One more week of heat then fall weather

We are looking at one more week of hot summer like weather on the Madison River. Our Montana Fly Fishing Guides and all of us are looking forward to fall and some cooler weather.  The I phone weather forecast says this entire week will be warm with temps in the 90's all week.  The positive thing is that nights are staying cool and average in the low 40's and it is getting dark earlier.  Not good for the solar powered people but good for the river.

Hoppers and Ants are the floating food source

For those of you wanting to throw dry flies and who does not hoppers and ants are the star of the show. We are getting more looks on ants than hoppers. The hoppers that are working are all smaller size 12-16.  We like parachute ants in black and red and small size 14-16.  We have been fishing the ants on small tippet of 4X and even attaching with a loop knot to give it more movement in the water.  We have also been having good luck with caddis patterns.  A few caddis out there and the fish remember them.   We like the X caddis on a loop knot as well.

Streamer season is getting close

For those who dream about fall streamer fishing the time is getting close. Right now we have been having better luck with small streamers like a zonker dead drift under an indicator .  Keep it tight and trail it with a shiny and tiny nymph like a lightning bug to double your chance.  Streamer season is on the horizon and will come soon .

Good flows for late August

The river is in great shape for a hot summer. We have flows of 1280 CFS at Varney.  This is above average for this time of year. Expect the powers that be at the Dam to scale that back going forward and expect flows around 1000 for the fall.

Nymph rigs will still produce

The guys following bobbers will still out produce the dry fly guys.  Wire worms, lightning bugs and the like will keep you bent.  Scale down your tippet as the fish are getting wise to the thick stuff.