CRAZY CLIMATE
The weird weather pattern of December through February that led to southwest Montana having a relatively mild and dry winter has continued into the spring. While we thought the warmer winter temps would lead to an unseasonably hot spring that has not been the case. Other than a week in mid-May and a few days at the end of the month, it has been cool and wet here of late.
This up and down on the thermometer has made for an interesting run-off. That is to say we’re not sure we’ve even had one or at least not a traditional one anyway. Some people think it hasn’t even started yet while others, given the lack of snow in the mountains, think the high, dirty water we saw in May was it.
Right now, with more rain forecast over the weekend, we probably won’t know for sure until next week when the mercury hits the eighties again. Either way, this cool spring has been great for lengthening the time we will have trout-friendly water temps and for the longevity of water flows in the fisheries. And no matter what happens, if you’re coming out for a guided trip, there will be plenty of great water to fish over the next month.
HATCH WATCH
Speaking of the cold snap we had, right before it happened some of our guides saw a few adult salmonflies on Madison. Then the cool temps came in and shut down what was going to be one of the earliest salmonfly hatches we’d ever seen. Still, that means as soon as we get a lineup of sunny, warm days you can expect the big bugs to start appearing. That means, along with the salmonflies, you’ll be seeing golden stones, yellow Sallies, PMDs, caddis and green drakes all on the trout smorgasbord.
In fact, even right now we’re seeing exceptional fishing throughout southwest Montana and Yellowstone National Park. The Madison River is fishing extremely well from top to bottom as the rainbows are coming off their spawn and are hungry and ready to eat.
PMDs are the name of the game right now on the Missouri and will be for the next month. The fish are hungry and aggressive at the moment but as June rolls on they’ll become more selective and the fishing will become more challenging.
We’ve been taking lots of trips into Yellowstone National Park and guests are loving not only the fishing but also getting to experience this wondrous landscape before the summer tourists arrive. If you’re looking for something closer to Bozeman or Big Sky, the Gallatin River is in play as well despite still being a bit off color in areas where feeder creeks are still bringing in snowmelt from the mountains.
While we are on the lookup for the season’s big hatches, dries aren’t the only flies you should have in your box this time of year. When we take out trips we have three rods strung up – one for dry flies, one for nymphs and one for streamers – and we advise you do the same.
FREE FATHER’S DAY
Don’t forget that in honor of Father’s Day it is free to fish in Montana on June 20-21. That means no matter if you are a resident or a nonresident there is no license required to wet a line in the state.
This does not cover any waters in Yellowstone National Park, where you’ll have to have a valid park permit available on Recreation.gov (https://www.recreation.gov/activitypass/08486201-71ff-11eb-90d3-9eb840e09acc).
THE MADISON EFFECT
We saw it years ago with Brad Pitt and A Rivers Runs Through It. Now we’re seeing it again with Kurt Russell and The Madison. Well, maybe it’s not the same thing but we definitely had more than a few folks call us asking if we can take them fishing where they go fishing on the Paramount TV show, The Madison.
The short answer is, yes. Our guides are very familiar with the area of the Madison where the show is filmed and can take you fishing there in the hopes of catching a camera-worthy fish. Heck, who knows…you might even see Kurt or Michelle Pfeiffer getting ready for their closeup.
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