Madison River Outfitters Fishing Report 10/20/21
Montana
Upper Madison: Water conditions are pretty low for this time of year, but the fishing remains pretty good out there. Nymphing a two fly set up will be your most productive method right now. But, keep an eye out for fish eating baetis, especially on the cloudier afternoons. Early mornings and then later evenings have been the best for streamer action. Dead drifting a streamer/nymph combo under an indicator has been finding a few fish as well.
Flies: #16-18 Redneck, #16-18 Guide Dip, #10-12 Sili Legs, #16-18 Black Lightning Bug, #18 ICU Midge, #18-20 Sprout Baetis, #18-20 Low Water Baetis, #6 Black Hot Bead Leech, #6 Black/Purple Sparkle Yummy, #6 Olive Sparkle Minnow
Hebgen: Stripping buggers/leeches or nymphing under an indicator will be your best options on the lake as of late. With leeches and buggers, switch up your retrieval until you find something the fish like.
Flies: #8 Black or Olive Simi Seal Leech, #6 Flash-a-Bugger, #6 Olive or Black Hot Bead Leech, #8 Thin Mint, #16 Pheasant Tail, #14-16 Turkey Callibaetis, #12 O.S. Buzzer
YNP
Gallatin: No need to get too early of a start if you want to fish the Gallatin. Take your time and let things warm up a little. Nymphs, soft hackles, and small streamers are all in play. Be watching for fish rising to BWO’s on the nastier afternoons.
Flies: #16-18 Shop Vac, #16-18 Green Lightning Bug, #16-18 Black Krystal Dip, #18 ICU Midge, #18 Split Case BWO, #14 Partridge and Peacock, #16 Soft Hackle Hares Ear, #18 Parachute Adams, #18 Tilt Wing BWO, #18 Baetis Cripple, #8 Simi Seal Leech, #6 Olive Slumpbuster
Madison/Firehole: Lake fish are being caught all throughout the Madison up to the junction area. Take your favorite streamers and soft hackles and get to stripping/swinging! Darker streamers (olive, black, black/purple) have been best for us lately. On the Firehole be on the lookout for heads poking up to baetis and a few midges. If you aren’t finding any action on the surface, swinging a pair of soft hackles can usually find some fish.
Flies: #8-10 Partridge and Orange, #8-10 Partridge and Pheasant Tail, #6 Olive Mini Peanut Envy, #8 Thin Mint, #8 Copper Zonker, #10-12 Sili Legs, #14 Prince Nymph, #16-18 Frenchie, #16 Olive Bullet, #14 Diving Caddis, #18-20 Parachute BWO, #18-20 Griffith’s Gnat
NE Corner: Similar to the Gallatin, these rivers are running pretty cold so take your time in getting over there. Make sure to bring some baetis along with you if you make the trip over. Tossing a streamer around can be fun if fish aren’t rising.
Flies: #18-20 Parachute BWO, #18-20 Sprout Baetis, #6 Olive Sparkle Minnow, #6 Black Mini Sex Dungeon, #8 Black Simi Seal Leech
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Nick Toller
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