March is here and with it comes a few things. First you now need a new fishing and hunting license. Second we consider March to be the official start to our season. Days are growing in length and with that consistent good fishing and weather are on the horizon.
If you’re headed out on the Madison River to try and catch a few fish the subsurface game still rules. You bobber lobbers will be having the most opportunity to get and stay bent. The standard Madison Rive spring fare of a dark bodied rubber leg stone fly nymph with a red or pink san juan worm should keep you entertained all day. If you want to change it up try following your stone fly with a midge larva like the zebra midge or $3 dip. Keep your eye out as the month rolls along for the first hatches of blue winged olives. They like a little warmer air temps and cloudy days. When you see them switch to a may fly nymph like a P-tail, or Hogan’s.
For you dry fly guys there are still opportunity. Watch for daily midge hatches around noon to start. These are best fished on warm days with no wind. When you see heads switch to a para midge or buzz ball on 4X and you should take all risers.
For you streamer junkies low and slow are the rules of the game. The water temps are still cold so they will need the streamer in their face. Fish you meat deep with a slow retrieve. Our best patterns lately have been black in color. Try a Sculpzilla in black or if you want to switch it up try an olive bugger. Both are good bets. As the water starts to warm up start picking up the speed of your retrieve.
New gear arriving daily as our spring orders show up. Stop by the store for the up to the second fishing report.