The following report is by Big Sky Anglers in West Yellowstone, MT:
West Yellowstone – 290 CFS
Below Hebgen – 778 CFS
Kirby -853 CFS
Varney – 1010 CFS
A couple things to note:
- Hebgen Lake is roughly 5 feet from full pond.
- Flows have bumped down at Hebgen Dam over the past week, for a couple reasons. Water conservation in the reservoir is at the top of the list and NWE is preparing for the Fall Brown Trout Spawn and getting the flows set.
- We could use some rain as the tribs are dropping.
This is the time of the year when the Madison and giveth and then taketh. Some days are much better than others, especially in the Float Stretch. Even the best anglers will have tough days down there. The months of September and October are when I prefer to fish on foot and spend my time in the Wade Stretch.
Brrrr….It’s been cold in the morning! 23 degrees a couple days ago and 24 degrees this Thursday morning at sunrise! The afternoon temps are too nice, but it won’t last for long. Fishy weather is on it’s way, starting Monday. Get outside and enjoy it, winter is coming!
BETWEEN THE LAKES
Terrestrials (hoppers, beetles and ants) and caddis hatches are on the menu depending on the day. Hoppers are pretty much done, but there could be a fish or two looking to grab one on these warmer afternoons. BWO hatches, will either trickle off or on cloudy days, you should see a decent push of bugs. #12-18 chubbies, small hoppers, ants, a mix of BWO and caddis dries will be essential. Searching the river with a single dry will be your best bet these days. As always, use the clues the river provides and take a moment before continuing to cover water. Watch the slicks for rising fish and the There are not too many caddis around but the fish will definitely eat a properly drifted fly in the right water. However minimal, a small hatch will sometimes change the trout’s behavior. Sit down and watch the river, the menu is in front of you. When in doubt, tie on an ant and cover a ton of water.
Dry Fly Patterns of choice are as follows – Micro Chubbies (we like #16 and #14), #16 Iron X Caddis, #16/18 Elk Hair Caddis, tan X caddis, #14 and 16 Dark Missing Link, Jojo’s BWO, Parachute Adams, Flag Dun.
Try nymphing with the following patterns – 101 Stone from Cat3 or Heames’ Jig Rubberlegs in #8 or #10 paired with a #16/18 Redneck, Olive hot-spot perdigon, or standard PT hung below. For caddis larva and pupa – the AZ Hares Ear, Shop Vac or Blow Torch are great choices. Don’t forget about the zebra midge – try sizing everything down and fishing two smaller thin profile nymphs with some spit shot.
Swinging soft hackles is a good alternative to bobber fishing if you’re looking for some ways to switch things up from nymphing or casting dry flies. Early morning, like sunrise, or late evening streamer fishing can be productive right now as well. The Sparkle Minnow, BFE or Bouface Leech patterns are tried and true for fishing early mornings or late evenings on the Madison. The dry-dropper rig is as effective option these days as anything. Hang any of the above nymphs two feet below a Micro Chubby or Jojo’s Ant and run with it.
WADE SECTION
There are still some caddis hatching, but not in great numbers every day. Ants will continue to play a vital part in the rising trout’s diet. With any cloudy days, there will be a BWO hatch. Those little mayflies can be just what the doctor ordered! Take some time to watch the slicks behind the larger boulders, there could be a sneaky trout eating BWO at the surface or just below the surface as they hatch.
The fast, shallow water can hold the nicest fish of the day. Shallow riffles, drops offs, soft pillows in front of boulders and edges close to the bank all are worth taking a good look at before moving upstream while wade fishing. You’ll notice fish tucked tight up to the banks, so always make a cast upstream before you continue walking. Cover water quickly, slow down when you find a fish and observe the type of water said fish came out of. Then find more of it. The more water you cover, the better off you are. So just keep moving.
A skilled nymph fisherman will pick up more fish with a bobber, stonefly, a caddis larva/pupa or mayfly nymph, more so than the dry fly angler right now. Nymph patterns are the same as BTL.
Dry fly patterns of choice right now are as follows – Chubbies of all sizes and colors (we like #14/16 and #10), #16 Chubbinator, #14 Iron X Caddis, #18 Elk Hair Caddis, tan X caddis, tan Iris Caddis, #14 Dark Missing Link, #14/16/18 Paranymph. For BWO – Jojo’s BWO and a Parachute Adams are great choices.
FLOAT SECTION
River temps are really a thing do the past, the Madison is staying cool throughout the day, in fact, the morning might be a little on the slower side for the dry fly angler as the river is cold.
Now is the time to size down your flies and fish caddis, smaller mayflies and definitely ant patterns if you’re sticking to the dry or die mentality. A well placed BWO dry in the slicks and along the banks will produce some good fish, but you will definitely earn it. #18 Elk Hair, #16 Compara Buzz, #16/18 Chubbies, #14/16 Chubbinators, #14/16/18 Paranymph. For BWO – Jojo’s BWO and a Parachute Adams are great choice.
Streamer anglers – just keeping pulling it through the water. Fishing a streamer from sunrise until the light hits the water would be a solid bet. You might try the ol’e swing and twitch it off the banks in the morning. Vary the retrieval and change colors if its not working. If the rainbows are eating it, you’ll likely have a better day. If you can figure out what makes big brown trout eat consistently, don’t tell anyone!
The dry/dropper fishing will produce and that’s a great way to start the morning until the bugs begin. Think sparsely dressed, fast-sinking droppers with a tungsten bead. Roza’s Pink Hare’s Ear Jig in #16, #16 Shop Vacs, #14/16/18 Olive Hotspots, #18 Prince nymphs, #16/18Pheasant Tail, #16 AZ Hare’s Ear, and Redneck’s in #14/16 will also fool fish.
If you haven’t used the Fly Banjo combined with your favorite fly floatant, than you are truly missing out on the greatest little dry fly secrets there is.
Respect The Fish
- Keep the fish wet at all times.
- Get out of the boat for fish pictures, if you need one. Take those pics quickly and get them back in the water.
- Release played out fish on the banks where they can safely recover.
- Be cool to other boats and wade anglers. Give plenty of room to others.
- Drop anchor on or near the bank when you need to change flies or re-rig. Bouncing your anchor down the river is complete nonsense and frowned upon.
