Madison River Outfitters Fishing Report 8/27/2023
When fishing's tough, switch it up!
Montana
Hebgen: This is the prime time to fish Hebgen. Anglers on watercraft and wading have been catching cruising gulpers on both of the arms of the lake. Callibaetis and Tricos are hatching pretty thick in the mornings and evenings, even thicker on less windy days. When you aren't seeing fish rise it may be worth stripping leeches or large damselfly nymphs in the upper reaches of the arms.
Flies: #8 Black or Olive Simi Seal Leech, #6 Balanced Squirrel Leech Black, #6 Olive or Black Hot Bead Leech, #8 Thin Mint, #12 Balanced Damsel, #20 Trico Spinner, #16 Callibaetis Sparkle Dun, #16 Found Link Callibaetis, #16 Purple Missing Link, #16 Long Tailed Callibaetis Spinner
Flows:
Inflow to Hebgen Lake: 922 cfs
Hebgen Lake Outflow: 986 cfs
Kirby Flows: 1090 cfs
** Flows as of 3 pm August 27th, 2023 **
Upper Madison: The Upper Madison is nymphing extremely well (as always!), smaller mayfly and caddis nymphs, as well as dip style midges are what we're throwing lately. Hoppers are fishing a little better but still not as consistently as we'd like. Throwing a hopper dropper is the best of both worlds and a good way to search/cover water. Other terrestrials and streamers are also moving fish on slower days.
Flies: #16-18 Redneck, #16-18 Shop Vac, #18 Black Crystal Dip, #18 Olive Micro Mayfly, #18 Hogan's S&M Black, #14 Olive Hot Spot, #18 BWO Comparadun, #16 BWO CDC Comparadun, #16 Pink or Tan Chili-Dog, #12 Carnage Hopper, #10/12 Tan Thunder Thighs, #6 Black Hot Bead Leech, #4 Olive/White Barely Legal
YNP
This is the prime time to be in the NE corner of YNP!!
Flows:
Madison near West Yellowstone: 385 cfs
Yellowstone below Yellowstone Lake : 1630 cfs
Gibbon: 111 cfs
Gallatin near Big Sky: 479 cfs
** Flows as of 3 pm August 27th 2023 **
Gallatin: The Gallatin is low, clear, and cold enough that you don't need to be there before 10am. Fish should be rising pretty readily to terrestrials like beetles, ants, and hoppers. Smaller attractor dries like Royal Wulffs and Stimulators should also entice a rise. Fish in the upper Gallatin tend to reside in deeper runs and pools this time of year so avoid shallow runs and riffles all together.
Flies: #16-18 Shop Vac, #16-18 Black Krystal Dip, #16 Pink Chili Dog, #14 Royal Chubby Chernobyl, #18 Parachute Adams, #16 Orange Spruce Moth, #16 Rocky Mtn Mint PMD, #14 Royal Stimulator, #16 Arrick's Ant, #14 Royal Wulff, #16 Bionic Ant Brown
Madison/Firehole/Gibbon: As we anxiously count down to the cool fall days of swinging the rivers on the west side of the park, the Firehole is still a bit too warm to ethically fish. The Madison in the park has been slow and is also too warm at this time. The Gibbon above the falls is still cool and fishing well. Try throwing some streamers and soft hackles around the cut banks as fall rapidly approaches.
Flies: #8-10 Partridge and Orange, #8-10 Partridge and Pheasant Tail, #14 Prince Nymph, #16-18 Frenchie, #14 Diving Caddis, #6 Olive Slump-Buster, #6 Olive Montana Mouthwash, #8 Black or Olive Hot Bead Leech
Yellowstone/NE Corner: The Yellowstone is fishing well still but should start slowing down as always as august continues. Hunt around for rising cutties when you see bugs flying. The Lamar and its tributaries are all fishing well with fish looking up, however, parts of the lower Lamar will most likely be high and off color. Look for fish rising on Tricos and small BWO's. Pink, purple, and red chubbies, as well as other terrestrials like will also fish well. Streamers should fish well if dries are slow.
Flies: #18-20 Parachute BWO, #18 Guide Winna Spinna, #10 Yellow Thunder Thighs, #16 Rocky Mtn Mint Adam's, #16 Butch Sally, #14 pink/purple/red Chubby Chernobyl, #6 Black Hot Bead Leech, #6 Olive Slump-Buster, #6 Olive/Black Crystal Bugger
We are still booking float, & walk/wade trips for the 2023 season. Give us a call if you have any questions or are looking to book a guided trip.
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Tyler Amory
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