Get your Gear Ready for Spring Fishing
Get Ready for Spring Fishing Now The glory days of spring fishing in Montana are not that far off and now is the time to start to prep. Before you know it, April will be here and all will be floating wild Montana Rivers in search of heafty browns and rainbows. Your first outing is never the time to find some of your gear is not up to the task. A non-floating fly line, leaky waders or just not the right fly will spoil your first outing. Now is the time to take stock and get y...
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Fishing Report for January 25 2023
MidWinter Fly Fishing on the Madison Mid winter fly fishing can be a fickle thing. Weather is everything. Find a nice day above freezing with a little sun and little wind and you are golden. Finding these days are rare in the Madison Valley but they do exist. Some Good Days on the River On those warm winter days fishing can be pretty good. You need to keep in mind this is not summer fishing. The fish are not scattered in all the heavy riffles and under every ...
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Float vs. Wade for your First Trip to Montana
Float vs Wade for your first trip to Montana. Well, you have done it decided to book your first trip to Montana. You have read stories for years about fabled waters, large wild fish and endless adventure. You have decided on a river and an outfitter now you need to decide if floating or wade fishing right for you. We have this conversation with guests all the time in the store. Many are undecided on what form of fishing is best for them. While each has...
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The Best Time of Year to Fly Fish in Montana
The Best time of year to fly fish in Montana Everyone knows the old saying. When is the best time to fish? When you can get here. It is true most any time of year a person can catch fish in Montana. With that being said Montana is a huge state and has tons of great trout water. Most likely the best place to Fly fish in the US. Somewhere out there the fish are biting in one of those great rivers of Montana on every day of the year. Taking this into ac...
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Fall Fishing in the Madison Valley
Fall Means Great Fishing on the Madison River By Hank Kuntzelman One thing our clients always seem to ask us is when is the best time for Montana Trout Fishing? Our answer every time is “spring and fall”. The Madison Valley is truly a special place in fall. Colors change, fair weather fisherman leave, and best of all the brown trout get after it. Every year the fall brown trout spawn happens. In Late September browns start their annual spawning cycle. Large brown trout run up from ...
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Muddy Water Madness on the Madison–Big Bugs on the Horizon
High and Muddy Madison River Currently and for the next few weeks the Madison River will continue to be high and muddy. This statement is a little deceiving . The river is not that high but just off colored. Normally we do not see this amount of color in the Madison. This year the flows out of the Dam which are clear and clean and normally offset the muddy flows out of the creeks are significantly lower. The powers that be are trying really hard to fill Hebgan Lake...
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April Snow Puts Snow Pack in the Green on the Madison River
April Snow has elevated the Madison River Snow Pack You know the old saying. "April Showers bring May Flowers"? Here in the Madison River Drainage this year it should say. "April Snow makes August a go". Winter has come late to the Madison River but it showed up just in the nick of time. We are currently sitting at 95% of average on our Snow pack. Just a month ago we were just over 70%. Keep doing the snow dance For those...
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Nymph Fishing Big Rivers Like The Madison
Nymph Fishing Big Western Rivers like The Madison Nymphing Big “Scary” Western Rivers by Jim Bob Terry When it comes to fishing rivers like the Madison, the Missouri, the Yellowstone, and any other large Western rivers, nymphing from a stationary position (wading), it can be intimidating. Many spots you’ll fish feature long runs with limited wading and can require your best when it comes to casting and mending, others can just be tricky when it comes to spotting fishy water or fi...
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The 6 Best Flies for the Mother’s Day Caddis Hatch on the Madison River
The Best Flies for the Mother's Day Caddis Hatch on the Madison River By Jim Bob Terry Mother’s Day Caddis Madness With spring unfolding on the Madison River and May quickly approaching, dry fly anglers all across Southwestern Montana are eagerly awaiting the first signs of Mother’s Day Caddis. On the better years you’ll see swarms of these bugs appear right as the water temperatures hit the mid 50’s, with plenty of trout eager to chow down on them. Near Ennis, MT we typically see ...
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5 Reasons Why April Might be the Best Month on the Madison River
5 Reasons why April Might be the Best Month on the Madison River April might just be the perfect month to fly fish the Madison River. This are coming together and April is the pinnacle of spring fly fishing. It is the guides favorite month to fish and be on the water. While we could come up with hundreds or reasons to go fishing in April here are a few to help you call in sick and go fishing on the next nice day. The nasty winter weather has moderated. ...
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