Weekly Conditions and Tips

Pictured Above: Nate Hamill with is first brown trout caught on a BRF bee pattern.
Photo by Nick Hamill

Afternoon fishing on the Madison has been great, mostly with small Baetis nymphs like our JuJu's, Micro-Madison Midge (probably one of the best Baetis nymphs although originally tied as a midge), along with our Split Case Baetis. When overcast conditions do arrive, and they are supposed to later this week, have Baetis Sparkle Duns #20 and Foam Emergers.

Hopper fishing is winding down on the river but ant and beetle activity remains strong for those in the know. Evening midges have been strong in the float stretch and at $3 so be prepared with our Mighty Midge Soft Hackle and Zelon Midges on the surface.

The river between the lakes has been fun with nymphs and streamers. Big Fall Cheechs and Baker's Buggers are providing good results. Make sure you check out all our new streamers this season.

The river in the Park has been hot and cold with the weather. Bright days call for soft hackles like our famous Partridge and Ice and Beeleys. Overcast conditions call for streamers like our Soft Hackled Marabous in white and yellow as well as Bucky's Partridge and Ice. White Miller caddis can bring the big run-up fish to the surface near Madison Junction in late day and hoppers will score very nice trout during windy afternoons.

The Firehole River continues to fish when white millers and black caddis are on emerging. The black caddis, Glossosoma Sp, are tiny, size #20, yet big trout will rise to them. White millers can be found emerging now all along the river and to Madison Junction. Baetis will continue to emerge when overcast. Foam Emergers and Sparkle Duns are your ticket then in size #22.

The Henry's Fork is fishing when C Baetis, Trico's and mahogany duns are emerging. On clear days this may be for only 20 minutes but the fish are huge. You most likely won't land any due to the weeds but then a run and a jump are fun and you weren't going to keep them anyway! The fish can be quite easy to fool during that short window according to seasoned experts like Peter.

Hebgen Lake's dry fly fishing has slowed to a crawl this week. Could the C Baetis hatch be over for the year? The next few days will tell although I still see Phil's boat leaving town around 10a.m. Plus, midges can bring strong rises of fish to emergences in the Madison Arm, particularly the lower arm near the western point.

The Gallatin River fishes well with small $ 3 Dips and Tim's Stone Nymphs. The hopper fishing has slowed but good fish come up to attractors like Royal Trude Cripples and Fat Alberts.

Fall brook trout are in full spawning colors now and places like Solfatara and Straight Creeks should be fished as well as the upper Gardner River.

Speaking of the Gardner make sure you try the river just upstream of the Town of Gardiner, Mt as a few big browns are coming in now from the Yellowstone River. As for the Yellowstone the river is fishing well still in the Black Canyon stretches and downstream. Big attractors like Fat Alberts and PMX's can be counted on to bring good fish up. Rubber leg stones will work well underneath.

The Lamar River is having epic fall green drake emergences along with some Baetis too. Terrestrials like beetles and bees are working fine trailed behind the trusty Fat Albert. I just realized I've mentioned the Albert a few times already in this report. It is a favorite late summer attractor and does double duty as a hopper also. Tan or red this fly has been a killer for all of us at BRF! You may want to head to the lower river, near the confluence with the Yellowstone; a thought.

Slough Creek is still seeing good fall drakes and Baetis emergences but midges, especially during the early morning hours of 7-10a.m. are bringing up some huge cutts. A Chaos Hopper and tiny (#10-12) Slough Creek Cricket are deadly now too. For midge times have Mighty Midge Soft Hackle Emergers, Micro Madison Beaded Midges and Spider Midges for surface action, and yes have a Griffiths Gnat too.

Soda Butte has been great. Round Prairie, Ice Box, the butte stretch and lower meadow have all fished well. #16 PMD Sparkle Duns and beetles are your best friends here.