Madison River Outfitters Fishing Report 9/17/2019
Montana
Upper Madison: While we are still getting some glimpses of good hopper and terrestrial fishing, the most consistent way to catch fish has now definitely transitioned into nymphing. Smaller baetis, midge and attractor nymphs in the size #16-18 range have been best, but there has also been a pretty good return of the rubber leg bite many days recently. That being said, you can still definitely try throwing some hoppers and ants around in the afternoons and the weather for tomorrow looks like it could be a good day to give it a shot. When the weather turns a bit snotty again after tomorrow, look for baetis to come off and fish to be rising to them.
Flies: #18-20 D.O.A. Baetis Cripple, #18-20 Baetis Sparkle Dun, #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, #10-12 Black Sili Legs, #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 Black/Olive Zebra Midge
Hebgen: Callibaetis fishing has slowed considerably given the recent weather. The good news however is that there are fish staging up in the Madison and Grayling arms that are ready and willing to eat both nymphs and especially leeches. Suspending a nymph under an indicator or stripping some buggers and leeches are great options right now.
Flies: #8 Simi Seal Leech, #6-8 Flash-A- Bugger, #16 Turkey Callibaetis, #16-18 Olive Flashback Hare’s ear
Gallatin: The Gallatin has still been fishing quite well both inside and outside of the park stretch. Nymphing with some smaller baetis and midge patterns will be your best bet in the mornings and throughout the day, but starting in the afternoon you can still throw around some terrestrial and attractor patterns with a good amount of success. On the cloudy, rainy days later this week baetis will be a good bet in the late afternoons as well.
Flies: #14-16 Lake Prince, #16-18 Shop Vac, #16-18 Red Neck, #12 Pink/Purple Hot Spot Jig, #8-12 Black Sili Legs, #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
Yellowstone National Park
NE Corner: Fishing on Slough, Soda Butte, and Lamar has been great. On cloudy days be sure to have small baetis and some Drake Mackerels and on sunny days make sure to bring your terrestrial box. This time of year a tungsten head dropper can make your day if things are slow or you find yourself getting a lot of refusals. Things have been running mostly clear up there recently, though Lamar has been a little chalky a few of these last few days after any rain.
Flies: #18-20 D.O.A. Baetis Cripple, #18-20 Baetis Sparkle Dun, #12 Drake Mackerel Cripple, #10-14 Peacock/Royal Chubby, #16 Longhorn Beetle, #14-16 Bogus Beetle, #14 Arrick’s Ant, #12 Thunder Thighs Hopper, #12-16 Royal/Lime Trude, #12-16 Parawulff Adams, #14 409, #12 Quill Jig, #12 Lucent Jig, #16 Olive Biot Czech
Madison in YNP: We have been hearing of more and more fish starting to move up into the river, though I would say we are still a little ways off from prime fall run fishing. The weather later this week should continue to draw quite a few more fish up into the system and maybe get things going full swing.
Flies: #8-12 Peacock/Orange/PT & Partridge, #10-12 Partridge and Copper, #8-10 Simi Seal Leech, #6 Sparkle Minnow, #8 Squirrel Leech, #18-20 D.O.A. Baetis Cripple, #18-20 Baetis Sparkle Dun
Firehole: The Firehole has been fishing about as consistent as you’d like. Look for baetis on cloudy days, caddis and terrestrials on the brighter days, and soft hackles anytime in between.
Flies: # 14 Tan Elk Hair Caddis, #18-20 D.O.A. Baetis Cripple, #18-20 Baetis Sparkle Dun, 14 Tan/Olive Diving Caddis, #10-14 Orange/Green & Partridge, #10 Simi Seal Leech
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Tom Forsberg
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