July 26, 2005

There are several prevalent key food sources that are of the yellow spectrum right now. Pale Morning Duns, Golden Stones, Little Yellow Crane Flies, and Yellow Sallies.
Tie on your favorite size 16 yellow body dry fly and you are in business for morning to noonish fishing on the Madison right now.
When or if fish seem to lose interest try a size 8-14 lime trude or yellow stimulator. If that does not keep the trout's interest then go for a size 10 hopper. Clete caught several nice fish on the hopper today.
On his first day of fly fishing, Alex resorted to a bead head prince nymph with a lightning bug dropper to catch up to his granddad by the end of the float. For some reason this was quite important to the 13 year old. If he does not watch out, one day soon, he may end up being a fly fishing guide. That is if he resists temptation and stays away from the pork rind aisle at the bass pro shop.

July 16, 2005

The annual Salmon Fly hatch on the Madison has run it's course. The big bugs brought good action on top and Golden Stones continue to produce top water sport. PMDs, Yellow Sallies, and Caddis also are out in force. Now is the time to experience the most consistent dry fly fishing of the year.
In Yellowstone National Park Slough Creek has been clear and fishing for close to a couple of weeks. Look for Gray Drakes, Caddis and PMDs to be on the water. Also look out for biting flies and mosqitos looking for an easy meal. Be prepared to combat the pesky buffalo gnats, deer flies and horse flies with long sleeves, cactus juice, deet, and even headnets.

July 9, 2005

The Madison is seeing some great hatches and dry fly fishing is in full swing.
The Salmon Fly hatch has progressed upstream and currently can be found from Quake Lake to Lyon's bridge with the main concentration around Raynolds Bridge to $3 area. Giant Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies, PMDs, and Caddis are also very abundant.

The river is in great shape. Flows have peaked, clarity is excellent and hungry fish are looking up. No need to nymph now unless you can't cast dry flies into the occasional wind, hackers.

June 30, 2005

It is Salmon Fly time on the Madison! Dry fly action has been superb at times. Weather has been a factor for the spotty action on top.
The adults are out from Ennis up to Ruby Creek. So far we are encountering the big bugs in sporadic stretches over long distances of river. Nymphing with size 6 and 8 stonefly patterns trailed by small nymphs like brown or crystal serendipities, lightning bugs, PTs, beadhead micro mayflies, or copper johns has been the more consistent producer.
While it never hurts to be fishing the "hot" bug of the day, presentation is always more important. Drag free drifts with any fly whips a drift free drag with "the" fly. The fish on the Madison are wild trout and do not accept poor presentations. More thought into mending and line control than bug selection....