Madison River Outfitters Fishing Report 7.14.24
By angelamontana

Posted: July 15, 2024

Montana

Hebgen: (Nothing much has changed on the lake) – We’re seeing plenty of Callibaetis hatching on and around the lake, as well as a strong hatch of midges continuing. A good number of gulpers have been spotted on the calmer days. We’ve been producing pretty well on stripped leeches and similarly small streamers.

Flies: #8 Black or Olive Simi Seal Leech, #6 Balanced Squirrel Leech Black, #6 Olive or Black Hot Bead Leech, #8 Booby Leach, #8 Thin Mint, #18 BBQ Baetis, #14 Olive Nugget, #12 O.S. Buzzer, #18 Two Bit Hooker, #16 Long Tailed Spinner Callibaetis,
#16 Purple Missing Link, #20 Low Water Baetis
Flows:
Inflow to Hebgen Lake: 1081 cfs
Hebgen Lake Outflow: 1145 cfs
Kirby Flows: 1280 cfs
Temp @ Kirby: High – 66.2 F
Low – 56.3 F

** Flows as of 12pm June 13th, 2024 **

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MRO Guide BJ Stone and client AJ with a nice football Brown
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Upper Madison:
The Upper is still in good shape. Dries are still fishing very well, but the big bugs have unfortunately come and gone. Nymphing is still great, but the hot weather has made fishing in general tougher during the typical mid-day lull. Caddis are still out and about in greater numbers in the evenings, and PMD’s & Baetis are hatching steadily in both the mornings and evenings. Watch the temperature in the coming days/weeks and look out for further FWP Hoot Owl restrictions – give em a break!
Flies: #16 Sunburst Perdigon, #16 Black OR Red Krystal Dip, #14 Olive Grub, #14 Pilva’s Perdigon – Olive, #16 BWO Loopwing, #14 Iron Sally, #18 BWO Magic Fly, #16 Royal Chubby, #16 Rocky Mountain Mint – PMD, #14 Chocolate X-Caddis, #14 CDC & Elk Caddis – Black, #12 Royal Water Walker, #12 Fools Gold Golden Stone, #12 Peacock Chubby Chernobyl

MRO Guide Tom Forsberg and client Erin Matthews with a stout Upper Madison Brown
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YNP
The Northeast Corner of YNP is fishing great!
*****The Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon (below Norris Campground), and ALL associated tributaries are closed indefinitely to fishing due to high temperatures and low flows. *****
With the recent ( much needed) closure of most of the fisheries on the western side of the park, our focus is shifting to the NE Corner of YNP. The Yellowstone, Lamar, Soda Butte, and Slough Creek are all in very good shape and fishing well. These cutties are notorious for liking bright, bushy dries; and not being shy when it comes to rising. Smaller streamers can also be effective here.
Flies: #14 UV Pink Chubby, #12 Royal Wulff, #12 Slough Creek Drake Mackerel, #12 Peacock Chubby, #8 Rio’s Juicy Stone – Salmonfly, #16 DOA PMD, #18 CDC Biot BWO Comparadun, #16 Elk Hair Caddis – Dark Brown OR Olive, #18 Purple Missing Link, #6 CH Sparkle Minnow – Brownie, #6 Peanut Envy – Olive OR Brown

Flows:
Madison near West Yellowstone: – *closed*
Yellowstone below Yellowstone Lake: – 3470 cfs
Gibbon: – *closed*
Firehole: – *closed*
Lamar: – 586 cfs
Gallatin near Big Sky: 593 cfs
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Get out there!

Feature photo: Long time MRO client Dick Luechtefeld with MRO Head Guide Mike Loebl showing off a great Upper Madison ‘Bow
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