Madison River Outfitters Fishing Report 9/8/21
Montana
Upper Madison: Hoppers, ants, and beetles have been the name of the game on the Madison the past few days. Be on the look out for small caddis hatching once things warm up a bit also. Running a dropper with a tungsten bead nymph a few feet underneath a hopper or bigger attractor dry fly has been effective as well. Nymphing is till consistent with smaller flies, and getting a good drift is very important at this point in the season.
Flies: #10-12 Grand Hopper, #12 Pink Chili Dog, #12-14 Tan Thunder Things, #14-16 Hi-Viz Cinnamon Ant, #16 Arricks Ant, #14-16 Bogus Beetle, #18 Peacock Caddis, #18 Missing Link, #16 Holo-Point, #16 Olive Spanish Bullet, #16-18 Krystal Dip, #16-18 Redneck, #16-18 Shop Vac, #18 Hot Butt Nymph, #18 Black Zebra Midge
Hebgen: Tricos and Callibaetis are still coming off in good numbers most days on the lake. Watch for tricos early, and for callibaetis for the rest of the day or until the wind picks up. Try fishing a Turkey Callibaetis or a pheasant tail 12-16” under a dry fly has been productive when fish are being picky on the surface. Nymphing a two fly set up under an indicator, or stripping leeches and wooly buggers has been finding some fish if nothing is rising.
Flies: #16 Callibaetis Sparkle Dun, #16 Callibaetis Sprout, #16 ParaWulff Adams, #16 Rusty Spinner, #18-20 Calf Wing Trico Spinner, #14-16 Hi-Viz Ant, #14-16 Turkey Callibaetis, #16-18 Pheasant Tail, #14 Olive/Red Nugget, #8 Olive or Black Simi Seal Leech, #6 Flash a Bugger
YNP
Gallatin: The cool nights have kept the Gallatin’s water temperatures down, so take your time getting over there and get started once things warm up by mid morning or so. Nymph fishing will be most consistent, but be sure to have some terrestrial patterns as well. Searching around with small attractor dry flies should find a few fish too.
Flies: #16-18 Guide Dip, 16-18 Frenchie, #16-18 Green Lightning Bug, #16 Tan Chili Dog, #12 Pink Blade Runner, #12-14 Thunder Thighs, #16 Arricks Ant, #16 Purple Haze, #16-18 Royal Wulff Cripple, #16-18 Parachute Adams
Madison/Firehole: The Madison in the park has been fishing well with dry flies, nymphs, and small leeches and soft hackles. Terrestrials and attractor dry flies have had a couple fish looking up, and a hopper dropper rig with a nymph trailing underneath has been productive, as has swinging soft hackles and leeches. The Firehole is still getting too warm for fishing during the afternoon hours, but is fishing well early with terrestrial patterns and soft hackles. Keep an eye out for some White Miller Caddis also.
Flies: #10-12 Tan Morrish Hopper, #10-12 Parachute Hopper, #16 Purple Parachute, #16 Royal Wulff, #12-14 Partridge and Peacock, #12-14 Partridge and Orange, #14 Olive Diving Caddis, #8 Simi Seal Leech
NE Corner: Chugging along and still fishing well despite the low water conditions. Not much has changed since last week’s report. Terrestrial and attractor dry flies will be your best bet, but you could run into hatches of Drake Mackerels and maybe some baetis coming off.
Flies: #10-14 Pink Morrish Hopper, #16 Tan Chili Dog, #14 Red Foamulator #16 Cinnamon Hi-Viz Ant, #16 Arricks Ant, #12 Longhorn Beetle, #12 Drake Mackerel Cripple, #18 Tilt Wing BWO, #16-18 Parachute Adams, #16 Olive Spanish Bullet, #16 Holo-Point
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Nick Toller
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