Madison River Outfitters Fishing Report 8/20/2019
Montana
Upper Madison: After a stellar week of terrestrial action on the Madison, the fishing the last two days has slowed slightly. This is likely due to the cold overnight and morning temps we had over the weekend. The forecast for the upcoming week looks like a return to sunny and hot conditions and things should get rolling at full speed again. If you’re floating, fishing the middle has been as effective as the banks, if not more so. There are still plenty of epeorus spinners around in the evening starting around 6 pm. A rusty spinner should be productive. Smaller nymphs will also produce throughout the day.
Flies: #10-12 Pink/Tan/Yellow Thunder Thighs, #10-12 Morrish Hopper, #14-16 Arrick’s Ant, #16 Nyman’s Flying Ant, #14-16 Bogus Beetle, #12-16 Royal Trude, #16-18 Rusty Spinner, #16-18 Purple Parachute, #16 Lake Prince, #16-18 Shop Vac, #16-18 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, #18 Zebra Midge
Hebgen: Hebgen has been getting more and more consistent where calllibaetis are concerned. It’s been nice to see fish coming up more than once and to have some targets to cast to. Not every morning has been good, but you won’t know until you go. If things are a bit slow, getting a turkey callibaetis suspended near a pod of rising fish can be very effective.
Flies: #16 Callibaetis Parachute, #16 Callibaetis Sparkle Dun, #16 Callibaetis Cripple, #16 Turkey Callibaetis
Gallatin: Terrestrials and attractors will produce throughout the day both in and outside the park. Outside the park in the canyon stretch, start looking for spruce moth activity in the afternoons as they can provide some lights out fishing.
Flies: #12 Morrish Hopper, #10-12 Thunder Thighs Hopper, #14-16 Lime/Royal Trude, #12-16 Parawulff, #14 409, #8-12 Royal/Peacock/Golden Chubby Chernobyl, #16 Tan X-Caddis, #14 Elk Hair Caddis, #14 Tan/Orange Spruce Moth, #16-18 Rusty Spinner
Yellowstone National Park
NE Corner: At this point in the season terrestrials and attractors will provide most of your dry fly action, though there still could be a few mayflies and caddis hanging around. Make sure you are getting a good drift as this can become the difference between a great day and a so-so day on these rivers this time of year.
Flies: #10-12 Pink/Tan/Yellow Thunder Thighs, #10-12 Morrish Hopper, #14-16 Arrick’s Ant, #14-16 Bogus Beetle, 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,
Yellowstone above the Falls: The fishing always gets a bit tougher here this time of year. That being said, if you can find a fish to target I would say that it would likely eat a well-presented hopper, ant or beetle. A drake spinner would also still be able to fool a few fish.
Flies: #10-12 Morrish Hopper, #14 Bogus Beetle, #14-16 Arrick’s Ant, #12 Chutes Green Drake, #12 Missing Link Green Drake, #12-16 Rusty Spinner
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Tom Forsberg
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