Madison River Outfitters Fishing Report 7/30/2019
Montana
Upper Madison: After being spoiled with pretty fantastic fishing over the last few weeks, fishing on the Madison has slowed somewhat over the last week or so. Many of the hatches have run their course and the fish have seen a lot of pressure thus far. That being said, we are still having some great days on the water. and the intermittent cloud cover and storms we have been getting lately have been helping the fishing as well. Prospecting with some smaller caddis, epeorus, yellow sally, PMD and attractor patterns has been working pretty well throughout the day and it’s getting to be about that time where some smaller terrestrials such as ants could be worth trying. We might be just a little ways out for hopper time yet. As for the nymphing, smaller patterns (size 16-18) have been most productive.
Flies: #14 Full-tilt Sally, #16-18 X-Caddis, #18 PMD Sparkle Dun, #12-14 Royal Trude, #14-16 Arrick’s Ant, #16-18 Rusty Spinner, #16-18 Purple Parachute, #14-16 Lake Prince, #16-18 Shop Vac, #16 Red Neck, #16-18 Green/Black Lightning Bug, #16-18 Guide Dip/$3 Dip, #16-18 Krystal Dip, #16-18 Soft Hackle Hare’s Ear
Hebgen: Fishing on the lake is starting to get rolling slowly but surely. More mornings than not we are seeing good numbers of callibaetis with fish rising to them. Things should only keep getting better from here on out. If things are slow, suspending a Turkey Calllibaetis either under and indicator or under a dry fly is a good option.
Flies: #14-16 Turkey Callibaetis, #16 Callibaetis Parachute, #16 Callibaetis Sparkle Dun, #16 Callibaetis Cripple
Gallatin: The Gallatin continues to fish well with caddis, PMD’s and attractor patterns. With the afternoon storms we have been getting and could see more of in the next few days, the Taylor Fork could be kicking in some muddy water throughout the week. Also, when it’s running clear, Taylor Fork itself is a very fun little stream to fish.
Flies: #12 Chili Dog, #14-16 Lime/Royal Trude, #12-16 Parawulff, #14 409, #8-12 Royal/Peacock/Golden Chubby Chernobyl, #16 Tan X-Caddis, #14 Full-Tilt Sally, #16-18 PMD Sparkle Dun, #16-18 Rusty Spinner
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone above the Falls: The water levels here continue to drop each day and are almost running average for this time of year now. A good selection of golden stone, drakes, PMD’s and caddis should have you covered.
Flies: #8-12 Salmon/Golden Cubby Chernobyl, #12 Chutes Green Drake, #12 Missing Link Green Drake, #14-16 Missing Link, #16 D.O.A. PMD Cripple, #16 PMD Sparkle Dun, #16 Tan X-Caddis, #12-16 Rusty Spinner
NE Corner: Fishing has been picking up nicely on Slough, Soda Butte and Lamar and all three are fishing well. Drakes, PMD’s and caddis will all fish well along with some terrestrial and attractor patterns. Take a peek at the Lamar river gauge before heading over as some of these forecasted thunderstorms could blow out Soda Butte and Lamar intermittently during the week. When Soda Butte and Lamar are running off color, give Slough a try as it usually runs much clearer.
Flies: #12-16 Royal Trude, #12-16 Parawulff Adams, #12 Missing Link Green Drake, #14-16 Missing Link, #16 PMD Sparkle Dun, #16 D.O.A. PMD Cripple, #16 Tan X-Caddis, #14 409, #12 Quill JIg, #12 Lucent Jig, #16 Olive Biot Czech
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Tom Forsberg
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