Category: Fishing Reports

September 4, 2008 6:00 PM

The Upper Madison remains open for day use only. Yesterday a couple boats floated the lower Upper Madison and reported spotty streamer fishing. The few fish that were caught were mostly larger (high teens-low twenties and a six incher). Today, the streamer reports were better than yesterday. We expect better streamer reports to follow. The current flows at 3,550 CFS are too high for drift boats and rafts to clear the bridges between Lyons and Palisades.

September 4, 1008 11:45 AM PPL UPDATE

PPL has informed us the engineers will be installing the bulkhead this weekend. This is a fairly involved process with multiple resources and heavy equipment. This process, once completed, is expected to block and redirect flows closer to 1,000 CFS. Starting from Friday there will be a number of large trucks and heavy equipment in the area of the dam. For the safety of everyone including traffic flow and especially because the road and area is narrow, folks are asked to not to go to the dam area unless necessary and if in the area, please park in a safe area out of the way of the heavy equipment and workers. PPL hopes to schedule a public meeting in the near future to provide more information.

PPL UPDATE
PPL has informed us that their engineers are still discussing the best method to control the flows. Decision regarding their approach and implementation will probably take a week or more, so flows over 3,000 CFS can be expected through the weekend. PPL repeats that they consider the dam to be structurally sound.

UPPER MADISON IS OPEN FOR DAY USE
The BLM and FWP have reopened the fishing access sites along the Madison for day use only. These sites will continue to be closed for camping until further notice. Flow at Cameron is 3,700 CFS. Visibility at McAtee is around 12 inches.

September 1, 2008 11:35 AM

REPORT FROM PPL MONTANA
We have just been notified by PPL that there is a crane in position at the dam and they are installing a steel plate or bulkhead to stabilize or decrease the flow. This will probably take most of the day or longer. Once this bulkhead is in place a more thorough inspection of the dam will be possible. PPL does not consider this an emergency situation and is working hard to provide information to the people affected by these developments. They will use their website PPL Montana to provide timely information. PPL has an Emergency Action Plan in place, should this be needed.

September 1, 2008 9:35 AM

THE UPPER MADISON IS NOW

CLOSED AGAIN

We have just been notified by FWP and BLM that they are reassessing the situation and are now closing all access sites until further notice.

September 1, 2008 8:45 AM

THE UPPER MADISON IS OPEN FOR DAY USE ONLY
We have just been notified by FWP that they are opening the Upper Madison for day use only – both for driftboats and waders. People should be mindful of possible sudden increases in flows. The FWP will post warnings at the access sites. No overnight camping or night fishing will be allowed until further notice. The river is muddy, with visibility of 12 inches or less. Flow is 3,220 at Kirby Ranch. We will update this site whenever we receive new information.

September 1, 2008 8:00 AM

THE UPPER MADISON IS CLOSED

Problem at Hebgen Dam – Suddenly Triples Flow of Upper Madison on Sunday, Aug. 31

Around midday yesterday a problem occurred at the dam, suddenly increasing the flow from 940 cfs to around 3,300 cfs:

All the campgrounds along the river and the lower areas around Jeffers were reportedly evacuated yesterday afternoon and evening. PPL Montana was reportedly pouring concrete at the dam last night. Flows have been stable through the night.

FWP has notified us that the Upper Madison is closed until further notice.

We will post additional information as it becomes available to us.

McAtee Access Site September 1, 2008:

Downstream From McAtee Bridge Sept. 1, 2008

Dan Marty Nancy Brad

It’s Ant Time on the Lower Upper

Caught between Varney Bridge and 8 Mile on a #16

Delektable Flying Ant–Cinnamon , August 25, 2008

The flow of the Madison is 948 CFS and stable: Upper Madison Flow at Cameron.An excellent discussion of Water Management of Hebgen by PP&L is on the Madison River Fishing Company Fishing Report, August 23: Hebgen Water Management by PP&L: MRFC Hopper patterns, ant patterns, and Spruce Moth patterns are all effective, although Spruce Moth activity is winding down. There have been some slow afternoons recently. Caddis are still coming off, even on the lower river. There was a heavy caddis hatch around Varney two nights ago. Caddis hatching on the Upper Madison in late August–just another amazing thing about this amazing season.

You can pick your favorite hopper, ant, spruce moth, beetle, and caddis patterns and fish dries all day–most days. It doesn’t get any better than that. The nymphing continues to be very good. The streamer fishing is improving and is starting to work in the middle of the day. With the coming cooler weather, the streamer fishing will really start to turn on.

Recommended Flies

To see the Delektables™ go to: Delektable Flies Gallery

Dries :
Delecktable Flying Ant, Cinnamon or Black #16, #18 (sometimes ants are working right out of the gate in the morning); Turk’s Tarantula Gold #12, #14; Half Down Hopper #12, #14 ; Delektable Twisted X tan #14, #12; Delektable Twisted Baby Tan/Brown #12, #14; Fat Albert-red, yellow, chartreuse #14, #12, #10, #8; Triple Decker Hopper–Pink #12, #10; Delektable Twisted X Black with Red Butt #10; Super Spider #12, #14; Delektable Sparkle Bugs, Delektable CDC Elk Hairs, and Delektable Halos #16, #14–tan and olive; La Fontaine Emergent Sparkle Pupa brown #16

Delektable Flying Ant Cinnamon

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Nymphs:
Delektable Lil’ Spanker: Silver, Red, or Pheasant Tail #16, #18; Lighting Bug #16, #18; Tungsten Beadhead Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle #16,#18; Tungsten BH Amber or Olive Studly Nymph #16, #18; BH Superflash #18, #20; WD40 Olive #18, #20; BH Tailwater Tiny Olive #18, #20; many different kinds of beaded nymphs

Delektable Lil’ Spanker

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Streamers:
Delektable Screamer Yellow and Brown, Olive Black, Black, Single and Double, #6, or your favorite pattern.

Dan Marty Nancy Brad

Dan’s client, Jan, with Big Brown, caught on a #14 Gold Tarantula, between Pal and Mac, August 20, 2008. The flow of the Madison is 951 CFS and has been stable for the past week: Upper Madison Flow at Cameron. Spruce moth patterns, hopper patterns, and ant patterns are all effective, although there have been some slow afternoons recently. Caddis are still coming off. Spruce moth patterns continue to work well even below the tree areas – sometimes all the way to Varney. Those moths don’t seem to sink quickly and the fish are eating them well downstream from where they are blown into the river.

You can pick your favorite spruce moth, hopper, ant, beetle, and caddis patterns and fish dries all day. It doesn’t get any better than that. The nymphing continues to be very good. The streamer fishing is good, if you’re on the river early or late.

SPRUCE MOTH

Recommended Flies

To see the Delektables™ go to: Delektable Flies Gallery

Dries :
Turk’s Tarantula Gold #12, #14; Half Down Hopper #12, #14 ; Delektable Twisted X tan #14, #12; Delektable Twisted Baby Tan/Brown #12, #14; Fat Albert-red, yellow, chartreuse #14, #12, #10, #8; Triple Decker Hopper–Pink #12, #10; Delecktable Flying Ant, Cinnamon or Black #16, #18 (sometimes ants are working right out of the gate in the morning); Delektable Twisted X Black with Red Butt #10; Super Spider #12, #14; Delektable Sparkle Bugs, Delektable CDC Elk Hairs, and Delektable Halos #16, #14–tan and olive; La Fontaine Emergent Sparkle Pupa brown #16

Delektable Flying Ant Cinnamon

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Turk’s Tarantula

Nymphs:
Pat’s Rubberlegs Brown #6,#8; ; Delektable Mega Prince #6, #8; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Silver, Red, or Pheasant Tail #16, #18; Lighting Bug #16, #18; Tungsten Beadhead Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle #16,#18; Tungsten BH Amber or Olive Studly Nymph #16, #18; BH Superflash #18, #20; WD40 Olive #18, #20; BH Tailwater Tiny Olive #18, #20; many different kinds of beaded nymphs

Delektable Lil’ Spanker

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Streamers:
Delektable Screamer Yellow and Brown, Olive Black, Olive and Yellow, Single and Double, #6, or your favorite pattern.

Dan Marty Nancy Brad

August 15, 2008

The flow of the Madison is 982 CFS and has been stable, after a small rise two days ago: Upper Madison Flow at Cameron. Spruce moth patterns, hopper patterns, and ant patterns are all effective, although there have been some slow days with the cooler weather recently. Caddis are still coming off and even some PMDs. Spruce moth patterns continue to work well even below the tree areas – sometimes all the way to Varney. Those moths don’t seem to sink quickly and the fish are eating them well downstream from where they are blown into the river. You can pick your favorite spruce moth, hopper, ant, PMD, and caddis patterns and fish dries all day. It doesn’t get any better than that. The nymphing continues to be very good. The streamer fishing is good, if you’re on the river early or late.

SPRUCE MOTH

Recommended Flies

To see the Delektables™ go to: Delektable Flies Gallery

Dries :
Turk’s Tarantula Gold #12, #14; Half Down Hopper #12, #14 ; Delektable Twisted X tan #14, #12; Delektable Twisted Baby Tan/Brown #12, #14; Fat Albert-red, yellow, chartreuse #12, #10, #8; Triple Decker Hopper–Pink #12; Delecktable Flying Ant, Cinnamon or Black #16, #18 (sometimes ants are working right out of the gate in the morning) Delektable Sparkle Bugs, Delektable CDC Elk Hairs, and Delektable Halos #16, #14–tan and olive; La Fontaine Emergent Sparkle Pupa brown #16; Rusty Spinner #16, #14

Delektable Flying Ant Cinnamon

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Nymphs:
Pat’s Rubberlegs Brown #6,#8; ; Delektable Mega Prince #6, #8; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Silver, Red, or Pheasant Tail; Lighting Bug #16, #18; Tungsten Beadhead Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle #16,#18; Tungsten BH Amber Studly Nymph #16; many different kinds of beaded PMD nymphs

Delektable Lil’ Spanker

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Streamers:
Delektable Screamer Yellow and Brown, Olive Black, Olive and Yellow, Single and Double, #6, or your favorite pattern.

Dan Marty Nancy Brad

THE SPRUCE MOTHS ARE HERE

The flow of the Madison is 940 CFS, has been stable for three days, and has come down from the 1,400 CFS it was two weeks ago: Upper Madison Flow at Cameron. The entire Upper Madison is in great shape.

Terrestial Time is here Big Time. Spruce moth patterns, hopper patterns, and ant patterns are red hot. Caddis are still coming off strong and even PMDs are still happening. Some salmonflies were seen laying eggs at the Wolf Creek bridge four days ago. Guides who have been on the river for more than forty years say they have never before seen salmonflies on the Float Section of the Upper Madison in August.

Spruce moth patterns are working well even below the tree areas— at least all the way to Storey. Those moths don’t seem to sink quickly and the fish are eating them well downstream from where they are blown into the river.

You can pick your favorite spruce moth, hopper, ant, PMD, and caddis patterns and fish dries all day. It doesn’t get any better than that. The nymphing continues to be very good. The streamer fishing is good, if you’re on the river early or late.

Recommended Flies

To see the Delektables™ go to: Delektable Flies Gallery

Dries :

Delektable Sparkle Bugs, Delektable CDC Elk Hairs, and Delektable Halos #16, #14–tan and olive; La Fontaine Emergent Sparkle Pupa brown #16; PMD cripples, emergers, and Rusty Spinner–all #16, #14; Kingreys’s Li’l Hottie #16,#14; Delektable Twisted X tan #14, #12; Parachute Madame X Peacock #12, #10, #8…and Hoppers: Half Down Hopper #12, #14 (a great spruce moth pattern); Turk’s Tarantula Gold #12, #14; Fat Albert-Chartreuse has worked the best this past week, but yellow, red, and tan are also working #12, #10, #8; Delecktable Flying Ant, Cinnamon or Black #16, #18 (sometimes ants are working right out of the gate in the morning)

Half Down Hopper

Delektable Sparkle Bug

Riverborn Fly Company

www.riverbornflies.com

Delektable Flying Ant Cinnamon Delektable Flying Ant Black

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Nymphs:
Pat’s Rubberlegs Brown #6,#8; Delektable Mr Rubberlegs Yellow Olive, #6,#8,#10 and Epoxy Back Yellow Olive #6, #8, #10 Delektable Hurless Olive, Gray #6, #8; Delektable Mega Prince #6, #8; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Pheasant Tail or Silver or Lighting Bug #16, #18; Tungsten Beadhead Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle #16,#18; Tungsten BH Amber Studly Nymph #16; many different kinds of beaded PMD nymphs

Delektable Lil’ Spanker

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Streamers:
Delektable Screamer Yellow and Brown, Olive Black, Olive and Yellow, Single and Double, #6, or your favorite pattern.

Dan Marty Nancy Brad

McAtee Bridge July 6, 2008

The flow of the Madison is 1,940 CFS and has been stable for the past 5 days: Upper Madison Flow at Cameron. The Hebgen Conservation Pool is 100% full and the reservoir outflow now exceeds the inflow, so the last big wave of the melt is now over.

The Upper Madison has cleared up, with the West Fork adding only a little green. Indian Creek turned from brown to green yesterday, so the entire river is fishing very well now. This has resulted in enormous pressure throughout the entire river. Salmonfly Madness is upon us.

It’s a good idea to line up your shuttle early in the day or even the day before. There is no longer any shuttle service at the West Fork. The three shuttle services in the Valley have not been able to keep up with the demand the last several days.

The major part of the salmonfly hatch is now between Palisades and Varney.

The surface salmonfly activity has been only sporadic so far. Nymphing is what has really been red hot–with large stonefly patterns, caddis emerger patterns all the way from size 14 to size 6, and PMD nymphs, size 16 and 18.

The heaviest part of the salmonfly hatch has resulted in very slow catching. The fish are gorging themselves on the nymphs washing into the current as they work their way to land and are getting full quickly. Marty was guiding just below Mac on Monday when the salmonflies were so thick they were hitting him in the face and landing everywhere in the boat. They then went for about 4-5 hours without catching a fish. So it is a good idea to try to be above or below the major part of the hatch, if you can be smart enough and lucky enough to do that.

There is a smorgasbord of hatches coming off now, in addition to the salmonflies–several species of caddis, most of them dark brown to chocolate, several species of PMDs, as well as pale evening duns, golden stones, yellow sallies–with marked variability as to where on the river they are happening. So have a lot of bugs in your arsenal and keep cycling to find out what they’re eating.

The streamer fishing is quite good, if you’re on the river early or late.

Recommended Flies

To see the Delektables™ go to: Delektable Flies Gallery

Nymphs:

Delektable CDC Baby–definitely a hot fly right now–#14 all the way to #8; Pat’s Rubberlegs Brown #6,#8–also hot; Delektable Mr Rubberlegs Yellow Olive, #6,#8,#10 and Epoxy Back Yellow Olive #6, #8, #10 Delektable Hurless Olive, Gray #6, #8; Delektable Mega Prince #6, #8; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Silver or Lighting Bug #16, #18; Tungsten Beadhead Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle #16,#18

Delektable CDC Baby

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Delektable Lil’ Spanker

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Dries :
Your favorite Salmonfly dries–keep trying; Orange attractors; PMDs, Little Yellow Sallies, Caddis–with the caddis varying all the way from size 8 to 16, in dark brown and tan. Delektable Halos, Delektable Sparkle Bugs, Delektable CDC Elk Hairs #16, #14, or bigger…and Yellow Stones, Bruce’s California Blonde; PMD cripples and emergers #16

Delektable Halo

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Delektable Sparkle Bug

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Delektable CDC Elk Hair

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Streamers:
Delektable Screamer Yellow and Brown, Olive Black, Olive and Yellow, Badger, Single and Double, #6, Conehead Bow River Bugger Olive #4, or your favorite pattern.

Delektable Screamer Olive Black

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Dan Marty Nancy Brad

The flow of the Madison is 2,740 CFS and rising: Upper Madison Flow at Cameron. Hebgen Conservation Pool is 99% full. PPL plans to increase the flows out of Hebgen to match the inflows over the next several days. With the very hot weather predicted for this weekend and with all the input from the West Fork and the creeks, the flow below Indian Creek may well approach or exceed 5,000 CFS before the major part of the melt is over.

These high flows and the mud from the West Fork and Indian Creek have made fishing very difficult below the West Fork. These conditions have markedly increased the fishing pressure above the West Fork, where the fishing remains good to excellent.

Once this runoff subsides– probably in early July– the fly fishing on the Upper Madison is going to be spectacular–especially the dry fly fishing.

There is some dry fly action above the West Fork with little yellow sallies and big caddis. Once the bug hatch starts on the float section, which is just days away, the dinner bell will ring and we’ll be able to catch fish again, even in the dirt. Once we get the mixture of PMDs, caddis, and stoneflies, the float section of the Upper Madison is going to bust loose. But we’re all waiting for that to happen now. Once it happens, it’s going to be good all summer.

The streamer fishing is spotty.

Recommended Flies

To see the Delektables™ go to: Delektable Flies Gallery

Nymphs:
Delektable™ Hurless Olive, Gray #6, #8; Delektable™ Mega Prince #6, #8; Pat’s Rubberleg Brown #6,#8; Delektable Big Red #6, Delektable Worm, Red or Brown #8; Red Wire Worm #6, #8; Hogan’s Red Headed Step Child; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Red and Silver #16, #18; Tungsten Beadhead Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle #16,#18

Delektable Lil’ Spanker

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Delektable Braided Flashback Big Red

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Dries :

Nothing now in the float section, but when it starts, or now above the West Fork: PMDs, Little Yellow Sallies, Caddis–with the caddis varying all the way from size 8 to 16, in dark brown, olive, and tan.

Streamers (might be worth a try) :

Delektable Screamer Olive Black, Olive and Yellow, Single and Double, #6, or your favorite pattern.

Delektable Screamer Olive Black

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Dan Marty Nancy Brad

June 18, 2008

The flow of the Madison is 2,390 CFS and rising: Upper Madison Flow at Cameron. The warm weather of the last few days has started the melt again, with the West Fork and Indian Creek spitting in mud. The muddy strip from the West Fork is still well defined at the Sun West bridge and then colors the entire river by the Wolf Creek bridge. Temperatures are predicted to reach the high 80s by Saturday.

All this has resulted in real crowding at Lyons. Dan planned to launch at Lyons today and found himself 14th in line, so he went from Raynolds to Pine Butte instead. The water was crystal clear and the action was great on big nymphs. Marty floated today from Lyons to Ruby, with Grandpa and Gene. They had excellent results with the Delektable Lil’ Spanker, in red and in silver, even over near the left bank below Lyons, in the discolored water.

Once this runoff subsides– in late June or early July– the fly fishing on the Upper Madison is going to be spectacular–especially the dry fly fishing.

There is no dry fly action, but this heat may change that quickly.

The streamer fishing has become spotty, with the recent drop in flow, the sunny days, and the cold water coming into the river mid-day from the melt.

Recommended Flies

To see the Delektables™ go to: Delektable Flies Gallery

Nymphs:

Delektable™ Hurless Olive, Gray #6, #8; Delektable™ Mega Prince #6, #8; Pat’s Rubberleg Brown #6,#8; Delektable Big Red #6, Delektable Worm, Red or Brown #8; Red Wire Worm #6, #8; Hogan’s Red Headed Step Child; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Red and Silver #16, #18; Tungsten Beadhead Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle #16,#18

Delektable Lil’ Spanker

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Delektable Braided Flashback Big Red

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Dries :

When it starts, think March Brown patterns, PMDs, and Caddis–with the caddis varying all the way from size 8 to 16, in dark brown, olive, and tan.

Streamers (worth a try) :

Delektable Screamer Olive Black, Olive and Yellow, Single and Double, #6, or your favorite pattern.

Delektable Screamer Olive Black

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Dan Marty Nancy Brad

The flow of the Madison is 2,350 CFS and has been dropping for the last 6 days: Upper Madison Flow at Cameron. The water clarity is around 18 inches above the West Fork and around 12 inches below. It is snowing outside the Beartooth Lodge as this report is being written. Warm weather in the seventies is predicted for this weekend, which should start the dry fly fishing–big time.

If you don’t already have plans to fish the Upper Madison this summer or fall, make them now. Once this runoff subsides–probably sometime in June– the fly fishing on the Upper Madison is going to be spectacular–especially the dry fly fishing.

Marty and Brad fished above the West Fork on Saturday afternoon, in the muddy, high flow water. Marty caught a lot of fish, fishing big nymphs tight to the bank. The hottest nymph was the #6 Delektable Braided Flashback Big Red. They were also hitting the Delektable Hurless Stone and Delektable Mega Prince. Marty caught his fish on a rebuilt 60 year old Granger bamboo rod that Dan and Marty had just finished rebuilding. Both of these were caught on the Big Red:

Fishing has been very good with nymphs between the lakes. Please be careful of the pea gravel spawning beds. The water is somewhat discolored, but the fish are feeding actively. Notice the color of the water behind fly fisherwoman Catalina and her Bow. This was caught on a #14 Hogan’s Red Headed Step Child:

The streamer fishing has also been excellent. Two boats within the last two days have scored heavily on the Delektable Screamer Olive Black, and a full range of other colors and styles, between Lyons and Mac. Streamer fishing is also hot between Varney and Town.

Recommended Flies

To see the Delektables™ go to: Delektable Flies Gallery

Nymphs:
Delektable™ Hurless Olive, Gray #6, #8; Delektable™ Mega Prince #6, #8; Pat’s Rubberleg Brown #6,#8; Delektable EggHead Midnight Fire #6, Delektable Big Red #6, Delektable Worm, Red or Brown #8; Red Wire Worm #6, #8, Hogan’s Red Headed Step Child

Delektable Hurless Stone Flashback Gray

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Delektable Braided Flashback Big Red

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Worth a Try: Delektable™ Lil’ Spanker Pheasant Tail or Lil’ Spanker in Red, Silver, Olive #18;#16,#14; Tungsten Beadhead Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle #20; Delektable™ Twinkle Midge and Zebra Midge #20,#18; WD40 Olive #20

Dries (not likely) :

Snowshoe Cripple BWO #18; Q’s Loopy Cripple Stacker BWO #18; Snowshoe Baetis #20; Adam’s Midge Cluster #20; Stalcup’s Hatching Midge #20 (Split Wing Adams #12 ) March Brown Parachute #14; Klinkhammer #14

Streamers:

Delektable Screamer Olive Black, Olive and Yellow, Single and Double, #6, or your favorite pattern.

Delektable Screamer Olive Black

Riverborn Fly Company www.riverbornflies.com

Dan, Marty, Nancy, Brad