We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! We want to thank everyone who supported us in 2019!
In This Newsletter:
2019 in a nutshell, Madison River scoping update, upcoming trade show schedule , Madison River presentation, snowpack, and fishing report.
A Look Back on 2019
2019 was filled with lots of great people, great fishing, and great memories.
Spring 2019, our first prolific hatch on the Madison River, the Mother’s Day caddis hatch came off, well, on Mother’s Day! We have not seen this for several years. Typically this hatch has been coming off in late April or the first few days in May before Mother’s Day. Fishing the Mothers Day caddis hatch can be frustrating and rewarding. One of the issues with this hatch is that the fish seem to key in on the adult caddis later in the afternoon until dusk when most guide trips are pulling off of the water. Consider a drift boat trip with us where we begin around mid-day and fish up to dark during this hatch.
Our next major hatch on the Madison River was the famous Pteronarcys Californica, aka the salmon fly hatch! Like clockwork, annually this hatch starts in late-June and can extends into the second week of July. In 2019 the fish didn’t seem to be keyed in on the “big bug” throughout this hatch. However, the fish that were eating them on the surface were quality. If you are willing to stick with the big dry fly, you will be rewarded with a quality brown or rainbow trout.
Late July through the middle of September, we experienced one of the best terrestrial seasons in 20 years. Not just on the Madison River, but a majority of our waters!
October was colder than usual, with wind chills hitting sub-zero on multiple days. Our walk and wade trips in Yellowstone National Park on the Madison River was hit or miss. The overcast days produced more trout than the sunny days. The better fishing on the Madison in YNP for these fall run-up trout got good around the 20th of October and stayed good until the last day we could fish in the Park, which is always through the first Sunday in November. The weather was a little too cold to commit to being in the drift boat all day. On those cold October days when we were scheduled to float, or if Yellowstone National Parks roads were closed due to poor road conditions, we would walk and wade fish around Raynolds Bridge, $3 Bridge, Pine Butte, and Lyons Bridge. Using our vehicles to warm up in between fishing spots made those trips possible.
Madison River Update
The public comment period ends at midnight on Monday, January 6th for the Madison River Recreations Scoping Process. If you have not done so already, take the time to voice your thoughts and concerns. The opportunity to comment on this issue could shape the future of public water access in Montana. To take the survey, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RDWKFXW. In addition to taking the survey, you can submit written comments to madisonrivercom@mt.gov.
Upcoming Trade Shows (2 of 3)
1 of 3) The Fly Fishing Show in Marlborough, MA January 17, 18, & 19 at the Royal Plaza Hotel and Trade Center.
- 181 Boston Post Road West, Marlborough, MA 01752
- Show Times
- Friday: 10am – 6pm
- Saturday: 9am – 5:30pm
- Sunday: 9am – 4:30pm
- Our booth number has not been announced. We will announce it on our Facebook page once we know.
I will be giving a 45 minute PowerPoint presentation each day of the show: WHEN & WHERE TO FISH THE MADISON RIVER
- Talk time and location
- Friday: 1pm room B
- Saturday: 1pm room B
- Sunday: 1pm room B
To purchase tickets for the Marlborough show, click HERE.
2 of 3) The Fly Fishing Show in Edison, NJ January 24, 25, & 26 at the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center.
- 97 Sunfield Avenue, Edison, NJ 08837
- Show Times
- Friday: 9am – 6pm
- Saturday: 8:30am – 6pm
- Sunday: 9am – 4:30pm
- Our booth number has not been announced. We will announce it on our Facebook page once we know.
I will be giving a 45 minute PowerPoint presentation each day of the show: WHEN & WHERE TO FISH THE MADISON RIVER
- Talk time and location
- Friday: 1pm room B-100
- Saturday: 1pm room C-75
- Sunday: 1pm room B-100
To purchase tickets for the Edison Show, click HERE.
Presentation in Stratham, NH – all are invited, its free!
Thanks to our good friends John Bunker and brother Paul Bunker for setting up this event!
I will be giving a 45 minute PowerPoint presentation on When & Where to Fish the Madison River. John Bunker will be giving a brief presentation on Angling in Yellowstone National Park, , and Paul Bunker will provide a brief overview of the Yellowstone Volunteer Fly Fishing Program. Paul has spent over 200 days in Yellowstone and is working to restart the Volunteer Program in 2020.
Where: Wiggin Memorial Library – 10 Bunker Hill Ave, Stratham, NH 03885
When: Thursday, January 16th, from 6 to 7:15pm.
Current Snowpack
Fishing Report
Unfortunately, we do not have a current fishing report for you. We have been busy in the office getting ready for trade shows and getting ready for the 2020 season. We do know that the warmer weather lately had anglers getting out to wet a line. Take advantage of those warmer days in the winter months. The best time to fish during our winter season is from 11am to 2pm when the air temperatures are at their peak. This time of year, you should be ready with midge patterns, both larvae, and adults, for when you see heads up feeding. If fishing the Madison River, we recommend fishing near Raynolds Bridge, between Hebgen & Quake Lake, and below Ennis Lake. These sections historically will be accessible and ice-free. Make sure you have plenty of fuel in your vehicle when venturing outside during the winter months, bring spare clothing, extra food, and let family or friends know where you plan to fish.
Thank you for staying connected with us on current conditions, reports, and news!