Fishing Report 7/24/2026
Montana
Flows/Temperatures (as of July 23rd, click the name for real-time numbers)
Hebgen Outflow - 1,167 CFS
Kirby - 1,400 CFS
Kirby High/Low Temps - 59°/68° F
Cameron - 1,530 CFS
Cameron High/Low Temps - 61°/71° F
Upper Madison
The Upper Madison has slowed a bit with the heat, being at it's best in the early mornings or late at night. The flows are still at a good level, and we did have a good evening of rain on Wednesday, so conditions are shaping up well. Unfortunately, it looks like this weekend will be hot again, so gear up for some inconsistency and prepare to be off the water by early afternoon. The fish will appreciate it!
I've been throwing smaller terrestrials with some success along the banks, but the Epeorus are taking the cake as the most sought-after bug right now. Spinner fall has been happening ~11am, and they usually emerge in the evenings! We still have a good amount of caddis (small, dark brown sedges) coming off as well as sprinkles of PMD's and BWO's throughout the day, depending on the time of day and proximity to one of our short mid-day rain storms.
P.S. We are in the heat of summer. Make sure to check water temperatures regularly, avoid fishing in the hottest times of day, and land/release fish as quickly as possible.
Dry Flies - Hair Wing Dunn, Rusty Spinner, Carnage Hopper, Arricks Ant
Nymphs - Sunburst, BWO Loopwing, Shop Vac
Hebgen Outflow - 1,167 CFS
Kirby - 1,400 CFS
Kirby High/Low Temps - 59°/68° F
Cameron - 1,530 CFS
Cameron High/Low Temps - 61°/71° F
Upper Madison
The Upper Madison has slowed a bit with the heat, being at it's best in the early mornings or late at night. The flows are still at a good level, and we did have a good evening of rain on Wednesday, so conditions are shaping up well. Unfortunately, it looks like this weekend will be hot again, so gear up for some inconsistency and prepare to be off the water by early afternoon. The fish will appreciate it!
I've been throwing smaller terrestrials with some success along the banks, but the Epeorus are taking the cake as the most sought-after bug right now. Spinner fall has been happening ~11am, and they usually emerge in the evenings! We still have a good amount of caddis (small, dark brown sedges) coming off as well as sprinkles of PMD's and BWO's throughout the day, depending on the time of day and proximity to one of our short mid-day rain storms.
P.S. We are in the heat of summer. Make sure to check water temperatures regularly, avoid fishing in the hottest times of day, and land/release fish as quickly as possible.
Dry Flies - Hair Wing Dunn, Rusty Spinner, Carnage Hopper, Arricks Ant
Nymphs - Sunburst, BWO Loopwing, Shop Vac
Hebgen/Quake Lake
The lakes are in similar condition to how they have been the last few weeks, but the chance of finding repeat risers has gone up, especially in the mornings and evenings. We've been having some very low wind days, so I've been on Hebgen for the most part. Dry fly fishing has been a little tricky, with so many options for them to choose from. A callibaetis spinner, trico, or damselfly could all be on the menu, so I've just been throwing a variety of patterns and getting more and more fed up when they won't go for it. If you can find a fish within casting distance that seems to just be vacuuming the surface, stay on it.
Dry Flies - Para Wulff Adams, Winna Spinna, Hackle Stacker, Jay's Damsel in Distress
Nymphs - Ice Cream Cone, Turkey Callibaetis
Streamers - Hot Bead Leach, Sex Dungeon, Thin Mint
The lakes are in similar condition to how they have been the last few weeks, but the chance of finding repeat risers has gone up, especially in the mornings and evenings. We've been having some very low wind days, so I've been on Hebgen for the most part. Dry fly fishing has been a little tricky, with so many options for them to choose from. A callibaetis spinner, trico, or damselfly could all be on the menu, so I've just been throwing a variety of patterns and getting more and more fed up when they won't go for it. If you can find a fish within casting distance that seems to just be vacuuming the surface, stay on it.
Dry Flies - Para Wulff Adams, Winna Spinna, Hackle Stacker, Jay's Damsel in Distress
Nymphs - Ice Cream Cone, Turkey Callibaetis
Streamers - Hot Bead Leach, Sex Dungeon, Thin Mint
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Yellowstone National Park
Gallatin - Throwing a terrestrial or a chubby is the way to go on the Gallatin. The banks are buzzing with hoppers and are waiting in riffles and slower water along the banks! Might have been a little colored up by the rains we've been getting, but will probably have mellowed out by now!
Madison, Firehole, Gibbon - The Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon (downstream of Norris Campground) have been placed on full closures. This means that all three are closed to fishing with no exceptions. The Madison and its tributaries outside the park before Hebgen Lake are under a Hoot Owl closure (2 pm-midnight) as well. We've been over this guys, even before 2 pm, just fish the Upper Madison or Gallatin if you want better, less lethal fishing. Yellowstone River - Above the falls, Caddis and PMDs are flying around, and fish are rising to both them. The river is quite busy, though, so once you find a riser, throw the rotation of different flies at it until it eats. Don't give up!! Northeast Corner - Well, I for one feel bamboozled. Lamar and Soda Butte are both properly blown out (especially Lamar). I was stupid earlier this week and headed out on a trip to the Lamar without checking the gauge, and when I arrived, I was met with the most colored up river I've seen in a long time. Unfortunately, I'm one of those weird ones that will only throw dry flies in the NE corner, so that was a short fishing day. Give it a week or so to clear back up, and hopefully it'll be better. See you on the river!
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Nina Lett
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