Montana Fishing Report | Montana Angler Fly Fishing Guides

Montana Fishing Report Overview - 8/29/10
Area rivers continue to fish well. We are heading into fall and fishing conditions will begin switching back and forth between later
summer hopper and terrestrial fishing on hot days and early fall streamer and baetis hatches on cool cloudy days. The past few
weeks have produced consistent hopper fishing on the surface. Trout are starting to get a little wise to the big foam hoppers on
some of the popular floats and we have been focusing a bit more on waters off of the beaten path where the trout are still suckers
for the big foam flies. Nymphing is nearly always productive and now that most of the aquatic hatches are over, they are willing to
chase large flies as the top nymph such as dead drifted streamers. The spring creeks are as tough as they are going to get all
year but will start to get less sophisticated as we move into fall. When cool cloudy weather arrives as fronts push in it is a great
time to strip streamers for huge trout or dead drift large nymphs. We recently landed a 25" brown and a 27" brown within 2 weeks
of each while fishing under wet and cloudy weather conditions.

Upper Madison River Fishing Report Very Good
The Upper Madison continues to fish very well. We have had a few tough days sneak their way into the lineup, but wind has been
the culprit more than anything else. Dry fly fishing is now and option on the upper and how much the fish are looking up varies
from day to day. Hopper fishing has finally turned on and some days have been outstanding while other days just OK fishing the
big dries. Nymph fishing continues to be very productive with nice size trout still making their way to the net with frequency. We
continue to fish a big/small combo with a zonker/sculpin/stone up high and an attractor nymph below. Most of the Bozeman and
Dillon guides are now on other rivers leaving just the West and Ennis guides (and us!) so the river is lightly pressured and should
remain that way for the remainder of the season with great flows everywhere else

Lower Madison River Fishing Report Very Good
The Lower has been fishing well lately as several cold fronts have helped to bring water temperatures down. Fish are keyed in on
crayfish but are also looking for dead drifted streamers along with your favorite attractor bead head nymph. Fishing pressure for
most of the summer has been very light since the water temps are normally too warm down here. When hot weather settles in the
fishing will go back to poor, but as long as the water temps are in the 60s you can catch some good fishing. Cloudy days can be
awesome. As we roll into September this fishery will become more consistent and will be a go to location.

Bear Trap Canyon Fishing Report Red Hot
Bear Trap is on fire. Cooler temps in August have kept this fishery on top of its game. We haven't had a bad day in the 'trap all
season and September should continue to stay red hot. The limitted fishing pressure keeps these trout dumb and hungry. We
have seen a lot of accidents in the Kitchen Sink this year and some people are really getting mauled in the class V rapid so
please make sure you are boating with someone with years and years of high level white water experience before attempting this
float on your own.

Yellowstoner River Fishing Report Very Good
Hopper time has arrived with force. We had an amazing hopper afternoon twitching the big bugs on the Upper River and are still
grinning at the thought. The Lower river has also turned on and windy afternoons now have the potential for epic days. The hopper
eat changes from day to day but in general it should be very good for the next few weeks. Trout tend to look at hoppers more in
the afternoon than the morning so attractor dries in the AM are a better bet. The Lower Yellowstone around Big Timber has also
been producing some good hopper fishing. Recent rainstorms have been sending plugs of mud down the river, but there is almost
always a fishable window somewhere on the river. The mud helps to rest the fish. Once the clarity hits 2 feet and the river gains
an aqua green color it is game on again. Green is good and the fish definitely eat when it is clearing. As we move into the early
fall look to throw streamers or dead drift big nymphs when cloudy cool weather sets up...the big browns will be eating! We are still
a few weeks away from fall baetis, but not too far out.

Gallatin River Fishing Report Very Good
The Gallatin is fishing well. Flows are dropping and wading is now relatively easy (although always a challenge in the canyon with
the size of the rocks). Nymphing is productive with a girdle bug/beadhead combo tough to beat. Attractor dry fishing is picking up
and evening fish can produce great dry fly action. Hoppers are now a factor in the valley and spruce moths are showing up in the
canyon. Locals and tourists are out in force this time of year in the Canyon, but there is stil a lot of water to fish and we love to
head this way after a day of guiding to catch the evening rise. The lower portion of the river in the Valley is fishing well and allows
the adventurous soul to walk a while from bridge access points to gain solitude.

Boulder River Fishing Report
The Boulder is done for the season as far a floating goes. Wade fishing can still be good if you use one of the few access points.
Terrestrials like ants and hoppers as attractor dries will do the trick.

Ruby River Fishing Report Very Good

The Ruby is at 350 cfs which is a great level. They are working on the dam so the access at that point is closed. Nymphing is the
ticket this time of year, but sometimes the hopper eat is on.

Upper Missouri Fishing Report
Trout fishing is too good on local rivers. The carping will get better as flows drop...probably best to wait until August to chase the
golden ghost. Late September and October will produce huge trout coming up from the lake.

Ennis and Hebgen Lake Fishing Report Very Good
Good fishing on streamers and slow twitching leaches and callibaetis. The callibaetis and trico hatches are cranking up and
gulper fishing will get really good very soon.

Spring Creeks Fishing Report Good
The spring creeks are very technical right now. Nymphing is always effective, but fish can still be caught on dries using
terrestrials. The creeks are at the height of the weed season and will improve in the fall when fishing pressure drops off. We fished
McCoys the other day and had a great time both nymphing and throwing hoppers. Not a high numbers game and technical
fishing, but a fun chess match. The fish have sean some pressure by mid summer and aren't push overs any more so you need to
bring your A game.

Other local fisheries
Sitz is fishing well as are the other hog reservoirs like Burns. Nothing like sight fishing to 25" fish! No-tell-em creek is absolutely
on fire right now!