Montana's Best Flyfishing

Don't forget to book your fishing trips soon!!!

-Jimmy "loosewraps" Armijo

Gallatin River 771 c.f.s., July 30th 2010 Summer is finally here to stay and fishing on the Gallatin River is living up to its Blue-Ribbon reputation.  Though the Gallatin had a disappointing year for Salmon Fly, Golden stones can still be seen hatching intermittently from Greek Creek all the way to the Taylor's Fork.  Yellow Sallies have followed the Goldens up river and are hatching in good numbers throughout the canyon and above.  PMD, Caddis, and Green Drake activity have supplemented the early season stonefly hatches, only giving fish more reason to look up.  With all of the various flying adults hatching on the Gallatin's stretches, dry fly fishing has considerably picked up and it seems as though the days of the indicator may be over.

Lower Madison 1480 c.f.s. 71 degrees, July 30th, 2010. The water flows have leveled off and fishing conditions have become far more consistent than the early season. Weekly if not daily bikini hatches have begun to riddle rivers floatable sections, and as a consequence week day excursions are recommended.  If you go out there with small Clauser Crayfish, Soft Hackle Lightning Bugs, Iron Sallies , small Near Nuff Sculpin, and King Princes you should be able to scare up a few fish.

Upper Madison 1080 c.f.s. 59 degrees, July 30th 2010. The days of epic Madison River dry fly fishing are upon us. Yellow Sallies, PMD's, Epeorus, and several varieties of Caddis have followed the emergence of the Salmons and Goldens - further encouraging fish to rise up and feed on imitations of the like.  The nightly Madison Caddis falls - those heralded in the shadows of angling lore - are here in full force below Lyons and beginning to take off between Reynolds and Three Dollar.  Coupled with the night-time Epeorus spinner fall, fishing the Madison during the evening and twilight hours is not only a great time to get into fish, but also an easy way to avoid the crowds.

Yellowstone River 4140 c.f.s. 63 degrees, July 30th, 2010 With steadily dropping flows and increasing clarity, the river should now provide fisherman with some excellent nymph and streamer fishing. Lots of good hopper action between Carbella and Point of Rocks.  Dry fly action has taken off, and with the recent emergence of the Yellow Sallies that have followed the big bugs up river, fishing will only increase in productivity as the summer continues.

Missouri River 4140 c.f.s., 63 deg. July 30th 2010 The nymphing has been phenomenal over the past few weeks with small crayfish patterns, Pat's Rubber Legs, scud patterns, Flashback Pheasant Tails, Caddis pupa, and a variety of other flies.  Dry fly fishing is still sporadic, but a few fish are definitely looking up to caddis adults and spent patterns, as well as PMD spinners and cripples.