Hebgen Lake-Quake Lake: 2/19/09

 Flows out of Hebgen Dam have finally been dropped to 930 CFS after they hovered at around 1,100 CFS all winter.  The lower flows make for easier wading and it certainly doesn’t hurt the fishing.  The river has fished very well lately.  Rainbow trout numbers seem to have been boosted by fish from Quake Lake and there are plenty of Whitefish around. If you are looking for rising trout, the stretch of the Madison doesn’t have much to offer, but the nymph fishing has been great.  We’ve caught fish on a variety of patterns.  Start with Pheasant Tails or Olive Hare’s Ears in #14-16 and go from there. A Prince or Stonefly nymph in #10-12 has worked well as a top fly in a two fly rig. Small nymphs (#18 and smaller) account for more Whitefish than larger patterns. Remember that the river below Cabin Creek is accessible only by over snow travel and despite the relatively dry winter, there is still several feet of snow between the lakes. 

Quake Lake-Lyon Bridge: 2/19/2009

 The stretch of the Madison below Quake Lake is open until the end of February and the “wade section” has been fishing quite well.  While our dry fly fishing has been remarkably consistent this winter, the nymph fishing was tough through December and January.  Things have picked up considerably with the nymphs and the dry fly bite remains great on days when the wind isn’t blowing.  Look for fish rising to midges in the calmest flows.  The rises are subtle and the fish can be very spooky, especially when the sun is beaming, but good presentations usually get rewarded.  The fish are much more picky about a good dead drift than they are about the midge imitation, but it pays to keep the fly small and fish something that is visible.  The naturals are #20-#24 though midges will form small clusters on calm days.  Get as close to the fish as possible to ensure an accurate cast and don’t flail the water.  Nymphing has become much more productive in the last three weeks. Many small nymphs can be effective and the trout tend to be fairly pattern conscience, so it pays to have a good selection of flies.  What works one day may not be effective the next.  Some winter standbys include Zebra Midges, Micro Mayflies, Prince Nymphs and Black Crystal Dips.  Remember that no fly is going to work unless it is fished with proper presentation and in the winter this almost always means a long drag free dead drift.

 Lyon Bridge to Ennis: 2/19/2009

 The Madison has fished pretty well past Lyon Bridge.  Remember that the river closes at the end of the month down to McAtee to give the fish a break from all of us. This year has seen less ice in the river above Ennis Bridge and the fishing has been solid.  Try swinging a streamer around if you are sick of watching strike indicators.  Fish will give chase this time of year.

 Gallatin River: 2/19/09

Fishing on the Gallatin has really picked up as the temps have risen.  Winter days that crack freezing are becoming more common and the fish are responding very well to nymph presentations.  A lot of flies can be effective right now.  Come armed with Caddis Larva, Golden Stone Nymphs, Silli Leg Stones, Prince Nymphs and Pheasant Tails and you should have it covered.  Look for fish in any deep slow pockets and concentrate on getting long dead drifts.  Enjoyable fishing for the Gallatin’s abundant trout should follow.

 Hebgen Lake: 2/19/09

Rumor has it that ice fishing in Hebgen has been good this winter.  If sitting on a bucket and staring into an 8 inch hole on a wind swept lake in zero degree weather is your thing, than more power to you.

Quake Lake 2/19/09

Where running water flows into Quake anglers can find ice free H2O.  Surprisingly, these places often collect midging fish in the winter.  If the dries aren’t happening, head to moving water.

Hebgen Lake-Quake Lake: 2/19/09

 As we head into our true “winter” fishing season on the Madison, it is important to remember to dress warmly and be safe out there.  20 degree weather and water at near freezing temps are no joke!  As there are few anglers on the river these days, it is also important to give the few fishers one does encounter plenty of room.  No one goes fishing in miserable weather to stand in a crowd, especially when there is so much river that is free of angler traffic for days at a time.  Flows out of Hebgen Dam are around 975 CFS.  This is a little more water than the last few winters and should make for good winter fishing on the Madison.  We’ve had good fishing between the lakes with Pheasant Tails, Midge Larva, San Juan Worms and Serendipities.  Long  dead drifts are the key to success in the winter once fish are found.  Trout are predictably located in slow water where they use little energy fighting the current.  Slicks, pools and drop offs provide the current breaks the trout need to survive.  Remember that the river below Cabin Creek is accessible only by over snow travel.  Ski’s or snowshoes make life a lot easier than post holing.

Quake Lake-Lyon Bridge: 12/26/2009

 The “wade section” of the Madison has seen the bulk of our attention so far this winter as it has been fishing pretty well.  While nymphs have consistently dredged up fish, our dry fly fishing has been hit or miss to the winter midge hatches.  Some days have been pretty good, and others have left us wondering where the fish are at.  When the wind stays at bay, one can normally find some fish feeding on the surface though.  When the midges or trout aren’t being cooperative nymph up fish or swing sculpin patterns.  Both methods have worked well.  Concentrate your efforts on slow water and make sure to get quality presentations.

Lyon Bridge to Ennis: 12/26/2009

 Down towards Ennis the Madison has been pretty icy, but it can fish well in the afternoons on warm sunny days.  We generally prefer to stay upriver where the wind is a little less severe.

Gallatin River: 12/26/09

Water temps on the Gallatin are super cold and the fish aren’t incredibly active, but they can certainly be caught.  Downstream of Snowflake Springs to the Tayor’s Fork and the Canyon stretch downstream of Big Sky have the most ice free water.  Nymphing is the ticket right now.  When fish are as lethargic as Gallatin trout are right now, finding the right water it the key to getting hook ups.  Deep pocket water may hold a lot of fish, but it is difficult to sink the flies and keep them dead drifting long enough to interest very lazy fish.  Shallower flats with slow water are often much more productive and this time of year they have a lot of fish wintering in them.  Many nymph patterns can work well this time of year.  Getting a long slow dead drift and fishing an indicator set up that allows one to detect very subtle takes is much more crucial than the “right” fly.  

Hebgen Lake: 12/26/09

Ice fishing in Hebgen is getting going.  If sitting on a bucket and staring into an 8 inch hole on a wind swept lake in zero degree weather is your thing, than more power to you.

Quake Lake 12/26/09

Where running water flows into Quake anglers can find ice free H2O.  Surprisingly, these places often collect midging fish in the winter.  If the dries aren’t happening, head to moving water.

Hebgen Lake-Quake Lake: 12/26/09

 As we head into our true “winter” fishing season on the Madison, it is important to remember to dress warmly and be safe out there.  20 degree weather and water at near freezing temps are no joke!  As there are few anglers on the river these days, it is also important to give the few fishers one does encounter plenty of room.  No one goes fishing in miserable weather to stand in a crowd, especially when there is so much river that is free of angler traffic for days at a time.  Flows out of Hebgen Dam are around 975 CFS.  This is a little more water than the last few winters and should make for good winter fishing on the Madison.  We’ve had good fishing between the lakes with Pheasant Tails, Midge Larva, San Juan Worms and Serendipities.  Long  dead drifts are the key to success in the winter once fish are found.  Trout are predictably located in slow water where they use little energy fighting the current.  Slicks, pools and drop offs provide the current breaks the trout need to survive.  Remember that the river below Cabin Creek is accessible only by over snow travel.  Ski’s or snowshoes make life a lot easier than post holing.

Quake Lake-Lyon Bridge: 12/26/2009

 The “wade section” of the Madison has seen the bulk of our attention so far this winter as it has been fishing pretty well.  While nymphs have consistently dredged up fish, our dry fly fishing has been hit or miss to the winter midge hatches.  Some days have been pretty good, and others have left us wondering where the fish are at.  When the wind stays at bay, one can normally find some fish feeding on the surface though.  When the midges or trout aren’t being cooperative nymph up fish or swing sculpin patterns.  Both methods have worked well.  Concentrate your efforts on slow water and make sure to get quality presentations.

Lyon Bridge to Ennis: 12/26/2009

 Down towards Ennis the Madison has been pretty icy, but it can fish well in the afternoons on warm sunny days.  We generally prefer to stay upriver where the wind is a little less severe.

Gallatin River: 12/26/09

Water temps on the Gallatin are super cold and the fish aren’t incredibly active, but they can certainly be caught.  Downstream of Snowflake Springs to the Tayor’s Fork and the Canyon stretch downstream of Big Sky have the most ice free water.  Nymphing is the ticket right now.  When fish are as lethargic as Gallatin trout are right now, finding the right water it the key to getting hook ups.  Deep pocket water may hold a lot of fish, but it is difficult to sink the flies and keep them dead drifting long enough to interest very lazy fish.  Shallower flats with slow water are often much more productive and this time of year they have a lot of fish wintering in them.  Many nymph patterns can work well this time of year.  Getting a long slow dead drift and fishing an indicator set up that allows one to detect very subtle takes is much more crucial than the “right” fly.  

Hebgen Lake: 12/26/09

Ice fishing in Hebgen is getting going.  If sitting on a bucket and staring into an 8 inch hole on a wind swept lake in zero degree weather is your thing, than more power to you.

Quake Lake 12/26/09

Where running water flows into Quake anglers can find ice free H2O.  Surprisingly, these places often collect midging fish in the winter.  If the dries aren’t happening, head to moving water.

Fishing Season reopens in Yellowstone Park on Memorial Day Weekend. Until that time we are left to watch the snow pile up and plan for the upcoming season.

When the Park first opens for fishing, the Firehole River is often one of the few clear streams and has the first good hatches of the year. Traditional wet fly fishing and nymphing are productive, but most anglers prowl the Firehole to fish dries. Rising fish can be found on the opener when Baetis and a variety of Caddis are on the water. PMD’s often begin hatching right around opening day, and this fine hatch is the mainstay of the Firehole’s surface fishing until mid to late June when the water begins to warm and other fisheries supplant the Firehole as the best destination in the Park.

The Madison and Gibbon are the next rivers to come into shape and there are years when fine fishing can be found as soon as the Park is open. By late June the Gardiner and its tributaries are usually in shape and the Gallatin in Yellowstone is dropping and clearing. These rivers all provide good fishing throughout late June and July.

The rivers in the Northeast Corner of Yellowstone are among the last to clear and drop into shape.  Most years the Fourth of July is a good starting point for finding clear water, but one should keep an eye on snowpack as this can vary by several weeks. Slough Creek is often the first fishable Lamar tributary. The Lamar and Soda Butte take longer to drop and clear than Slough Creek and are also much more prone to going out with rain. Dirty water can greet a fisherman anytime throughout the season if any rain has fallen. However, the Lamar and Soda Butte offer some of the best front country fishing in the Park when they are clear.

The Yellowstone River opens below Yellowstone Lake on July 15th. The River between Fishing Bridge and Hayden Valley was recently one of the best trout fisheries in the world. Cutthroat numbers have plummeted in recent years and visiting anglers are often shocked by the lack of fish in this section of the Yellowstone compared to what it was ten years ago. Lake Trout predation in Yellowstone Lake, Whirling Disease and low water seemingly are the three factors to blame on this fishery’s decline. The Yellowstone does still have some trout in it however, and these fish are larger now than ever before. It is no longer a numbers fishery, but it is a place to stalk a big rising cutthroat or two and catching a 20 inch Cutthroat on a dry is within the realm of possibility. However, many feel that the river should be closed to fishing to place as little stress on the remaining fish as possible, and they may very well be right. Is fishing the Yellowstone ethical? That is for you to decide.

There are countless other places to fish for trout inside of Yellowstone Park. Lakes, small streams and backcountry rivers all offer anglers a chance for less pressured fish and greater solitude inside our first National Park. This season in Yellowstone will have some excellent fishing.

Madison River Outfitters is currently taking reservations for the 2010 guide season.  Our guide staff remains unchanged and we are looking forward to a fine season of fishing.  Please feel free to give us a call at 800-646-9644 or shoot us an email if you need any help planning a trip.  We are happy to advise about fishing conditions throughout the season, effective fly patterns to fill the boxes with or any questions about equipment necessary for a successful trip.

Inside of Yellowstone the road between Madison Junction and Norris is closed for construction.  Fishing the Gibbon, Gardiner, Lamar and its tributaries requires a very long drive from West Yellowstone. 

Madison River (Yellowstone National Park) 10-19-09

Fishing on the Madison in the Park continues to be very good this season.  There are a few more anglers out this week than there were during the chilly weather we had at the beginning of the month, but it seems that everyone is finding their fair share of fish.  The Madison just came up and this should move some more fish through the river.  Every pool and run in the Park seems to be holding fish this season, so cover water fast and look for aggressive fish.  Soft hackle fishing has been very productive, especially in the lower river where the fish have seen less pressure. 

Firehole River 10-19-09

Fishing on the Firehole has been fantastic this October.  Good hatches of Baetis are a daily occurance and they are often joined by Caddis on the nicer days.  Soft hackle fishing, as usual, is a pretty easy way to hook fish, but the dry fly fishing can be very challenging, especially in the slower pools.  Long and light leaders help to get good drifts in the varying currents of the river.  We’ve had our best fishing with emergers and crippled duns throughout the hatch of Baetis, but these flies can be terribly difficult to see on the water.  Rising trout won’t let anglers approach as closely this time of year as they do in the spring, so casts have to be longer and just as accurate. Dropping a small Pheasant Tail off a dry can be deadly when fish are feeding on emergers.

Hebgen Lake-Quake Lake: 10/19/09

Between the lakes has fished well, especially on cloudy days.  Baetis are still hatching and fish can be found rising to them, but we’ve had most of our best fishing dead drifting buggers or stonefly nymphs in the deeper runs.  Some nice fish have turned up lately.

Quake Lake-Lyon Bridge: 10/19/2009

We’ve enjoyed some very good fishing with both nymphs and dries in the wade section of the Madison.  Fishing has been very good with nymphs.  The trout are keying on Baetis nymphs and small midge larva. Long dead drifts in pockets are what it takes to catch them.  Cover water quickly as feeding fish will take the first good drift they see and get pretty tight lipped after a few dragging drifts or strike indicators float over their heads. When Baetis are on the water look for heads in out of the way spots.  Nice fish will often pod up in deep pockets with slow current.  The rises are subtle and many angler ignore the dry fly possibilites this time of year.

Lyon Bridge to Ennis: 10/19/09

Both streamers and nymphs have been catch good numbers of fish in the float section of the Madison.  There isn’t much traffic and the fish are eating well.  Small baetis nymphs, zebra midges, dead drifted z0nkers and silli leg stones have all worked well below an indicator.  Stripping buggers and sculpins has found some good fish as well.

Gallatin River: 10/19/09

The Gallatin has been fishing very well in the Canyon.  Baetis continue to provide anglers with good dry fly fishing on cloudy afternoons and the nymph fishing has been very good when rising fish can’t be found.

Hebgen Lake: 10/19/09

Fishing streamers in the fall on Hebgen can turn up some very nice fish. Focus your energy towards the many inlets in the lake.

Quake Lake 10/19/09

Streamers will catch a few large trout on Quake this fall.  One of them could be yours.

Hebgen Lake-Quake Lake: 10/14/09

Dead drifting buggers and stonefly nymphs trailed with a San Juan Worm, or Red Serendipity has been the ticket between the lakes.  There are still some Baetis hatching and occasionally nice fish can be found rising to them.  Keep your eyes peeled for decent heads in with the smaller trout and whitefish.

Quake Lake-Lyon Bridge: 10/14/09

Nymphing slower and deeper pockets has accounted for some nice fish lately. Zebra Midges, Micro Mayflies and Olive Pheasant Tails have been working better than other flies when fished under an indicator.  Trout can also be found rising well to Baetis in the afternoons, provided the weather is cloudy.  Calm days are better for the dry fly fishing, but even in the wind, some fish will feed on top provided there are good numbers of naturals.

Lyon Bridge to Ennis: 10/14/09

Streamer fishing has been pretty good in the float section of the Madison.  We’ve either been fishing with small baetis nymphs or hucking big buggers and sculpins.  Boat traffic has certainly thinned out making it a pleasant time of year to float the Madison River.

Gallatin River: 10/14/09

Fishing in the Gallatin Canyon has been very good.  Fish are rising to Baetis in the afternoons and the nymphing has been great in the pocket water stretches of river.  While Gallatin River fish aren’t the biggest, they are often willing and for this we love them.

Hebgen Lake: 10/14/09

Fishing streamers in the fall on Hebgen can turn up some very nice fish. Focus your energy towards the many inlets in the lake.

Quake Lake 10/14/09

Streamers will catch a few large trout on Quake this fall.  One of them could be yours.

Inside of Yellowstone the road between Madison Junction and Norris is closed for construction.  Fishing the Gibbon, Gardiner, Lamar and its tributaries requires a very long drive from West Yellowstone. 

Madison River (Yellowstone National Park) 10-14-09

We’ve had a good season thus far for fishing for lake run rainbows and Browns in the Madison in the Park.  It seems that there is a very healthy run of rainbows this season and brown trout numbers are increasing.  The weather has been perfect for the fishing (though a bit cold for the anglers) and looks like it should continue to be for some time.  Soft hackle fishing, streamers and nymphs have all found fish.  Cover water and find fish that want to eat rather than pounding on a run that produced a fish in the past. As angling pressure continues to increase, it is important for folks fishing the Madison to show each other a little respect.  Avoid entering a run below someone fishing downstream, give anglers space and don’t sit on a run without moving for long periods of time.  There are plenty of fish to go around.