DAILY RIVER REPORT

May 14th, 2008

861 CFS

Although there is still PLENTY of snow in the mountains, Spring is definately in the air as we kick off the 2008 season this Saturday. The stretch of the Madison between Hebgen and Quake Lakes has produced some nice rainbows, as has between Varney Bridge and Eight Mile. Although the streamer bite has just started to get good, nymphing has been the key to sheer numbers of trout. We have had good luck with Baetis and Midge patterns trailed behind a rubber leg stone or an egg. Look for water levels to be on the rise in the following weeks.

For fishing reports on other rivers in the area, check out The Inside Seam-- A great site started by Matt Huggins up in Bozeman.

Annual River Report

The Madison River is open by section at different times of the year. The section in front of the lodge is open from the third Saturday in May until the end of January. A few miles upstream in the section known as 'between the lakes' (between Hebgen and Quake) the river is open year round. So for the very early angler willing to brave the elements there is always open fishable water.

Spring

No crowds and lots of fish on the Madison river.

Our season is not as dictated by run off as many western rivers. Hebgen and Quake Lakes buffer the run off in the spring; this allows us to fish the river right thru run off with little effect on the fishing.

Opening day you can generally look for Blue Wing Olives, Midge, and a few Golden Stones on the surface, but for the most part nymph fishing is the rule. Worm patterns, Stone Flies, Baetis nymphs, and egg patterns will be the patterns to have with you.

Spring means the rainbows are spawning. Watch out for spawning areas, and totally avoid walking near the spawning redds... you could be squashing your future fish.

As June warms things up, you will start to see more surface activity. More insects will show everyday, and of course everyone is waiting for the big Salmon flies. By mid-June there are Baetis, Golden Stones, Midges, Callibaetis, two types of Caddis, PMD's, and down river there are Salmon flies starting to hatch.

Some bait fish spawn at this time and the rainbow offspring are starting to be swim-ups . A small to medium minnow imitation can often produce smashing results this time of year. Even though there are no mature Grasshoppers yet, the fish will still come up for them, often as readily as they will for the stones. You shouldn't forget Ants this time of year either.

Summer

Big bugs on the Madison.

By July 1st the river is exploding with insect activity, and as such the fish are gorging as well. It has been reported that the fish in the Madison will put on one third their annual weight gain in this three-week period of the Salmon fly hatch. The Salmon flies are in full swing at this point, but that is not the only story on the river. There are also Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies, three types of Caddis, BWO's, PMD's, Flaves, Crane files, Ants and Grasshoppers that are starting to produce big fish as well. There is no time of the year when the angler or the fish has more to choose from. It is easy to see why the fish gain so much weight during this time of the year.

As August rolls around the fishing is predominated by attractors. Hoppers definitely rule the late summer, but there are still many other insects available to the trout. There are BWO's, Tricos, Midges, Tan and Olive Caddis, Crane flies, and of course the Ant.

Ants are definitely the most over looked pattern on the river. Some of my best August days are either dropping an ant or fishing one dry and one wet with a two fly system.

September is when things start to slow down in the west. The kids are going back to school and many of the anglers are gone. The insect activity is much the same as in August with BWO's and Caddis being the most productive. The Hopper bite is still going strong as well as the Ants. As the water temperatures start to drop slightly the big browns will start looking for a little bigger bite. This is a great time to start thinking about streamers, and big Stone Fly nymphs.

Autumn

October is my favorite time of the year in the west; the colors are changing, the animals are moving, and the fishing is hot. BWO's and Midges are pretty much dominating the river for surface activity, but the real story is how active the fish are seeking out bigger subsurface food sources. Leeches, Sculpin, and big Stone Fly nymphs are sure bets this time of year. The browns are getting ready to spawn and are actively trying to put on extra weight this time of year. Late October and November are your best bets for a really huge brown on the Madison. Angling pressure is extremely low this time of year, and the river is possibly at its best.

A good combo this time of year is a rubber leg stone with a small olive flashback pheasant tail nymph, or if you are throwing streamers try a five inch long black or olive sculpin pattern.

Just like in the spring, watch for spawning areas. Totally avoid walking near the spawning redds to ensure that the eggs are undisturbed.

November means hunting season in Montana, and the rivers are all but empty. Too bad for the hunters... they are missing some of the best small-fly fishing there is, as well as a chance at some of the biggest browns of the year. November is a time of two extremes; You are either going to be fishing really small or really big flies. November is Midge time and the fish are actively seeking them out. Midge fishing this time of year can be unparalleled. On the other hand, this is the time of year when the huge browns are just as likely to attack a big streamer. Weather is unpredictable in the mountains this time of year, but the fish don't seem to mind. I have had many twenty fish afternoons in the middle of snow squalls. I have also had the same fishing when it is sunny and fifty. The one constant is that to see a single angler a day is rare.

Winter

Its always midge time on the Madison

December and January are small fly time. It is generally pretty cold, but for the angler willing to brave the weather the Midge fishing can be pretty good. This time of year is more about staying warm than anything else. One of the biggest concerns is keeping your hands warm. It is a good idea to use a net. The less you have to get your hands wet the better off you will be. The net is also a good thing for the fish. The reduced water temperatures make the fish a little less energetic, so the faster you can land and release the fish the better for the both of you.