Madison River Outfitters Fishing Report 9/22/20
Montana
Upper Madison: We are still getting some decent fish to eat hoppers, but the consistency of hopper fishing overall hasn’t been great this week. Though it has still been worth throwing one around given the quality of fish that have been eating them. The nymph bite has been picking up nicely and has been a really solid option to get fish to the net throughout the day. Smaller bugs have been more consistent, but it’s about that time of year that these fish will start looking for a big rubber legs again. As the weather starts to get colder in the coming weeks we will start to keep our eyes open for baetis.
Flies: #12 Tan and Pink Chili Dogs, #8-12 Tan, Pink and Yellow Thunder Thighs, #16-18 Arrick’s Ant, #12-16 Royal Wulff, #14-16 Parawullf, #16-18 Krystal Dip, #14-16 Green Machine, #14-18 Red Neck, #16 Olive Hot Spot Perdigon, #14 HoloPoint, #16-18 Shop Vac, #16-18 Olive S.H. Hare’s Ear, #16 Shop Vac, #-12 Black Sili Legs.
Hebgen: With these consistent colder mornings, things are definitely slowing down on the lake where dry fly fishing is concerned. You may still find a few fish tracking but they will be few and far between. Time to start throwing leeches for your better action.
Flies: #14-16 Turkey Callibaetis, #16 Parachute Callibaetis, #16 Callibaetis Spinner, #6 Black & Olive Hot Bead Leeches, #8 Thin Mint, #8 Simi Seal Leech
Gallatin: You may still get a few fish to eat terrestrials and attractors in the afternoon hours, but nymphing and streamers will be your better methods from here on out.
Flies: #12 Tan and Pink Chili Dogs, #12-16 Royal Wulff, #14-16 Parawullf, #12-14 Lime Trude, #14 Holo Point, #14 Olive Hot Spot Perdigon
Yellowstone National Park
Slough/Soda Butte/Lamar: Drake Mackerels have been coming off thick and providing some great dry fly fishing. You also have a good chance of seeing baetis on any given day. Hoppers, ants and beetles will still get fish to come up as well, and a hopper dropper is still a solid option as well between hatches.
Flies: #12 Drake Mackerel Cripple, #12 Tan and Pink Chili Dogs, #8-12 Tan and Pink Thunder Thighs, #14-16 Bogus Beetle, #14-16 Arrick’s Ant, #14 Royal Trude, #14 Holo Point, #12 Spanish Bullet
Madison/Firehole: It’s officially time. We are starting to get our first consistent reports of people hooking into some nice lake fish in the Madison. Get in there and start swinging your soft hackle or streamer of choice and see what chases. The Firehole has been fishing really consistently now as well. Look for White Miller and baetis to make an appearance, but as usual soft hackles will be most productive throughout the day and between hatches.
Flies: #8-12 Partridge & Peacock, #8-12 Partridge & Orange, #6 Sparkle Minnow, #8 Simi Seal Leech, #8-12 Black Sili Legs, #14-16 Red Neck, #14 Holo Point, #12 Tan Elk Hair Caddis, #12 Tan and Pink Chili Dogs, #18-20 Baetis Sparkle Dun
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Tom Forsberg
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