Happy Independence Day Madison Valley!
It is Prime Time here in the Madison Valley! We have entered the latter stages of Salmonflies and Goldenstones with the big bugs scattered throughout the Upper portions of the Wade Section and between Hebgen and Quake Lakes. Do not despair though. Still, plenty of other insects to keep all the anglers busy out there. Caddis, PMD’s, Yellow Sallies, a few Green Drakes, Flavs, and Epeourous Mayflies as well in the late afternoons through evening. Hoppers and Nocturnal Stones are also beginning to show up on the menu.
This is the time of year where your Fly placement needs to be accurate and hit those spots. Accuracy is key as the little tikes are out in full force and will attack your Dry with vengeance. So, accuracy is key to get your bug into the key holding lies where their big brothers and sisters like to live. And for the Caddis, Nocturnal and Hopper action a little twitch here and there goes a long way to teasing up those larger Trout.
If you’re into numbers of fish, Nymphing will get you a bit more action. But hey we have all Winter and Spring to stare at indicators or tight line feel. Flows are up to 1,500 cfs now so it’s perfect for a Dry dropper rig which covers both and helps reduce those snags. The evening bite is still very strong with huge flights of Hydropsyche Caddis, PMD Spinners, and Epeourous Spinners. Keep in mind that magic last hour of light where the action gets fast and furious.
For the Bunny Fur Chuckers out there, Streamers are strongest at first light before that Sun hits the water. As the heat of the day approaches, downsizing your Streamer and trailing it with a small Nymph is helpful. And of course, a little cloud cover helps with all the disciplines this time of year. The safer the Trout feel from their Aerial Predators the more likely they are to eat our offerings.
Fall will be in the air before we know it. Get out there and throw some Dries and you never know when or where that 24 Inch trout of a lifetime just may be lurking to grab your Bug. Stop in for free coffee in the morning and we are happy to help with any advice or tips you might need!
Dries: Delektable Twisted Baby Tan/Brown, Brown/Black #12-#16; Carlson’s Purple Craze #10-#16; Cornfed Caddis CDC Olive or Tan #16; Delektable Halo Tan, Mo’River, Royal or Peacock #14-#16; PMD Parachute Rusty Spinner #14-#16; Delektable Lil’ Chubby Royal, UV Cinnamon, UV Caddis Green #14-#18; Bloom’s Parachute Caddis Amber or Olive #16; CDC Parachute Rusty Spinner #14-#16; Hi-Viz Rusty Spinner #16; Delektable Lil’ Secret Goldrush, UV Caddis Green or UV Pink #14-#16; Delektable Chubbyness UV Cinnamon, Olive Brown, Rootbeer or UV Purple #10-#16; Dornan’s Water Walker Peanut or Pink #12-#10; Delektable Secret Stone UV Dark Olive or Royal #10-#12;
Nymphs: Delektable Tungsten Gold B.H. Formerly Prince #12-16; Pat’s Rubberlegs or Delektable Guide Stone Black/Brown, Olive/Brown, Black #6-#10; Delektable JH Tungsten Olive Hares Ear Torch Light #14-16; Delektable JH Tungsten Micro Spanker Sally, Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail #14-#16; King Prince Nymph #16-#18; Delektable Kaboom Stone #6-8; Blow Torch Delektable Gold B.H. Formerly Mega Prince STD #6-8; Geppert’s Skinny Dip Brown #14-18; Jig CDC Brown Thrasher #14-16; Silver B.H. Black Spanish Bullet #16; BH Lightning Bugs Silver, Gold, Pearl #14-#18; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Pheasant Tail #14-#18; Splitback PMD #14-#16. Delektable Root Beer Float Yellow, Gold or Red #14-#16; BH Tungsten Jig Yellow Spot #14-#16; Red Butt Rainbow Perdigon #14-#16; Tungsten BH Jiggy Blow Torch #14-#16; Nygren’s the Flash #14-#16; Delektable JH Tungsten Spanker Miller Time, Holo Pink, Silver, Gold or Red #14-#18.
Streamers: Dalai Lama Olive/White #6-10; Delektable Screamer Single Olive/White, Yellow, Olive/Black or Badger #6; JR’s Conehead Streamer Olive #6; McCunes Sculpin Olive or Tan #4, Trevors Sculpin Olive #4; Sculpzilla Olive/White #8; Sculp Ditty Olive #4; Pocket Rocket Olive #4.
