2007 Fishing Report

Archived Fishing Reports | Bighorn | Lake Fishing

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

Updated on 04/22/2007

by Doug McKnight & James Anderson

The Yellowstone is clearing quickly after last weeks rain - it looked like at least 3 feet of visibility today (4/22). The Water clarity and temperature is perfect for streamer fishing.

Yellowstone River

A nice brown caught by dead drifting a black lead eye (4/21)

The river is in great shape in terms of visibility (about 3+ feet). Plus the water temperatures have risen enough that the big browns are chasing streamers again. No sign of caddis dries yet but that should change in the next few days...

For Dries: Size #16 parachute Adams, #18 Dave Student's midge emerger. #12 or #14 March Brown parachutes.

We've seen both baetis and midges on the water, with the occasional March brown hovering around. If you're floating the Yellowstone rig at least one 5 weight up with a hi-vis parachute adams for the foam eddies. Baetis emergers, midge emergers, or midge adults would all be good droppers. Most fish we caught on dries were 16" and under, but they were all energetic, spunky fighters.

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

Nymphs: Size #6, #8, #10, George's Brown Stone, size #6, #8, #10 Dan Delekta's Flashback Mega Prince, size #14 Bead head nymphs (any will do just fine) #6, #8 black lead eye bugger or bow river bugger.

A couple ways to nymph the Yellowstone have been working well lately. The first is to use your stone fly nymph as your lead fly with a smaller bead head as your dropper. This is one of the most effective rigs for anglers interested in maximizing action - but not necessarily size.

For anglers who don't mind slower action, with better size fish, try nymphing a bugger about 6 feet under your indicator, with a stone fly nymph as your dropper. If the bite is on, you can do some serious damage on big fish, but don't be surprised if you have to be patient in the meantime. Hang in there - it's worth it!

Streamer patterns: SRA Double Bunnies, Zonkers, Bow River Buggers, Ultra Yuk Bugs, Lead-Eye Wooly Buggers, and big sculpin patterns. Also anything that looks like a juvenile whitefish. 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've been fishing Grand max fluorocarbon 02X which is about 20lb. test. Is that really necessary? For playing a big fish 10lb test is fine, but the 02X has saved several of my streamers snags on sticks and rocks.

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.

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.

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 (little mr. green Clouser) or bow river bugger patterns are a good way to get into some nice 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.

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. Keep your eye out for caddis next week...

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!