Blue Ribbon Flies:
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The Madison below Quake has fished best over the past week during the afternoon hours after the water warms up a bit, and while overall it has fished well, it can be a little spotty from day to day. If you fish the morning hours nymphing will be your best best. #8-10 Rubberlegs, Perdigon Nymphs in black or purple #16-18, #16-18 $3 Dips in brown or crystal, Radiation Baetis #18 and Juju Baetis #18-20 have been good go-to flies this past week. For dries in the afternoon, we are still using Morrish and Thunder Thigh Hoppers #10-14 in tan or pink. Attractor patterns such as a Parachute Adams, Royal Wulff or Royal Trude #14-18 are also worth fishing. Keep an eye out for Baetis, even on sunny days where the hatch won’t last long but there will be fish up on these little mayflies.
As with the Madison, you’ll find the best time to fish the Gallatin will be in the afternoon hours. Nymphing will be the most productive overall and you’ll want to have Radation Baetis #18, Split Case Baetis #20, Zebra Midges in black #18-20, Little Green Machine #16, Lightning Bugs #16 in silver, and Perdigon Nymphs #16-18 in black. There is still a bit of dry fly action on the Gallatin, too, and terrestrials are still not out of the question. Try smaller Dave’s or Morrish Hoppers and attractor patterns like a #16 Purple Haze or #16-18 Royal Wulff Cripple. Again keep an eye out for Baetis. #20 Baetis Sprout Emergers, #18-20 Baetis Sparkle Duns or #18-20 Almost There Baetis will be excellent choices here.
On Hebgen Lake the window is closing fast on the dry fly opportunities. There are still a few bugs out there but they are coming later in the day and aren’t lasting long. A few of the guys have been doing well with black buggers and leeches up in the Madison Arm and Grayling where some fish have staged before they make their run up into the park.
On Slough, Lamar and Soda Butte, let the water warm up a bit, but the fish are still willing to take hoppers, beetles and ants in the afternoon. Morrish and Thunder Thighs Hopper in pink and tan #14, Longhorn Beetles, Parachute Ants and Improved Killer Bees are what you’ll want. The Drake Mackerels are still very much in play in this section of the park along with Baetis as well. Make sure to have with you Sparkle Dun Drake Mackerels #12 and Baetis #20.
The Madison in the Park has started up a bit and folks that have been getting out there in the early morning hours swinging have been getting into a few fish with Blue on Blew, Shakey Beeley, Grouse & Pink and September Song soft hackles. Streamers have also been good early and late in the days. Montana Intruders, Sheila’s Sculpins and black and tan Super Buggers have been a few of our favorites as of late. If you’re nymphing have #8 black Rubberlegs, #16 Shop Vacs, #14-16 Guide Dips, #16-18 Perdigon Nymphs in black and #16-18 red Copper Johns.
The Firehole has been a great choice for anglers this past week and the soft hackle fishing has been the most productive for those that have ventured this way. #16 Micro Beeleys, # 14 Partridge & Orange, #17 Peacock & Starling and #16 White Miller Soft Hackles have been the flies of choice for soft hackles. White Millers have provided some dry fly action recently, as well as hoppers and beetles.
