Please check the fishing regulations before fishing.
Holter Reservoir Fishing Report by FWP (October 28, 2024)
The rainbow bite has been very productive while fishing from shore at the Gates of the Mountains, and from Departure Point while using crawlers and a marshmallow, powerbait, or leech pattern flies. Trolling cowbells with various spinner rigs out from Departure Point has been producing some nice rainbows. A few perch and an occasional walleye are being caught while vertical jigging near points and weed beds. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
A few nice afternoons remain for swinging soft hackle flies and presenting BWO life cycle and white miller caddis patterns on the Firehole River. Other than that, brown trout season is running supreme. Expect crowds pitching streamer and big soft hackle patterns on the Madison River, whether it be along the west entrance highway or in the Beaver Meadows between the Barns Holes and Baker’s Hole campground. The Lewis River channel between Lewis and Shoshone Lakes will become a destination for fly fishers from all over the world. Best times of day to enjoy these fish is first light before shoreline angling traffic puts them down. The brown trout runs into the Snake and Gardner Rivers are starting with peaks coming late in the month. Watch the weather, as “Old Man Winter” can take month long residence any time.
2/5
Streamer fly fishing the Jefferson River this time of year is a favorite for experienced anglers fishing near Bozeman.
These past 10 days have provided some memorable moments for our guides and clients, but the action has been inconsistent.
The typical program has been to streamer fish the undercut banks and tailouts of long runs with sinking lines and articulated sculpin imitations. We have been fishing zonkers and crayfish patterns through the top sections of deeper holes to find more numbers of trout.
Cold weather is heading in and generally makes for slower fishing on the Jefferson River for the remainder of the fall/winter.
Hell Creek General Recreation Information (November 1, 2024)
4/5
Fishing on the Gallatin River has been solid using both dry and streamer fly fishing techniques. Withclludy and cooler conditions expected over the next week, trout should continue feeding more consistently than earlier in the month.
Blue-winged olive and midge hatches have become more frequent, offering longer “windows” for dry fly anglers. Late mornings have been productive for some of our dry-fly-only friends near Big Sky.
Nymphing remains the most effective technique for anglers fishing the Gallatin right now. Our guides are using tandem rigs with a variety of generalist nymphs including san juan worms and perdigons. Egg patterns are starting to work, too.
This unsettled weather is also perfect for throwing streamers, as cloud cover provides trout a sense of security in the low water. Some nice trout have been coming to our nets this past week.
You can get an idea of the water conditions in the Big Sky area by viewing this webcam, hosted by our friends at Montana Whitewater.
Fishing on the Yellowstone is finally starting to pick up with the cooler temperatures, and we have all been hearing good reports of the river from Livingston all the way up into the park. Fishing has been more consistent with nymphs and streamers as of late with stoneflies, worms, eggs, prince nymphs, green machines, hare’s ears, bead baetis, blowtorch’s, and Duracell’s having the spotlight. Dry fly fishing is also starting to pick up with baetis and october caddis especially on the colder cloudier days. For dry flies, if you see blue wings popping we would throw an extended body bwo, film critic, or hatchback bwo and if you see october caddis out try twitching a size 12 royal chubby or size 14 orange stimulator. As far as streamers go, some of the bigger flies have been working better for us with the double gonga, sex dungeon, Drunk and Disorderly, Schultz’y sculpin, Sluggo’s, and swim coach’s being our best flies as of late.
Suggested Fly Patterns
-
Dry Fly
Sweetgrass Hopper (8), Henneberry hopper grey (12), Thunder Thighs hopper Yellow/Tan (10), Donkey Kong hopper pink/tan (10-12) Parachute Adams (16-20), Purple Haze (16-18), Buzz Ball (14-16), Corn fed Caddis (14-16), X-Caddis (14-16), Parachute PMD (14-16), Extended Body PMD (14-16), Larimer’s Yellow Sally (12-14), Water Walker (8-12), Chubby Chernobyl (8-16)
-
Streamer
Woolly Bugger (4-12), Ditch Witch Black/red/purple/ Yellow/white(2), Mini Peanut Envy Black/Yellow/Tan (6) Mini Dungeon Black/purple /Olive/Yellow (6), Montana Intruder (4), Sparkle Minnow JJ’s/Silver/Sculpin (4-8), Double Gonga Black/Rainbow (4), Sculpzilla Black/White/Olive (4-8), Seasoned Geezer Gold/Natural/Olive (6)
-
Nymph
Pat’s Rubber Legs (6-12), Zirdle Bug (6-12), Perdigon Blue/Purple/Pearl (14-18), Jig thread Frenchie Brown/yellow (14-18), CDC Pheasant Tail (10-18), Jigster PMD (14-18), Formerly Known Prince Nymph (10-18), BH Hare’s Ear (12-18), Sizzlin’ Hot Squirrel (14-16), Matt’s Shagadelic Mop Tan/Brown/Chartreuse/Cheeto (10)
The fishing has been pretty good as of late. Nymphing and streamers have been the best methods. No need to get out super early in the morning as we are having below freezing temps until about 10.
Please respect all private property and fishing signs. At the corral on the Johnson Tuning Fork spot if the sign is up please find another spot to access.
See below for our tips on fishing Flint Creek near Philipsburg, Montana.
Here are a few tips for fly fishing Flint Creek:
1. Try nymphing in deep pools or under the banks.
2. Fish a single dry on the bank or the bubble lines.
3. Try swinging a streamer or a soft hackle through the ripples.
Here are a few fly suggestions:
1. Kreelex – Gold and Copper size 6
2. TJ Hooker – Brown and Black size 12
3. TJ Hooker – Tan and Brown size 12
4. PMD, size 12-14
5. Jig Frenchie – size 14,16
6. Spanish Bullet – black size 14,16
7. Pheasant Tail Nymph size 16-20
Flows and looking ahead:
Flow: 134 cfs at the time of publishing this report
Here is a link to the Flint Creek USGS Water Information.
Stop by the shop in Philipsburg for the latest report and for everything you need for your trip. We’re open 7-4 Everyday Tight lines!
As fall winds down and November knocks on the door, it is hard not to look back at the remarkably pleasant fall weather we enjoyed this September and October. Even if the weather wasn’t the best for hatches of Blue-Winged Olives and classic streamer fishing days, our Montana fly fishing guides still found plenty of big brown trout. Check out our Instagram feed for all the pictures of big trout from this fall. The bright sun didn’t keep the brown trout from chasing streamers or larger morsels. For the last week of October some overcast and light rain is in the forecast, so we are expecting to finish out the month with the possibility of good hatches of Blue-Winged Olives.
If you are local or still looking at making a Montana fly fishing trip, the fishing has been consistently good. Check out some of our recent blogs on Five Rivers to Fish This Fall and The Mayfly You Need to Know: Catch More Fish by Understanding Blue-Winged Olives. All of our rivers are in great shape to finish out the season–which will last into November.
Overview
Fall is lingering for a few more weeks–it’s been a very pleasant fall season with mostly sunny skies and much warmer than average temperatures. November is on the doorstep and with it the onset of winter. Most of our fishing guides have put up the oars for the season but as long as the snow doesn’t fall too deep or the temps get too cold, there is still fishing to be had. Most likely you can have the river to yourselves as mostly only local anglers are left on the water and even then a good portion of them are out chasing 4 legged creatures to fill the freezer. Big rivers and chasing bigger than average trout is the game this time of year. If there was any time to swing for the fences now is the time. Don’t expect huge numbers but it could happen on the right day. Small streams are low, clear and cold. Lakes have been exited by the fish headed into the rivers for the fall spawn. By and large the program will be nymphing as well as some streamer action. If you get the right day some dry fly action can be had.
Hatches
For the next month or so, Blue-Winged Olive mayflies can hatch on most of our local waters. Overcast and rainy or snowy days are the ideal conditions for a strong hatch, however they can occur on sunny days, but more likely to hatch in inclement weather. A hatch of Blue-Winged Olives in fall typically starts around 10 or 11 AM and can last until 3 or 4 PM. As the water temps gradually get colder and colder, expect the intensity of the hatch to dwindle. Midges may hatch as well, but on most freestone rivers the trout are going to eat subsurface rather than rise to midges. The exception to this is on the Missouri River near Wolf Creek and Craig where the tailwater fishery can produce some excellent midge hatches over the next month or so.
Fly selection
On certain sections of local rivers–like the Channels on the Upper Madison–with the spawn going, fishing eggs that get flushed from the redds is highly productive, as are worms, and leeches. With the onset of winter the fish will take advantage of the still somewhat warmer water temps and feed heavily at times to get that last bit of bulk on before they go into maintenance mode. So fish your largish attractor nymphs like sculpins, rubber legs, worms, leeches, eggs, crayfish, etc. with confidence. But don’t forget about the small bugs like baetis and midges.
For Blue-Winged Olives:
Nymphs:
Beadhead Little Green Machines in olive or natural in sizes 16 to 22
Beadhead Hare’s Ears in sizes 16 to 22
Beadhead Perdigons in natural, olive, peacock, black, in sizes 16 to 22
Sawyer Pheasant Tails in sizes 16 to 22
Emergers:
RS2 in olive in size 16 to 22
WD-40 in olive or brown in size 16 to 22
Captive Dun/Emergers in size 18 to 22
Dries and Spinners:
Para Adams or Para Purple Haze in size 16 to 22
Compardun in BWO in size 16 to 22
Brooks Sprout in size 16 to 22
Rusty Spinner in size 16 to 22
Streamers and baitfish for big brown trout
Home Invaders in darker/contrasting colors in size 2 – 10
Sculpzillas in black, olive, or brown in size 2- 10
Sparkle Minnows in a variety if colors in size 2 – 10
Your favorite go-to stream pattern
Reading water
Water flows can be up slightly with the seasonal precipitation and irrigation no longer taking place. Check your water temps as it can vary from location to location by quite a lot depending on where the water is coming from, ie. the high country, a dam, low elevation spring creek, etc. This can help you determine the most likely place the fish will be holding. It can be a transitional time from the faster currents, to the softer lies, and finally into the slow deep runs where they will remain for the winter. This can change throughout the day as air temps swing as well. Where the fish are holding is the most important aspect of fishing this time of year and into winter.
Flow Data: Missouri River below Holter Dam near Wolf Creek, MT
Great fishing conditions in Craig this week. Nymphing has been hot, hot, hot. Dry fly action picks up in the afternoons. This cool weather and partly cloudy conditions could make for good BWO fishing. It is certainly localized but when you find fish rising and present them with a Parachute Adams, midge cluster, or BWO Comparadun paired with a good drift they will likely eat the fly. Hopefully the hatch will continue to get better. Fish have been steadily eating Olive Micro Mays, Green machines, and caddis nymphs subsurface. Sowbugs are working once again! Tailwater Sowbug is tough to beat. Worms are certainly back in play if you are not finding success with smaller patterns. Perdigons are also consistently tricking fish. Olive and or Black have been best. If you want to cruise a big dry fly, try an Orange Chubby to imitate an October Caddis. This large fly can produce some great top water explosions. Doesn’t hurt to try a streamer. Lil’ Kim or Goldie will work well.
Flathead River- Good amount of white fish being caught. Try old steel bridge to Columbia Falls bridge area. Small 1/8-1/4 jigs with green tubes or craws.
Thompson River- Try lower end for nice browns and a few brookies. Small spinners and spoons work well.
Lake Mary Ronan- Nice perch in 25-30’ of water, use JT Tackle mini slabs, Hali jigs or small brown tubes.
Swan Lake- Good Lake Trout along Highway side trolling small flatfish or spoons.
Rodgers Lake- Great grayling action, a few nice cutts.
Vann Lake- Good rainbows off shore.
McGregor Lake- Some lake trout hitting 60-80’ trolling or jigging.
Flathead Lake- Lake trout starting to spawn, try Woods Bay or West Shore. Cast big spoons 15-30’ of water or troll 40-60’.
Fishermen:
Mack days is until NOv. 3rd
Lake trout being caught in Blacks Point, Rocky Point
60 to 180 feet.
Perch good in Elmo
Bird staging to spawn (Lake Trout) in one week good fishing.
Small mouth in Flathead River below the bridge in 25 feet of water
with a Rattle D Zastor with a twister tail
Good Fishing
The macman
Hebgen: The lake has been tough lately, the cooler weather was looking great, but broke into bluebird skies and 70’s for the foreseeable future. The bugs are mostly gone but there are a few callibaetis and midges still hanging around. Stripping streamers and leeches in the upper reaches of the arms has been pretty productive for us. Alternatively, you can hang a leech to a baetis nymph under an indicator.
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, #6 Olive OR Brown Peanut Envy, #4 Supernatural Peanut – Olive, #6 Olive Montana Mouthwash, #18 BBQ Baetis, #18 Turkey Callibaetis, #12 Balanced Damsel, #14 Olive Nugget, #12 O.S. Buzzer
Flows:
Inflow to Hebgen Lake: 687 cfs
Hebgen Lake Outflow: 805 cfs
Kirby Flows: 875 cfs
Temp @ Kirby: High – 56 F
Low – 49 F
** Flows as of 12pm October 9th, 2024 **
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
MRO Guide Noah Norwood with a beautiful lake brown
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Upper Madison:
The bright sunny days have made fishing a bit of a grind lately, but the Upper is still fishing ok. Aside from the odd baetis, the surface action has mostly come to a close this season. Nymphing is as consistent as ever – small & natural is the name of the game in the fall. Streamers and Leeches will definitely drag Ol’ Leroy out of the cutbanks and pools as autumn sets in and those browns get mean.
Flies: #16 Sunburst Perdigon, #18 S&M Dark Baetis, #18 Purple JJ Baetis, #16 Black OR Red Krystal Dip, #14 Pilva’s Perdigon – Olive, #16 BWO Loopwing, #18 BWO Magic Fly, #18 CDC BWO Biot Comparadun, #20 Low Water Baetis, #16 Purple Parachute, #20 CW Trico Spinner, #18 CW Rusty Spinner, #4 Olive Supernatural Peanut, #6 Olive MT Mouthwash, #6 Olive/White Barely Legal, #8 Hot Bead Leech – Olive, Black, Brown
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
MRO Guide Tyler Amory’s Client Chris with a fat Wade Section ‘Bow
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
YNP
As of August 14th, The Northeast Corner of YNP’s hoot owl restrictions on Slough Creek, Soda Butte, Lamar River, and Yellowstone River have been lifted – Have fun!
********************************************************************************************
*****The Madison, and Gibbon are freshly open, and the Firehole and it’s tributaries are no longer hoot owled. Have Fun!*****
The western side of YNP is slowing down due to the bright and warm weather. Swinging just simply isnt as effective on fair weather days. Nymphing might net a fish or two, and the firehole still has some dry fly fishing to be had. The Northeast Corner is starting to slow down and was recently hit with a lot of rain, which has colored up many of the watersheds up there. There’s still some good fishing to be had before it gets too cold up there though!
Flies: #12 Partridge & Orange, #14 Partridge & Peacock, #16 Diving Caddis Olive, #8 Hot Bead Leech – Black, Olive, or Brown, #6 MT Mouthwash Olive, #6 Olive Slumpbuster, #6 CH Sparkle Minnow – Brownie, #6 Olive OR Brown Peanut Envy, #8 Thin Mint Hot Bead, #4 Supernatural Peanut – Olive & Black
Flows:
Madison near West Yellowstone: – 329 cfs
Yellowstone below Yellowstone Lake: – 667 cfs
Gibbon: – 86 cfs
Firehole: – 232 cfs & 64 F
Lamar: – 149 cfs
Gallatin near Big Sky: 269 cfs
***************************************************************
Get out there!
- Flathead Lake – Lakers are still biting. Try trolling flies or flatfish around Caroline Point, Angel Point or Painted Rocks
- Echo Lake- Fishing is slowing down, but we are still finding bass using deep water finesse tactics.
- Church Slough- Pike are biting on deadbaits. We are also finding a few on spinnerbaits and chatterbaits as well.
- Smith Lake – We are seeing smaller pike biting using pike hangers.
- Flathead River- Whitefish numbers are still going strong. Try small jigs with plastics or JT Tackle jigs.
- Thompson Chain – Perch are still being caught on tungsten jigs and maggots at depths of about 20′. Kokanee are being caught on halo spinners or Swedish Pimples in about 25′ depths.
Unusually mild weather has been settled over Southwest Montana for the last few weeks, giving anglers fishing near Bozeman a bit of an extended season.
The best fly fishing near Bozeman is subsurface, this time of year. Although our guides have been moving and catching some nice brown trout with streamers, the action has all been during the low-light morning hours.
Blue-winged olives are starting to show up on area rivers with some dry fly fishing periods later in the afternoons and along local river sections with more shade. The Gallatin Canyon is a good place to look for some rising fish in the early afternoons right now.
Tandem nymph rigs have been the way to go for consistency on the rivers near Bozeman like the Madison, Gallatin, and Yellowstone. Small perdigons and mayfly nymph imitations in dark colors, fished about 5’ under a strike indicator along gentle, deeper current seams is the way to go right now.
Low, clear water is prevalent right now and requires stealthy approaches and finer tippets than anglers typically use when fly fishing in Montana, near Bozeman. Fluorocarbon tippet can be a real “game-changer” in these conditions.
It looks like we might get some clouds and rain towards the middle of the month – those are the conditions to look for if streamer fly fishing for brown trout is “up your alley.”
Hauser Reservoir Fishing Report (October 28, 2024)
The rainbow bite has been very productive while fishing from shore at Black Sandy, the Causeway Bridge, and below Canyon Ferry Dam with leech pattern flies, nightcrawlers and a marshmallow, or powerbait. Trolling wooly buggers behind cowbells between Black Sandy and York Bridge and inside of the Causeway Arm is also producing some nice rainbows. Walleye and perch fishing has been slow. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
This Kootenai River Montana fishing report is being brought to you by Orvis Endorsed Linehan Outfitting. This report will be updated weekly to provide current conditions, weather, hatches, patterns, and flows to our local waters and across the state.
Flows from Libby Dam: 4000cfs
Water temperature at Libby Dam: 42 degrees
Hatches: midge, baetis
patterns: zebra midge, parachute Adams, parachute pmd, Rosenbauer’s olive rabbit foot emerger, purple haze, purple chubby, red chubby, olive sparkle dun,bh prince, soft SJ worm, bh pheasant tail, bh rubber legged stonefly, big streamers in white, pink and olive, circus peanut, black conehead buggers
It’s not quite spring up here in Kootenai River country but we have good news. Flows from Libby Dam have been reduced and will be stable at 4000cfs through the end of March for now. That means there’s some great early season fishing available right now.
Expect more clammy cloudy weather through the weekend and into next week. March continues to come in like a lion and we’ve yet to see the lamb. Rain and snow mix will dominate forecast. Fortunately daytime temps will ooch into the forties which is at least a small sign of spring around here.
At the moment the river is clear and in good shape. Don’t expect much in the way of dry fly fishing and insect activity until we get some substantially warmer daytime temperatures. The water is still cold but trout will start to feed a bit in the coming weeks.
This is always a good time of year for nymphing. With low flows you don’t need a heavy rig. You just need to get the flies down in softer runs and pools where trout are most likely to be holding this time of year. Don’t spend a ton of time fishing fast riffles.
Streamer fishing is also productive this time of year especially since bigger fish will be hungry after laying low for a couple months during the dead of winter. Keep in mind they will not necessarily want to move too fast or too far to get a meal. Get your streamers down and fish them slowly and erratically. Nothing like a wounded minnow to get a big rainbow interested in at least a sniff.
In Boston Red Sox news, it’s PLAY BALL! After several weeks of a lockout the players union owners have finally come to an agreement. Spring training will start immediately and while opening day was and remains delayed until April 7, the season will still be 162 games. For now the Sox have managed to keep essentially the same playoff roster they had last season. Infielders Dalbec, Arroyo, Bogaerts, and Devers are key players. In the outfield Jackie Bradley Jr. has returned to Boston and Kike Hernandez and Verdugo will anchor the deep green. Ace Chris Sale will hopefully be healthy and other starters from last year will hopefully pick up where they left off in October. Go Sox!!!
Give a call anytime if you need more Kootenai River details or information on any of our hunting or fishing adventures. And please check out our e-commerce site for all Linehan Outfitting branded swag and Orvis gear. https://linehan-outfitting.myshopify.com/
We look forward to hearing from you. 406-295-4872
On the Gallatin River we’ve got cool nights and crisp mornings that lead into hatches of BWOs by 11ish and then start to simmer by 3ish/4ish. Start later in the morning for sure because water temps are hovering in the 40s. Additionally, the flows on the Gallatin River at the moment are low, which means the fish are concentrated in the deeper runs, pockets, and holes. Because the Gallatin River is low you will need to cover a lot of water when you fish. If you fish a deep run or hole and catch a few fish, consider moving up to the next run or hole. With the low and clear flows on the Gallatin right now fishing subsurface is the best way to get into fish at the moment. Choose tandem nymph rigs with flies in the size 18-22 range. See the list of flies below for the best choices. With the low, clear water for success you will need to drop down in tippet sizes so you are getting a better drift. Many anglers are going to 9 foot 5X leaders with 5X fluorocarbon for their tippets. Trout are being found in the 5-6 feet deep medium fast runs during most of the day.
The Month Ahead:
The Gallatin River near Big Sky and Bozeman in late fall can be one of the most consistent fisheries in the area. Flows are low and clear but that makes walk-and-wade fishing easy compared to summer when higher flows are the norm. The trout on the Gallatin River in late October and November are going to feed on a variety of insects. Mayfly and midge nymphs dominate the feeding chart for sure, but trout will also eat stonefly nymphs too.
Flies for the Gallatin River for the Next Month:
Lightening Bugs in sizes 16-18
Sawyer PTs in sizes 18-22
Zebra Midges in black, red, or olive in sizes 18-22
Pheasant Tails in sizes 16-20
Chubby Chernobyl in black, olive, or royal in sizes 12-16
Little Spankers in sizes 18-20
Pat’s Rubberlegs in sizes 12-14
Hi-Vis caddis in sizes 12-16
It is a great time of year to fish the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks! There have been some fish rising to midges in the mornings and evenings, with BWOs in the mix in the afternoon. A light dropper can be effective if fish are not looking up! Zebra midges, and Green Machines are great options. Stripping a small leech or sculpin can work as well!
GO-TO FLIES:
-Para Extended Body BWO #18
-Brooks Sprout Midge Black #20
-TB Ready Baetis #18
-Crystal Bender Baetis #20
-BH Hale Bopp Leech Black #8
Flow Data: Bighorn River near St. Xaiver, MT
Nymphing remains the best option on the Bighorn. A Black Micro Mayfly, Pearl/ Olive Jiggy Perdigon, Black Zebra Midge, or Tailwater Sowbug have worked the best. Worms are starting to play as well. San Juan Worm in wine is my all time favorite. Dry fly action has picked up slightly but it has not been great. Some BWO’s and midges are hatching but not many fish looking up. It is always worth trying a streamer if you are searching for a big predatory fish but the consistency has not been there. Should only get better if we could just get some cool cloudy weather.
788 CFS @ Kirby. The Upper Madison has been fishing well recently! Nymphing has been the most consistent option. Eggs, worms, and zebra midges have all been catching fish. Dragging a sculpin can also be effective when looking for quality fish. Some fish are rising to midges and BWOs, though hatches have been a little temperamental.
GO-TO FLIES:
-BH $3 Dip Brown
-Bubbleback Emerger BWO #18
-Slush Egg Apricot #14
-She Demon Bugger Black #6
-Brooks Sprout Baetis #20
Low Water for the Fall Period on Montana’s Missouri River
Lower water this fall, this October, and into the future? Look at the graph above?!?
Water management procedures and policies have changed over the past 30 years. I could go on about the individuals/current policies in place, making those decisions, but that would bore me, and you.
Bottom Line: The conservative program, holding water, is the current regime. Back in the day, 5K was the norm in winter months. Now, hold water in the reservoir(s), and let it go if needed. Less water from the skies, less water because of ag. interests, less…
So, that is the norm in our current period.
Check out water temps as they are plunging. We would like to have them pause, pause in the 50’s for a month, but that is unreasonable. Still, still can’t control the weather.
Have a good Thursday. Fall has arrived. The weather turning this next week. Streamer Fanatics Unite.
Swingers on the rise. It’s gonna happen.
Bugs on the surface? Crossing our fingers.
The East Gallatin River originates in the Bridger and Hyalite Mountains near Bozeman, Montana and is a local’s favorite for some small stream freestone river fishing. The fishing with hoppers on the East Gallatin River throughout September and October was pretty consistent, but that has slowly transitioned into more fall like conditions on the East Gallatin River. Tandem nymph rigs are going to be the best bet right now for the East Gallatin. Fish a two-fly rig with smaller beadheads such as PTs, Lightening bugs, King Princes, Perdigons, or your favorite small mayfly and caddis. Fishing can be very solid throughout the fall on the East Gallatin River. Dry fly fishing over thick Blue-Winged Olive hatches can be amazing on warmer cloudy days. Becuase the East Gallatin runs low this time of year and sees some localized pressure, it can be quite technical so bring you’re “A” game. Nymphing is always good with crayfish, worms, eggs and leeches trailed by a baetis, midge, or small sow bug. Streamer/swing fishing can be good at times. If it isn’t consistent stick with it as you might still turn a larger fish or two.
The East Gallatin River is known this time of year for providing some good Do-It-Yourself walk and wade fishing. The hard part about the East Gallatin is getting legal access. There are several place to access the river, but sometimes parking is tough to find. If you do fish the East Gallatin be sure to know Montana’s Stream Access Law.
If you want some dry fly fishing for rising trout in the Bozeman area the East Gallatin River is the closest and most consistent bet right now. If you do go in hopes of finding fish on dry flies, Blue Winged Olives should start to hatch around 10/11 AM. Most trout on the East Gallatin River right now are going to be holding in medium-slow water waiting to pick off hatching insects. A few trout may still be looking for terrestrials. The East Gallatin River is also home to some great undercut banks so if you are looking to fish streamers and target some of the river’s larger trout, now is a good time work on your double-haul and fire a streamer into a dark and deep spot in hopes of finding a predacious brown trout.
Considering a fly fishing trip to the Bozeman, Montana area? Read one of more recent blog posts: Five of the Best Rivers to Fish Near Bozeman, Montana.
Flies for the East Gallatin River Right Now
Beadhead Pheasant Tails in size 14-22
Beadhead Little Green Machines in size 14-22
Beadhead Lightening Bugs in size 14-22
Beadhead King Princes in size 16-22
Parachute Adams or Purple Haze in size 16-22
BWO Comparaduns in sizes 14-22
Rusty spinners in size 16-20
Sculpzilla in black, olilve, or white in sizes 6-10
Sparkle Minnow in gold/olive in size 6 and 8
Beadhead worms in size 10
Canyon Ferry Reservoir Fishing Report by FWP (October 28, 2024)
The walleye bite has really slowed down with a few being caught around the Silos, Duck Creek and the Ponds in 15-20 feet of water while using bottom-bouncers with flashers or crankbaits. Rainbow action is picking up throughout the reservoir while trolling cowbells, spoons or crankbaits. Shore anglers are catching a few rainbows at the Silos, Hellgate and Shannon on worms, flies or spoons. Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena
The conditions for spring creek fishing have improved significantly. Cloud cover and cooler temperatures throughout the week. Still midges few hatching in the mornings with pretty solid Baetis hatches coming off in the late morning to early afternoon. Fish that are eating BWO’s are looking for small flies, #18- #22 BWO Comparadun is the way to go. Light midge hatches are occurring in the evening and fishing can be pretty good close to dark. BWO nymphs and emergers will be great options when the fish are eating sub-surface. Nymphing will be pretty consistent in the event that the trout do not want to cooperate and eat bugs from the surface.
*Flow Data: Yellowstone River near Livingston, MT
Great looking fishing conditions through the weekend. Water temperatures have decreased dramatically but hopefully it doesn’t effect the fishing too much. Nymphing has been good, streamer fishing has been good, and the dry fly action has been OK. The BWO hatches seem pretty localized so if you do find risers it is worth working the fish for a while. A BWO Comparadun has worked great to trick fish eating Baetis. BWO nymphs are now working really well. Olive Micro Mayfly or pheasant tails have been excellent subsurface. Worms and stonefly nymphs will be a great option with the precipitation. With the favorable streamer conditions I like to start with a white Sex Dungeon and transition to a darker fly like an Ebony if the white does not work.
2.75/5
Tip of the Week:
For the committed dry fly angler, a two-fly nymph rig can be a bit intimidating. For those willing to double up on their nymphs, the results can make it more than worthwhile to put in the additonal effort. We’ll leave it to John to show you how it’s done in this informative video: https://youtu.be/I1CMS1h76Wo
7 Day Outlook:
In the Missoula valley, this week’s weather forecast looks pretty rough for the next few days, with consistent cloudy weather and intermittent precipitation. By the middle of the week the sun should reappear and daytime temperatures should be a tad warmer.
*Known Clark Fork Hazards:
Clinton-Turah: A few VERY sketchy spots through this section. Do not attempt unless you are very experienced.
Best Techniques:
On the Clark Fork, fishing continues to been productive. The fall bite is living up to expectations and trout have been feeding throughout the day. Unless you’re seeing fish rising, an indicator rig with one or two nymphs (maybe even a worm pattern) should produce. Streamers have also been productive for both trout as well as Northern Pike. A sinking line will help make sure you’re getting your fly down deep enough for trout to take notice of your fly. On those cloudy days, keep an eye out for trout rising to October Caddis, Mahoganies, and Blue Winged Olives. Mornings have been chilly so there’s no need to hurry to the boat ramp this week. Check out our reccomended fly patterns to see what’s been working.
*Traveling or in a hurry? Let our knowledgeable staff pick a fly selection for you!
*The Online Store is updated daily! Check it out!
*Call us for up to the minute updates at 406.542.7411 or if you are in the area stop in for all your gear and the right bugs.
DRIES
Para. Adams Sparkle Purple #12-18
Clook’s Beefcake Hecuba #12
Morrish October Caddis Adult #12
Mahogany Sparkle Dun #14-16
Parachute BWO #18-20
Missing Link BWO #13-20
NYMPHS
TJ Hooker #8-12 – Brown/Coffee
Hot Bead Power Worm #06-10
Jig Prince #8-12
Frenchie #12-14
Perdigons and Bullets #12-14
Duracell #12-16
Hot Bead Rubber Legs #8-12 – Black
STREAMERS
Lil’ Kim #04-08
Wooly Bugger/Thin Mint #6-10
Sparkle Minnow #04-08
Kreelex #04-06
Micro Dungeons #10 – Tan, Olive, White
Mini Ice Pick #6
Double Gonga #4-8
Drunk & Disorderly #4-8 – Olive, Black
Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir Fishing Report by FWP (October 28, 2024)
Snagging has been productive near the Pumphouse. The snagging season for Kokanee Salmon opened on September 1st and will run through October 31st. Limits are 35 salmon daily with 70 in possession. Chris Hurley, FWP, Helena
The Ruby River near Sheridan and Twin Bridges has some unique regulations. They are:
Upstream from Ruby Reservoir: Open
Downstream from Ruby Dam: Angling is closed the entire year just below Ruby Dam, from its confluence with Ruby Dam outlet channel upstream to the dam, including the outlet channel.
From Ruby Dam to Alder Bridge (Ruby Island FAS): Now closed.Open only April 1 through Sept. 30
From Alder Bridge (Ruby Island FAS) to the mouth: Open all year
The Month Ahead:
The Ruby River is a decent option for the rest of the season as long as you know current regulations and closed sections.
Long Term Fishing Forecast:
The Ruby River is a nice smaller wade option in late fall and winter. The browns below Alder Bridge get aggressive and the streamer fishing can be solid for medium sized trout up to 20″. The Ruby is a fun option in the fall. The waters are low but this is a good place to swing small streamers for the high brown trout population. There aren’t a lot of monster fish in the Ruby but there is a healthy population of trout above 15” which makes it an attractive fall option.
Little Bitterroot Lake Fishing Report (October 27, 2024)
Water is super low. You’d have to be crazy to launch a boat in there. I can get my kayak in there though. But yes the rainbows are shallow now, as of this morning surface temps were still 52 degrees
Current flow at Absarokee, 382 cfs.
The Stillwater River is in prime shape for Fall. It is no secret that the Summer of 2022 flood in the Stillwater River drainage has diminished the Trout population in this blue ribbon fishery. However the Stillwater still has a decent number of Trout per mile just don’t expect it to fish like it has in the past.
Right now you can still fish the Stillwater anyway you want and that would include Dry Fly’s, Nymphs and Streamers.
The Dry Fly fishing diminishes as we progress into Fall, however there is still a little Hopper action on that Stillwater due to our continued warm temperatures. If anything your Hopper would serve as both a legit Dry Fly as well as an excellent indicator for a Hopper Dropper set up. At varying times BWO’s have been spotted so a singular BWO Dry on a warm and cloudy afternoon could be just the ticket.
Suggested Dry Fly patterns include;
Pink Pookie (Sizes #8-#10)
Chubby Chernobyl in Purple (Sizes #10-#14)
Chubby Chernobyl in Royal (Sizes #10-#14)
Jack Cabe (Sizes #10)
Parachute Adams (Sizes #14-#16)
Purple Haze (Sizes #14-#16)
Sparkle Flag BWO (Sizes #16-#18)
Sparkle Dun BWO (Sizes #16-#18)
The Nymph fishing is really the most productive way to fish the Stillwater right now. As water temperatures continue to drop, the Trout are much more likely to eat Nymphs while having to exert less effort. Stone Fly’s, BWO’s and attractor patterns are the best patterns to fish between now and when the fishery ices over.
Suggested Nymphs Patterns Include;
The Streamer fishing is where it’s at if you want to catch a quality Brown. Lots of Brown Trout move up into the Stillwater drainage from the Yellowstone River and stage for their Fall spawn. Swinging a Streamer in front of a territorial spawning Brown Trout will no doubt invoke a defensive strike.
Suggested Streamer Patterns include;
