In This Newsletter
- Fishing Report
- Snowpack
We have had our first sightings of Sandhill Cranes arriving in SW Montana. This means spring is here! However, spring in Montana means 6o degrees one day and snow storms the next day. From now until mid-to-late, May is arguably the best time of the year to be on our waters. The fish have had little to no pressure all winter long, we are not dealing with crowds of anglers, and the fishing is fantastic!
We have had several guide trips out already this year. Everyone has been having great success!
Bookings are currently very fluid, so make sure to secure your guide and lodging and do not wait until the last minute. Contact us today to secure your guide(s) and/or lodging: (406)580-7370 or [email protected].
Fishing Report
Madison River – We can always find fishable water on the Madison, even during runoff. That’s one of many reasons why this river is so legendary!
We have access to most of the FAS (fishing access sites) from Reynolds Bridge to the headwaters of the Missouri River. The Ennis FAS is still closed. We will let you know when Montana FWP fixes and opens this site.
New fishing regulations from Varney Bridge to Ennis Lake—barbless hooks are mandatory now. It’s about time! Now it’s time to make the entire Madison River barbless and make it all catch-and-release.
A reminder that once runoff is in full swing, the Madison from Quake Lake to Palisades FAS will fish well. The water will be off-color, but don’t let that intimidate you. If you are fishing below the West Fork of the Madison, you will be confined to the east side of the river and the center down to Palisades FAS. The water clarity on the west side below the West Fork will be minimal and unfishable. The lower Madison below the Beartrap Canyon from Warmsprings FAS downriver will fish well, too. Cherry Creek will dump dirty water into the Madison at Damselfly FAS, but don’t let this deter you.
Cameron Gauging Station on 4/3/24 – 1050 cfs.
Water temperature: 43℉ at noon.
Recommended patterns to have in your box over the next four weeks
Nymphs/Emergers
- Pats Stonefly nymph, black with olive legs – size 8-4
- Pats Stonefly nymph, olive with brown legs – size 12-8
- Lightning Bug, purple and pearl – size 18-14
- Perdigon – Purdee John Brown– size 16-14
- Spanker, pheasant tail, purple– size 16-14
- Green Machine, pt or chartreuse – size 18-14
- CDC Prince – size 16-10
- CDC Baetis Emerger, green & purple – size 16-14
- San Juan Worms, red & orange – size 6-2
- Egg patterns, orange, yellow, or pink – size 16
Dries
- Adams & Parachute Adams – size 18-14
- Purple Haze -size 16-14
- Flushfloater Stone Skwala – size 10
- American March Brown – size 14
- Griffith Gnat – size 22–18
Streamers
- Barely Legal, olive/white – size 6
- Peanut Envy, olive – size 2
- Mike’s Pec’s, olive – size 6
Missouri River – has been fishing very well in both the jet boat section (below Hauser Dam) and the drift boat sections (below Holter Dam). From now through July, it is the time to be on the Mighty Mo!
Upper Holter Lake and the Missouri River in the jet boat section up to Hauser Dam are firing on all cylinders.
The drift boat section below Holter Dam has been fishing very well. The section from Holter Dam to Craig FAS has a higher fish concentration – more than any other section. However, we are catching fish downriver to Pelican FAS.
Holter Dam Gauging Station on 4/3/24 – 3530 cfs.
Water temperature: 38℉ at noon.
Recommended Patterns
Nymphs/Emergers
- Soft Hackle Sow Bug, pink and tan – size 16-12
- Lighting Bug, pink & purple – size 16-14
- Firebead Ray Charles, grey, pink & tan – size 16-14
- Pill Popper – size 16-14
- Perdigon – Purdee John Brown– size 16-14
- Tailwater Sow Bug – size 16-14
- Green Machine – size 16-14
- CDC Baetis Emerger, green & purple – size 16-14
- San Juan Worms, red & orange – size 6-2
- Egg patterns, orange, yellow, or pink – size 16
Dries
- Adams – size 18-16
- Parachute Adams – size 18-16
- Purple Haze – size 18-16
- Griffith Gnat – size 22—18
- Biot Midge, black – size 20-18
- Antonio’s Quill Midge – size 20-18
- Morgans Midge – size 20-18
Streamers
- Kreelex, gold/silver – size 4
- BH (bead head) Wooly Bugger, black – size 8-4
- Sparkle Minnow, olive – size 4
- Zirdle Bug, olive – size 8 (dead drift as a crawfish pattern)
- Blanace Leech, Black – size 8
Yellowstone River—Conditions are perfect for the Yellowstone River right now! Take advantage of this window before seeing muddy water from runoff next month. Historically, we will see the muddy waters of runoff appear in early to mid-May, and it may not be fishable again until late June or early July.
Livingston Gauging Station on 4/3/24 – 1470 cfs.
Water temperature: 44℉ at noon.
Recommended Patterns
Nymphs/Emergers
- Lightning Bug, purple and pearl – size 18-14
- Perdigon – Purdee John Brown– size 16-14
- Spanker, pheasant tail, purple– size 16-14
- Green Machine, pt or chartreuse – size 18-14
- CDC Baetis Emerger, green & purple – size 16-14
- San Juan Worms, red & orange – size 6-2
- Egg patterns, orange, yellow, or pink – size 16
Dries
- Adams & Parachute Adams – size 18-14
- Purple Haze -size 16-14
- Griffith Gnat – size 22–18
Streamers
- Barely Legal, olive/white – size 6
- Peanut Envy, olive – size 2
- Mike’s Pec’s, olive – size 6
- Zonker, natural or olive – size 6
Gallatin River – Wade fishing or fishing from the drift boat is an excellent option until we see the muddy waters from runoff around the second to the third week of May. With the colder water temperatures, focus on the slower, deeper pools. Nymphing will be your best bet with Beatis and Midge patterns. Overcast days in the afternoon could produce some dry fly fishing with Beatis patterns like a Parachute Adams or Purple Haze in sizes 18-16.
Logan Gauging Station on 4/3/24 – 386 cfs.
Water temperature: 43℉ at noon.
Current Snowpack
This will likely be our last snowpack report until November or December 2024. The Madison drainage is 83%, and the Yellowstone River drainage is 78%. These are not great numbers; however, we have seen worse in years past. Our weekend is calling for rain and snow showers, and with any luck, we will continue to receive any moisture, rain, or snow (depending on the elevation) for the next couple of months and through the summer months.
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Thank you for staying connected with us on current conditions, reports, and news!