2007 Fishing Report

Archived Fishing Reports | Bighorn | Lake Fishing

Lower Madison | Missouri River ("the MO") | Spring Creeks The Upper Madison | Yellowstone River

Updated on 04/18/2007

by Doug McKnight & James Anderson

Due to rain over the last few days the Yellowstone is now about a foot and a half to 2 feet of visibility. (photo taken from 9th Street bridge in Livingston, 4/18).

Paradise Valley Spring Creeks

Armstrong's (Judy or Justin)...(406)-222-2979

Depuy's (Theresa or Daryl).....(406)-222-0221

Nelson's (Mary or Roger)........(406)-222-6560

Armstrong's and DePuy's seem to be getting the majority of rainbow run, while Nelson's continues to hold the crown for huge brown trout. The rates are still $40 (until 4/15). As always, please remember to avoid stepping on the redds (spawning beds) so we will continue to have great fishing.

Both Armstrong's and DePuy's have done some digging this year which looks awesome! The idea was to get rid of some of the silt which has built up over the years. Fish have already moved in and are loving their new habitat. In the photo above, you can see two new pools on Armstrong's. In the photo below you can see the same two pools from the opposite direction.

Look for Blue winged olives to start by mid morning and continue throughout the afternoon. Come armed with a good selection of size 18-20 BWO's in dry's, emergers and nymphs. Harrop's biot body sparkle dun has been taking nice fish, as well as small p-tails and micro mayfly nymphs fished before and after the hatch.

Justin O'hair observes the new island they put in above the culvert.

These Baetis hatches often provide some of the very best dry fly fishing of the season. The fish are hungry and happy and will get up and rise with even just a few bugs on the water. Midge activity in the early mornings and late afternoons have also got the fish looking up as well. Come on one of the weekdays and you'll often have the stream to yourself. Best of all is that the winter rates are still in effect, so it will only cost you $40 until April 15th.

Very often the best hatches of the spring will be on darker, more overcast days - even in nasty weather as long as isn't too cold. Daily temps now are getting up around 50-60 on nice days here in Livingston and as long as it isn't blowing a gale, you'll have a lot of fun fishing the creeks at this time of the year.

Even if you don't see much hatching, the nymph fishing will be good with scuds, sow bug patterns, small Baetis nymphs and also egg patterns, (who me? - naw...)

Fishing streamer patterns on the creeks this time of year can be unbelievable as well, especially on the super windy days where dry fly and nymph fishing can become difficult. Some very aggressive brown trout just hammered a fast moving fly. Look for good fish to be right in the fastest water and tight to cover and any logs/brush in the water. I am constantly amazed at how shallow big fish will hold in fast water if there is good cover for them. I pulled a big brown out of 10 inches of ripping fast water. Sculpin patterns and small wooly buggers are great to use on the creeks. I would definitely fish heavy tippet if you are fishing streamers. Don't even think about tying on any streamer with 5x or 4x. Use at least 3x, but 2x is best. Grand Max makes some incredible 2x fluorocarbon that is extremely see through and strong. True - it is expensive, but well worth it in my book.

This rainbow fell for one of Dave Student's Sparkle Scuds.

Yellowstone River

The Yellowstone has risen quite a bit in CFS in the last few days. This is the first big change in CFS I have seen this Spring. I think this change was due to a combination of warmer weather and rain - which also has decreased the visibility to 1-2 feet. I have not had the chance to see if fish are still taking Baetis and midges since the river has gotten dirty, but I will fish tonight and find out.

Other than the clarity issue, Spring Baetis have been popping quite frequently. The fish seem to be getting on them more when the clouds roll over, which is no surprise. My favorite combo this week has been a size 16 pink hi-vis parachute adams, and one of René Harrop's short wing Baetis emergers (size 18). This rig is deadly in slower water and should help you rack up the numbers when the bite is on.

If you are fishing on a brighter day and don't see any Baetis, try fishing midges in the foam eddies and foam lines. For this style of fishing I use one of René Harrop's CDC hanging midge as my top fly (size 20), and one of Dave Student's midge emergers (size 20) as my dropper.

Hope for Baetis but look for midges, especially in the evenings.

For bigger fish, I think nymphs are still the way to go. Try a stonefly as your lead nymph, and any of your favorite bead heads as a dropper. My personal favorite is a size 6 (oversized) George's Brown Stone followed by a green tungsten caddis larva (size 16).

Also now that the water has some color to it, the streamer fishing should improve drastically. Don't be afraid to put a boat in when the visibility is around a foot - I've caught some of my largest browns during this time.

Some suggestions for streamer patterns: SRA Double Bunnies, Zonkers, Bow River Buggers, Ultra Yuk Bugs, Lead-Eye Wooly Buggers, and big sculpin patterns. For those of you who like to fish for Mr. Big, now is a great time to bust out your 8 weight and throw some really big flies on a sink tip. I talking about 6-10" streamers. Remember to wear your helmet!!!

Some suggestions for nymph patterns: George's Brown stone #6-10, GB Prince Nymph #8-12, Theo's San Juan Worm #8-10, Peeking Caddis #10-12, Copper Johns, Rubber Leg Nymphs #6-10. With slightly murky or greenish water conditions you are better off with larger nymph patterns with fairly heavy tippet. Fish with nothing smaller than 3x (for nymphing) for the Yellowstone right now. I would be fishing some stonefly nymphs right now on 1-2x tippet with some BB shot and a big indicator to hold it up. With that heavy of a tippet you can fight the fish pretty hard and release them quickly. Also, when you get hung up you stand a much better chance of getting your flies back.

Give us a ring anytime to check the weather and wind conditions - 406-222-7130. Also check out the weather forecast links on our home page.

The Boulder River

These fish were actively taking midge larva and the occasional midge dry when the clouds moved in (3/25)

The Boulder is very low right now, but clear. This is one of my favorite times of the year to fish the Boulder, as it gets a great rainbow run. Midges are the main food source now, but you can also nymph with small stone flies, attractor bead heads, and small streamers. Egg patterns will also do the trick.

Don't forget to bring your smaller streamers for runs like these...

Madison River

Although some big fish have moved into Bear Trap Canyon, the Lower Madison is still holding some bigger trout in the 20 plus range. The tricky part is finding them without spooking them. To do this you will need to know where the slots and the edges of the weed beds are by heart. The best move it to anchor the boat and get out to wade fish for these brutes. If you know where there is a lane or slot in the weeds, you can bet there is a fish feeding on the scuds, midge larva, mayfly nymphs, and caddis which thrive in the weed beds.

Dead drifting crayfish (yes you know the one) or bugger patterns are a great way to get into some big browns. Some of the slots between the weeds also have big rocks which crayfish love to hide under. A size B shot should get you down deep enough. You'll have to check your fly for weeds every once in a while, but the closer to the open rocks next to the weeds the better chance you'll have at hooking the big one. Don't use less than 2X tippet unless you want to cry...

Upper Madison

The upper portions of the Madison River continue to fish well that are not closed. The River in between Hebgen and Quake Lakes has fished well. Your best bet there is to nymph with patterns like Red Copper Johns, San Juan Worms, and Red Midge Larvae. Streamers can also work very well there, sculpin imitations in particular. The Varney to Ennis section is also fishing very well nymphing and throwing streamers.

Missouri River

We had some decent reports over the weekend coming from the "mighty MO". Fish are still holding pretty deep but are taking small nymphs and some streamers. Patterns like small pheasant tails and scuds are working well. Small egg patterns are taking some good fish as well. With warmer temps, good Baetis and and midge activity should pick up anytime now.

Guide Dave Bryan with another another big bow.

Lake Fishing

Shop manager Doug McKnight with a nice rainbow from Checkerboard. To book this lake call Roger Nelson at 406-222-6560.

Both public and private lakes have been fishing awesome this past week. Slim buggers and leech patterns have been the ticket, as well as small nymphs like pheasant tails, lightning bugs, hare's ears - or whatever size 16 you might have in your box.

Fish have been cruising the shallows and looking for an easy meal - especially on overcast/cloudy days. For those looking to catch tons of cookie cutter 18 inch rainbows, Burn's Lake has been on fire. This is our favorite time of year to fish Burns, as the fish will just about eat a tin can if you threw one out there. The rod fee at Burn's is $100. To book please call Horatio at 220-6090.

For those not interested in a rod fee, Dailey Lake has been fishing quite well, as has Canyon Ferry.

Bighorn River

Fishing has been good here, but when isn't it? Nymphing is the mainstay here. Flies like Pink soft hackle sow bugs, san juan worms, midge larvae, baetis nymphs and egg patterns are producing some fish. Streamer fishing can be really good too, especially on cloudy days the fish can get pretty aggressive. Small bugger patterns always work and sometimes you can move some big fish with a larger streamer like a double bunny. Have not heard about any Baetis activity, but surely there are some hatching on the right day. Look for Baetis and Midge hatches to increase as the water temps and weather continues to warm up.

Looks like Fort Smith ended up with quite a dump of snow last week, which will come to good use when letting water out of the reservoir this summer!