10 Best Dry Fly’s for June on the Madison River

The 10 Best Dry Fly’s for June on the Madison River.

June in Montana is a special time, not quite summer yet but not spring.   Sort of an in between time where you can expect snow one day and 70 and sunny the next.  An epic battle between spring and summer played out each day with the soundtrack of some of the best and most prolific hatches of the year.  Legendary hatches like salmon fly’s, golden’s, caddis and PMD keep hungry fish looking to the surface for their next meal.

Chubby Chernobyl—The do anything stone fly hopper, attractor.  I carry these in June in sizes 4-10 with a orange body for salmon fly’s. I also carry these in size 8-12 with a yellow body for golden’s as well as my favorite a royal chubby in sizes 8-14 to represent anything under the sun.

Rogue Foam Stone Fly-- This is the perfect imitation of a stone fly.  Have it in your box in June in size 6&8 with orange foam body for salmon fly’s and in size 10-16 with a yellow body for golden’s and yellow sallies.

X Caddis Tan--- While most people recognize the larger stone fly’s sometimes the fish are hungry for the millions of caddis that also hatch.   The X Caddis with the trailing shuck represents an adult just emerging from the film and the fish can’t get enough.  Have them in size 12-16

Parachute Adams-- The perfect all around may fly imitation.   Use this in size 10-16 to represent almost any mayfly on the water.

Purple Haze Parachute—Another great may fly as well as a general searching pattern.  The purple color and elk tail make this one of the most fishy flies out there.   Carry it in size 10-16

Bugmeister--  A local Montana favorite first tied by outfitter John Perry in Missoula. I am not sure if it is the profile or the fish peacock body but fish certainly take notice.  Fish it in small size 14 for a caddis and in larger size 10 for a golden.

Hedge Hog Salmon Fly-- An old time pattern with multiple elk hair wings.  This is a low rider in the water.   Works great when fish have seen every foam variation of a salmon fly.  Make sure to have it with a burnt orange body and in size 8.

Furminski Fluttering Caddis Tan--  An old time elk hair caddis with a foam body. This thing floats forever.  Best part is the foam body can be customized with a few colors of sharpie markers to be a golden, salmon or caddis.  Carry in size 10-14

Royal Stimulator--- Sort of an old school pattern these days but still a proven winner.   The peacock and red body trigger fish looking for a variety of insects.  I carry these in size 8-16.

Goddard Caddis---The goddard or what we like to call “God Like Caddis” floats like a cork and represents the adult caddis.  I fish these in size 14-18 anytime there are caddis on the river.