Flows are down to 1030 c.f.s. below Hebgen from 1200 c.f.s. last week, and the trend continues downstream with readings at Kirby Ranch of 1210 c.f.s. and 1270 c.f.s. at Varney Bridge. Water temps have also been slowly dropping thanks to the cooler days and nights we’ve had and the fish seem to be enjoying the cooler weather.
Fish are looking up! The surface action has been really good starting late in the morning once it starts to warm up a bit. Hoppers, ants, and spruce moths are bringing fish up with ease. The best patterns over the last few days have been Yeager’s 409, the Cinnamon Delektable Flying Ant, UV Cinnamon Delektable Chubbyness, Pink Morrish Hopper and Fat Alberts in a variety of colors. Be sure to give them a twitch!
Underneath, things have been a little more inconsistent. Although you can surely pick fish up on nymphs it has been a bit tougher some days. Flies that have worked lately are Lightning bugs, Formerly Known as Prince, Shop Vacs, and Delektable Lil’ Spankers in different colors. You may want to start off fishing those under a small chubby or chubbyness or grasshopper because the dry fly bite has been so good.
Streamer fishing has been hit or miss, as streamer fishing usually is but early mornings still seem to be the best time of day to try your luck. Smaller stuff seems to be getting more attention. They’re coming out from around the boulders for Sculpzillas, White Delektable Screamers, JR’s Conehead and black/olive Bow River Buggers. Move those flies fast along structure and you should be in good shape. 
We’re looking forward to what the rest of August brings here on the Madison. If there’s any other info you need call or stop by the shop anytime.
Brian, Kevin, and the Delektable Crew
Thanks to everyone who
came out to the shop to support the children for our Montana Hope Project fundraiser, we had a very successful turn out and donations are still rolling in already exceeding last year’s totals! It was incredible to see so many of our friends come together for such a great cause. And the food was great! Also, thanks to Elle from Elles Belles for providing some incredible desserts. Yumm!
As we transition into August the fishing is 
doing exactly what you’d expect with terrestrials really starting to come into play. Fish are showing a serious interest in flies like the red Delektable Flying Ant, Yeager’s 409, Grillo’s royal Hippie Stomper and the Hi-Vis Foam Beetle. There are still some PMDs kickin’ around up river as well, fishing the spinners in the evening has produced some quality fish. Spruce Moths have also been picking up fish in the shape of Delektable Twisted X tan/brown or bigger tan Elk Hairs.
the Madison, bead heads work. Some of our most productive flies have been the Delektable C.D.C. Baby, flashback Hare’s Ears, Prince’s, Delektable Silver Lil’ Spankers, Lightning Bugs and smaller Olive/Brown Pat’s Rubberlegs. The tail end of the ten day forecast looks like it’s going to be cooling off a bit with highs in the upper 70’s and lower 80’s which will be a pleasant change of pace.
overall but is still best during the cooler starts and ends of the day with dead drifting being the way to go during the afternoon. My best pattern is still the Olive/Black Delektable Screamer but Mini Loops, Trevor’s Sculpins and McCune’s are getting the job done as well.
Things have been heating up on the Upper Madison over the past week, (mid-day temps well into the 90’s) which sped the big bug hatch right up and pretty much out the door. You may still be able to find a couple salmon flies way up top but hopefully you got to enjoy the hatch in its entirety. In other news, gin-clear water has been steadily flowing out of Hebgen at 1,220 c.f.s. and 1,610 c.f.s. at Kirby Ranch. The heat has kind of put a damper on the mid-day dry fly bite but the mornings and evenings have still been great and nymphing is producing throughout the day. 
