River Fishing Report

Beaverhead
Provided by Frontier Anglers
The Beaverhead is fishing great, lots of big fish! PMD's are hatching and the dry fly activity is picking up every day. The nymph fishing has been fantastic. Yellow Sallies are popping in full force and the fish are looking up.

Fly pattern suggestions: Size 16-18 PT Crusers, size 14 T-Bur stone, Size 20 Tailwater tiny's in olive, yellow, red, and rust, Size 18 Split case PMD's, Size 16-18 Tim's Sparkle Spieder, Size 16-18 L-PMD-F, Size 16-18 PT flashback, Size 18 Tungsten Dead head LGF, Size 18 PMD Challenged, Size 16-18 CDC PMD dry, Size 18 Quigley Loopwing Dun, Size 18 LT. olive Smidget.

Big Hole
Provided by Montana Troutfitters
The river is now flowing at 1730 and it's come down a lot in the last few weeks. The salmonflies are done but we have had great reports from people using attractor dries throughout the river. Some of the favorite patterns have been golden sallies, trudes, and pretty much any other green, yellow, or even purple patterns. There are a lot of natural bugs on the water right now so it is important to have a large selection of flies with you. Gray and Green drakes, caddis, pmds, and flying ants have been some of the most predominant but you never know what might be the ticket. I haven't seen the river in this good of shape in a while. There is plenty of water right now so it's a great time to escape the crowds and float the upper sections. Unfortunately, you probably won't be the only one chasing fish on the Big Hole because of the 35 inch behemoth they pulled out above Eastbank a few weeks ago. Check the story in the Montana Standard. The guy probably deserved it as much as anyone since he's been floating it since he was 14 years old and he's in his 50's. But to say it was big is an understatement.

Fly pattern suggestions: Cat Puke Orange and Black: 4-6 Mystery Meat Salmonfly: 4 Henry's Fork Salmonfly: 4-6-8 Berrett's Rubberlegged Salmonfly: 4-6 San Juan Worms (assorted colors): 8-10 Rubberlegs Tan, Chocolate, Black: 6-8 Pheasant Tails: 14-16-18 Anatomay Hares Ear: 12-14-16 Yellow Yummy: 2-4-6 Homewrecker Yellow: 2-4-6 Sex Dungeon Yellow and Natural: 2 Yuk Bug Red Belly & Black: 2-4

Big Horn
Provided by Big Horn Trout Shop
Can you say big water? The Horn is flowing at 12,200 cfs. This is historically some of the highest flows we've seen. But the fishing is phenomonal from a boat. Trying to wade the river is almost pointless. The high water is making this almost impossible. Consider floating Afterbay to Bighorn or even all the way to Mallards. Take your time, too, or you'll end up being done with your float very quickly. The key to successful fishing is getting your nymphs down to where the fish are, so some guys are fishing 1x or weighting the line to get it down quickly.

Fly pattern suggestions:
Scuds, Sowbugs in sizes 14-16 and San Juan Worms

Bitterroot
Provided by River Otter Fly Shop

The Bitterroot is in prime dryfly form right now! There are a variety of dry flies that will work right now from Goldens to PMD's, Sallies to Drakes, pick one and go! The entire river is fishing well. The lower river should fish very very well in the clouds.

Fly pattern suggestions: Golden Stones, Bitterroot Stones, Green Drakes, Sallies and PMD's BlackfootProvided by River Otter Fly Shop After a few days of funk, the Blackfoot is back to fishing well. You should be able to fish dries all day. Look for Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies and PMD's; they should be the hatches to match. The water is clearing a bit, so you may need to drop down to 4x or even 5x for your small dries. If you have a bright sunny day and there are no bugs out, try fishing a small heavy dropper under a dry fly. Look for fish eating Mayflies throughout the day. Especially when there is a bit of cloud cover. These fish will not be picky; just get the right drift.Fly pattern suggestions:Golden Stones, Green Drakes, Sallies and PMD's

Boulder
Provided by Montana Troutfitters
The whole river is still really high and although clear, it makes for some really hard fishing being backed up into the brush. I would let her be until the flows start coming down. Other river options might be a safer and more productive bet. When it does start shaping up again, get a raft and hit this if you know how to row a boat. As with many other waters around the state right now, if you are attempting a float make sure that the oarsman is very comfortable with high technical water because many sections can be fairly tricky. Try weighted stones, hares ears, and streamers and make sure to hit any slack water along the banks because fish will be trying to escape the heavy current. Fly pattern suggestions:Tungsten Black Retriever & Brown Lab: 6-8 Mega Hares Ear: 6-8 Lightning Bug: 10-12 Mega Prince: 4-6 San Juan Worm: 10 Mega Hare's Ear: 6-8 Delektable Coppertone: 6-8 Delekta's Big Red: 6-8

Clark Fork
Provided by River Otter Fly Shop
The Clark Fork is fishing well with the upper stretches consistent with Golden Stones, Mayflies and Caddis. The lower reaches have been fishing better and better as the water levels drop. Again, Goldens, PMD's and Caddis are the flies to play with out there.

Fly pattern suggestions:
Golden Stones, Green Drakes, Caddis and PMD's, Any Streamers!

Gallatin
Provided by Montana Troutfitters
It's coming down and clearing day by day which has made the fishing pretty good, but watch for heavy rain which can blow it out quickly right now. Up the canyon around Big Sky has been popular lately and there have been some good reports of salmonfly action up high. Others have been fishing nymphs and attractor dries in the valley and doing well, too. As you probably know, the higher up river you go the clarity gets better and better. However, the fish don't need much visibility to eat. Many people are deceived by muddy water that is still very fishable. Caddis and PMDs are thick so go throw some dries in the evening after work. Nymphing will be your mainstay so bring black rubber legs, golden stones, yellow sally nymphs and pretty much any mayfly nymphs. Just remember the river is still big and dangerous, so be careful wading.
Fly pattern suggestions: Yuk Bug Brown, Black, Red Belly: 6-8-10, Mega Prince: 4-6 Mega Hare's Ear: 6-8 Mega Pheasant Tail: 8-10 Lightning Bug: 12-14 Copper Johnson Blue, Red, Black, Yellow: 10-12-14-16 Ugly Bug: 6-8-10 The Turd: 6-8-10 Cone-nan The Barbarian Black, Olive, White: 4 Sex Dungeon Black, Yellow: 2

Jefferson
Provided by Montana Troutfitters
The river continues to get clearer and clearer and it is totally fishable right now with over two feet of visibilty even down low. A few people have been out and had decent reports on streamer fishing picking up a lot of good cookie cutter browns and rainbows with a few big fish in between. Crawdads are the best bet fished deep and twitched through the good runs. Higher sections on this river are often overlooked and they can provide a good escape and chance to try a new float. There is almost always a monster (30" plus) pulled out of here every year so it might be a good time to go play the big brown lottery and put in some time for the fish of a lifetime.Fly pattern suggestions: Sex Dungeon Natural, Yellow, Black, Olive: 2 Mike's Flankhead Rainbow: 2 Articulated Fathead Tan, Olive, White: 2 CFO Streamer Tan & Olive: 4 Mike's Wounded Rainbow: 2 & 1/0 Bearded Clam (why not right?): 6 Yuk Bug Red Belly: 2-4 and whatever big concoctions that you might have aborted at your own vise...

Kootenai
Provided by Kootenai Anglers
River Discharge: 9,000 cubic feet per second.River Temperature: 55 degreesRiver Condition: 8 - foot visibility, below mid-range flowHatches: PMD's and some Tan Caddis. BWO and Little Blue quills.
Fly pattern suggestions:
PMD"s and Tan Caddis, parachute adams, gray sparkle duns. Other: prince, pheasant tails, black and olive wooly buggers, bunny buggers, da-bomb Guide Report: fish are very active with the warmer water temps. Fishing Conditions Forecast: Flows are slowly decreasing to 7,000cfs for the summer.

Madison Upper
Provided by Rivers Edge
The Salmon Fly hatch continues on the Upper Madison. Look for most of the bugs to be between Lyons and McAtee bridges. The dry fly action has been mixed, depending on the day.There are a lot of naturals around and that should keep the fish looking up for quite a while. Try going below the hatch and fish large attractors and golden stone patterns to get away from the crowds. Look for Caddis and PMD's to provide good fishing opportunities along with the salmonflies. Large stone fly nymphs and Caddis patterns should be the ticket above the hatch in the wade section. Fly pattern suggestions:
Nymphs Yuk Bugs - #4,#6Bitch Creek - #6Olive Hurless Nymph - #8Braided Stone Golden or Brown - #6 TNT Caddis - #16Super Pupa Olive - #16Serengold Chart. - #16Copper John - #18Streamers Black and Olive Buggers #4-6Sex Dungeon Black - #4Natural Circus Peanut - #4Dries Half Down Salmonfly - #6Gorilla Salmonfly - #4-#6Cat Puke #4Stimulator #6-#10

Madison Lower
Provided by Rivers Edge
Flows on the Lower Madison continue to drop, but remain above average and the fishing has been holding steady. Look for the best fishing to be nymphing in and around the weed beds and the deeper runs. Large numbers of Caddis are still around and the best dry fly fishing will be late in the evening. Sculpin and crayfish patterns trailed by smaller beadheads will be the most productive though reports of fish eating large attractors may provide an opportunity to catch some larger fish on dry flies. Look to fish early or late as the crowds of non anglers are starting to become overwhelming during the middle of the day.

Fly pattern suggestions:
Nymphs Bush's Dad - #10Clouser Crayfish #8Zirdle - #6San Juan Worm - #10Dropper Nymphs Soft Hackle Hare's Ear - #16Yuba Pupa - #16Lightning Bug Silver #16-18Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail #16Pheasant Tail #12 or #14Riverborn Worm - #10TB Flashbug - #18SH Lightning bug - #18Dries CDC Caddis Tan - #16Elk Hair Caddis - #16Corn Fed Caddis- #18 Parachute PMD - #16Streamers Olive Sculpzilla-#6Olive and Tan McCune Sculpin-#6Clouser Crayfish #8Deaddrift Crayfish #8

Missouri
Provided by The Trout Shop
As good as it gets on dries? Don't wait until the river drops, but when it does.... Caddis, PMD's, and Yellow Sallies are thick. Spent caddis save the day. PMD spinners are necessary at times. Riseforms are abundant. Flows coming into the system are slowly declining. The flood pool at Canyon Ferry Lake is 24.8% full and slowly declining. At some point, PPL and the Bureau of Reclamation will get the green light to stop spilling water. The river will go wild. When?

Rock Creek
Provided by Rock Creek Trout Bums
Good hatches of PMDs beginning early in the day should get you into fish pretty much right when you get to the water. If the weather remains even semi-sane, your day should continue productively with little yellow sallie stoneflies, smaller hoppers and caddis. Water levels have dropped to the point where wading is a good option although with flows still above 900 cfs, it's not a cake walk by any means. Remember, never fish your hopper farther from the bank than a hopper could jump.

Ruby Provided by Five Rivers Lodge
The water has been clearing up here although still murky. Guests have been doing well fishing PMD's and Caddis in the evenings. Fishing has been very good with trout being landed in the first few casts of hitting the water.

Stillwater
Provided by Montana Troutfitters
The river is still high at the moment, however the upper stretches have good clarity but lots of water volume. It can be a little frustrating because even though you can fish you will be pinned up in the brush having a very hard time casting. I would highly recommend other places at these flows unless whitewater is your goal. But look for the river to get really good here soon as it continues to drop. Try large stones and streamers with attractor nymphs off of the back. Keep in mind that this can be a dangerous float so do not attempt it unless you are comfortable with rowing more technical water and wait untill it slows back down. With that said, some friends fished it a while ago and said fish were eating rubber legs, big prince nymphs, and Mega Hares Ear so it should be great when it clears in a week at least. Fly pattern suggestions: Delektable Hurless Gray & Olive: 8 Mega Hares Ear: 6-8 Mr. Rubberlegs Goldenstone: 8-10 Rubberlegs Olive, Brown, & Tan: 6-8-10 San Juan Worm: 10 Copper Bead Mayfly: 18-20 Lightning Bug: 16-18 BHFBPT: 14-16-18-20

Yellowstone
Provided by Rivers Edge
While the river is still big, it fished well yesterday up in the Paradise Valley for the first time this summer. Nymphing with bugs close to the bank was the ticket and they had to be fished deep. There were signs that the Salmonflies had already passed through, but we have guides today on the way to the upper river trying to catch the last bit of them. We'll know tomorrow if they found any up there. Remember if you go to the Yellowstone it is still a big powerful heaving river and you should only be on it if you are confident on the oars.

Fly pattern suggestions:
Streamers Black Buggers #4Olive Buggers #4-6Yuk Bugs #6Girdle Bugs #6Nymphs Soft Hackle Hares Ear #12Prince Nymph #12-14Soft Hackle Copper John #14Flashback Hares Ear #14Dries Cat Puke #4Royal Stimulator #6Gorilla Salmonfly #4

Yellowstone Park
Provided by Montana Troutfitters
The park has been fishing well lately and everyone we have talked to has been catching fish on a regular basis. Have seen consistent evening caddis hatches and some rusty spinners starting to show their heads. Not much new on the Madison--olive streamers are working and fun to fish. Gibbon has been busy but productive with caddis, PMDs, and trudes. Try a Prince nymph for a dropper. Firehole is fishing the best in the park. The Slough is fishable with some Caddis and dry fly action. Lamar and Soda Butte are still about a week off.