Madison River
Hebgen Lake-Quake Lake: 5/19/2010
Outflow from Hebgen Dam is now at around 700 CFS. Cabin Creek is dumping a fair amount of mud into the river. Nymph fishing continues to produce some nice fish between the lakes. In the muddy water, large stoneflies and San Juan Worms are the ticket. In clearer flows smaller nymphs are the best bet. Red Copper Johns, Flashback Hare’s Ears and Ram Caddis down to 18’s fit the bill. There are Baetis hatching and a few fish rising in the clear spots in the river. Imitate these insects with #20 parachutes and emergers.
Quake Lake-Lyon Bridge: 5/19/2010
In the “wade section,” the Madison is still clear down to the West Fork, though muddy water is working its way down Quake Lake. Visibility shouldn’t be an issue unless we see very warm temps. Fishing has been very good since the river opened and should continue in the foreseeable future. Small nymphs dominate the fly selection right now. Copper Johns, Micro Mays, Crystal Dips and Prince Nymphs are all quite deadly when fished with a clean dead drift. There are some Baetis hatching and a few observant anglers are finding success fishing small dries when they spot fish on top. As the river gets more color, large stonefly nymphs will begin to perform and the little dry fly fishing there is will grind to a halt.
Lyon Bridge to Ennis: 5/19/2010
With Windy Point and Palisades both closed currently (GOOD PLANNING !) and the West Fork of the Madison dumping some mud, there aren’t a lot of options for floating the Madison. If cool weather slows run off from the West Fork, floating Lyon to Ruby Creek will be pretty good. Right now the same float only is productive until around Palisades due to run off, though one can always huck streamers in the dirty water and hope for the best.
Gallatin River: 5/19/2010
The Gallatin is still fishable downstream of the the Yellowstone Park boundary to the Taylor’s Fork. Below Big Sky, the river is very dirty. Cooler weather may see the Gallatin clear enough to allow some good nymph fishing. Keep an eye on the river flows if you are thinking of heading up there.
Hebgen Lake: 5/19/2010
Hebgen is for all intents and purposes now free of ice. Fishing has been very good in the main body of the lake as well as the Madison and South Fork Arms. Chironomid hatches have been thick on the South Fork Arm and in the other bays on the south side of Hebgen. In the lake’s main body, leech and streamer patterns have been the most successful flies. Good midge hatches are not far off in this water as well. Bobbing Chironomids is always a great way to find fish on Hebgen.
Quake Lake 5/19/2010
Quake is getting pretty dirty as Cabin Creek and Beaver Creek are dumping a lot of mud. Hebgen will be a better bet until things clear up.