Second Summer (Or is it Third Summer?) is finally ending and we are seeing the Madison Fall Winds bringing in Autumn Delight! Cooler nighttime temps have dramatically changed the water temperatures, we are seeing temps dipping below 50 degrees and taking longer to warm back up through the day. The Whitefish Spawn is still on, and we are starting to see the Brown Trout Staging for their big Spawn. With so many fall activities to occupy the masses, the crowds on the Upper Madison have dissipated and left a lot of open water for you to enjoy the River to yourself!
No need to rush to the river and get out early, it’s far too chilly out there. Trout have been lethargic due to the cold-water temperatures and we are seeing more consistent eats mid-day and into the late afternoon. Streamflows are at 800 cfs @ Kirby and 1,020cfs @ Cameron. These are our winter flows and will remain at these flows likely through the Winter.
The past two weeks have seen Trout starting to be found in shallower water and dragging your Nymphs or Streamers through different areas and flows has been an effective method of hooking up. Larger Stoneflies followed by a Small Nymph, fishing two smaller Nymphs in combo or a Streamer with a Small Nymph trailer have been popular rigs. There still is a dry fly eat on Delektable Lil’ Chubby patterns and BWO patterns (if you can be out on a overcast day without Mach 10 winds) in the afternoon. Dry with an Emerger has still been productive on bright days in the heat of the day.
Here at Beartooth Flyfishing we are still open every day 9AM- 5PM. Our fully stocked fly shop, with the best free coffee, will give you a retail adventure you soon won’t forget! We will be switching to our winter hours sometime in November, please check Google as we keep that updated with our current hours and days!
Nymphs: Delektable Tungsten Gold B.H. Formerly Prince #14-#18; Delektable JH Tungsten Micro Spanker Holo-Black, Pheasant Tail, Holo-Olive, Holo-Silver, Yellow Spot or Hare’s Ear #16-#18; Delektable Mega Prince STD #8-#10; Delektable JH Tungsten Black Bling #14-#18; Delektable Gold B.H. Formerly Mega Prince STD #8; RS2 Black or Gray #18-#20; Lightning Bug Silver or Pearl #16-#18; Delektable JH Tungsten Olive Hare’s Ear Torch Light #18; Pat’s Rubberlegs Black/Brown or Black #8-#10; Delektable Guide Stone Black/Brown or Black #8-#10; Geppert’s Mega Emerger #16-#18; Jig Duracell Original #16; Skinny Nelson #18; Geppert’s Master Emerger #16-#18; Stockers Two Hot Baetis #18; BH Black FB Pheasant Tail #20; Delektable Tungsten Spanker Red BH FB Red Dog #14-#16; JuJu FB Red #18-#20; Tungsten BH BWO Nymph #18-#20; BH Montana Bullet Black/Red or Black #18; Delektable Kaboom Stone #8-#10; Wire Worm Orange & Red #4-#10; Worm Flossy Red #10-#14; Delektable Worm Red or Wine #16; Delektable Orange Juice Caddis Emerger #14-#16; Hogan’s Red Headed Step Child #18; Psycho Prince GB Purple #16-#18.
Streamers: Dali Llama Olive/White #6 or #10; Delektable Single Screamer Olive/White, Olive/Yellow, Olive or Olive/Black in Gold #6; Galloup’s Micro Dungeon Olive or Black/Purple #10; Zonker Natural, Natural Copper Body, Black or Dark Olive #6-#8; Sheila Sculpin #4; Sculpzilla Olive/White, Black, Olive/Tan or White #4-#8; Jr’s Conehead Streamer Olive #6; Conehead Zuddler Olive #8; Pocket Rocket Olive or Black #4; McCune’s Sculpin Olive #4-#8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive or Black #4; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive #6; Sculpin the One Olive/Natural #4; Butt Monkey Olive #4; Zirdle Olive/Orange #8; Willy’s Fruit Roll Up Black #8-#12; Mini Sculpin Black or Natural #6-#8; Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow Sculpin, Smoke, or JJ #6. Galloup’s Mini Boogeyman Olive #6.
Dries: Sparkle Dun BWO #18-#20; BWO Butthead Sparkle Dun #20; Q’s Loopy Cripple Stacker BWO #18; Delektable BWO Teaser #18-#20; Delektable BWO Squeezer #18-#20; Parachute Adams #18-#20; Delektable Lil’ Chubby UV Cinnamon, Royal #16-#18; Delektable Chubbyness Olive Brown, Rootbeer, Cinnamon or Royal #14-#16.
