Madison River Outfitters Fishing Report 08/11/2024

MRO Guide Tom Forsberg with a pretty Upper Madison Brown

Montana

Hebgen: ( not much has changed since the last report) - The lake has been heating up (in more ways than one). There's been plenty of gulpers on the north shore, key in to the calmer days with just a tiny touch of chop. They're rising most often on callibaetis spinners and duns in the mornings and evenings, with the odd fish pounding damsels.  We've been producing pretty well on stripped leeches and similarly small streamers as well.
 
Flies: #8 Black or Olive Simi Seal Leech, #6 Balanced Squirrel Leech Black, #6 Olive or Black Hot Bead Leech, #8 Booby Leach, #8 Thin Mint, #18 BBQ Baetis, #12 Balanced Damsel, #14 Olive Nugget, #12 O.S. Buzzer, #16 Found Link Callibaetis, #16 Long Tailed Spinner Callibaetis,

#16 Purple Missing Link, #20 Low Water Baetis

Flows:
Inflow to Hebgen Lake: 589 cfs
Hebgen Lake Outflow: 967 cfs
Kirby Flows: 1080 cfs

Temp @ Kirby: High - 62 F

                        Low - 57 F

** Flows as of 12pm August 11th, 2024 **

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MRO Guide Noah Norwood with a nice 'Bow on a day off

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Upper Madison: 

The upper is fishing better thanks in part to the cooler weather lately. Hoppers are starting to bring some heads to the surface slowly but surely. With these rainy and overcast days, we're getting good hatches of baetis and epeorus mayflies. Pound the banks and look for sneaky deep spots and cut banks amongst the uniform shallows. Attractors will get some rises as well, but as always nymphing is your best bet - most of the fish are going to be deep during the mid day heat and sun. 

Flies: #16 Sunburst Perdigon, #18 S&M Dark Baetis, #18 Purple JJ Baetis, #16 Black OR Red Krystal Dip, #14 Pilva's Perdigon - Olive, #16 BWO Loopwing, #18 BWO Magic Fly, #16 Royal Chubby, #18 CDC BWO Biot Comparadun, #12 Yellow Carnage Hopper, #12 Pink Thunder Thighs, #20 Low Water Baetis, #16 Purple Parachute

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A pretty shot of a moody Hebgen Lake afternoon

YNP
The Northeast Corner of YNP is currently on hoot owl (legal fishing hours -sunrise to 2pm)

With the recent (much needed) closure of most of the fisheries on the western side of the park, our focus is shifting to the NE Corner of YNP. The Yellowstone, Lamar, Soda Butte, and Slough Creek are all currently on Hoot Owl restrictions, but still fishing decent in the mornings. These cutties are notorious for liking bright, bushy dries; and not being shy when it comes to rising. Smaller streamers can also be effective here. 

Flies: #14 UV Pink Chubby, #12 Royal Wulff, #12 Slough Creek Drake Mackerel, #12 Yellow Thunder Thighs, #12 Peacock Chubby, #16 Pink Chili Dog, #18 CDC Biot BWO Comparadun, #18 Purple Missing Link, #6 CH Sparkle Minnow - Brownie, #6 Peanut Envy - Olive OR Brown

Flows:
Madison near West Yellowstone: - *closed*
Yellowstone below Yellowstone Lake: - 1660 cfs
Gibbon: - *closed*

Firehole: - *closed*

Lamar: - 246 cfs - hoot owl
Gallatin near Big Sky: 406 cfs
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