Madison River Outfitters

Madison River 

Hebgen Lake-Quake Lake: 7/21/2010

We’ve seen some good fishing between the lakes as of late.  There are a lot of Caddis in the evenings and fish can be brought up to a dry pretty much all day long.  Cover a lot of water with a Trude or Large Parachute and you will be in business.  In the evening, look for rising fish and drift Parachute Caddis over them.  Nymphs will catch plenty of fish, but expect to weed through a lot of Whitefish. Be nice to Whiteys when you get them, treat them as you would any native fish in the river!

Quake Lake-Lyon Bridge: 7/21/2010 

Evening fishing is as good as it gets in the “wade section” of the Madison right now.  There are a ton of Caddis hatching and laying eggs in the evenings and the Epeorus spinner falls have been great between dusk and dark.  Iris Caddis, Parachute Caddis and CDC Caddis are among our favorite caddis imitators.  A #16 Calf Wing Rusty Spinner or Rusty Parachute is all you need to imitate the Epeorus.  Fishing either Caddis or Mayflies behind a more visible fly such as a Trude or Stimi can help one track the drift much more effectively.

 Lyon Bridge to Ennis: 7/21/2010

The Madison’s trout are enjoying plentiful feeding.  Morning hours have seen the best bite, as the water often warms up a little too much for excellent fishing late in the afternoons.  There have been good Epeorus hatches and spinner falls, and a lot of caddis doing their thing as well.  Finding soft water to fish dries in is the key to raising fish from the boat.  Drifts must be perfect, so sharpen your reach casting skills before you get on the water.  Nymph fishing has been consistently working well.  We’ve had our best nymph bite on Black Lightning Bugs, Shop Vacs and PMD Emergers.  A few fish here and there will eat a large stonefly nymph but the smaller (14-18) nymphs are getting  a more consistent bite.

 Gallatin River:  7/21/2010

The Gallatin has been fishing very well north of Big Sky.  PMD’s and Caddis have been the primary insects to imitate, both on the surface and with nymphs.  Fish can be found rising most of the day and the evenings have had tremendous caddis activity until nearly dark.  

 Hebgen Lake: 7/21/201o

Gulper fishing is getting going on Hebgen Lake.  There are quite a few Callibaetis hatching.  Some  fish can be found feeding on them most mornings, but it takes some hunting to find risers.  Long accurate casts are the norm when hunting these difficult fish, so one must enjoy the challenge.  Stripping or bobbing Callibaetis Nymphs and Chironomids has been very productive lately.  This is far easier fishing than casting dries at cruising fish, but a bit less rewarding.