Ants fly too and they are flying in swarms throughout the Madison River! While we are still waiting on those epic Hopper days we remember from days of yore; Ants are where the action is at! Later in the week we started to see the grass turning brown on the hills and the green grass is all around the river, perhaps those little Hoppers will find their way down to the water this coming week.
Streamflows this week started at 1,190cfs@Kirby and 1,400cfs@Cameron with a steady drop throughout the week to end at 1,090cfs@Kirby and 1,270cfs@Cameron. Fishing this week has been inconsistent on what has been working from day to day. Ant patterns either as a Dry or as a Nymph (remember most terrestrials are eaten underwater). Tandem small Nymphs and a Streamer/ Nymph combo have been productive. Hopper and Ant patterns on top have been productive for an abundance of juvenile fish and a smattering of large Trout mixed in!
This weekend’s Madison River Flyfishing Festival was a great success; what a wonderful time and way to celebrate our fishing community. Thank you to all the contributors and vendors that make this event so special every year!
Nymphs: Geppert’s Red Machine #18; RS2 Black #18-#20; BH Montana Bullet Black/Red #18; Delektable Guide Stone Olive/Brown, Black or Black/Brown #10; JH Tung Drop French Lick #16; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Red, PT, Silver or Blue #16-#18; Delektable Hammerhead GTBH PT, Prince, Hare’s Ear or UV Purple #16-#18; Tungsten BH Jiggy Frenchie #16-#18; The Fly Formerly Known as Prince #14-#18; Delektable JH Tungsten Spanker Holo Red, PT or Holo Black #16-#18; Wire Worm Red or Orange/Red #4-#8; Delektable Prince Brandon #16-#18; Geppert’s Mega Emerger #16-#18; Pat’s Rubberleg Black or Olive/Brown #8-#10; BH Lightning Bug Gold or Silver #14-#16; or Geppert’s Skinny Dip Black #14-#16.
Dries: Delektable Lil’ Chubby 2 Tone UV Black, Royal, UV Cinnamon or UV Pink #14-#18; Delektable Halo Royal or Mo River #16-#18; Delektable Chubbyness Rootbeer, Royal, UV Cinnamon, UV Purple or Olive Brown #12-#16; Dornan’s Micro Water Walker Peanut, Pink #14-#16; Bloom’s Stealth Ant Purple #14-#16; Yeager’s 409 Red #14-#16; More or Less Hopper Yellow or Peach #10-#12; White Cloud Hopper Tan or Peach #12-#14; Thunder Thighs Hopper Pink or Tan #12-#14; or Delektable Flying Ant Red, Purple or Black #14-#18.
Streamers: Delektable SS Jointed Screamer Olive/White, Black, White, or Yellow; Delektable Double Screamer Olive/Black, Olive/Black in Gold, Black, Olive, White, Yellow; Delektable Single Screamer Black, Olive/White, Olive/Black, White or Olive #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4-#6; Zonkers Dark Olive, Tan, or Natural #8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive, Black, or Natural #4; Dali Llama Olive/White or Black/Olive #6; Galloup’s Silky Kitty Black, Tan, White, or Olive; #6; Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6; Conehead Zuddler Olive #6- #8; Flash Fry Olive/Natural #6; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive or Natural #6; Galloup’s Mini Sex Dungeons Olive, Black, or Cream #6; or Mini Sculpin Black #10.
