It is hard to explain the scenery out here in Montana. It is as beautiful and majestic and overwhelming as they say. And the fishing isn’t so bad either.
Water flows are very low right now, and the fly shops do not expect any bump ups either. The lake above the Madison River is low, and they need to fill it up. I unfortunately predict that it will be very challenging for those who wade and throw bobbers. There are not many runs that can fit that style, and they will get pounded every day all day until September.
The water conditions are always changing and different from year to year. For me it will be a challenge as I have some guests coming out to visit with me, and I want to show them a good time. So I’ve been doing a bunch of scouting and hope that I can lead them to fish that want to consistently eat. I think the techniques of choice will be dry droppers with very long droppers and tightlining.
The past few days have required work. I have found fish and on occasion many of them. But not that often.
Today is a day off for me because we have a massive wind storm blowing through, and it just is not fun to throw flies when you don’t know where they’re going to go. It feels wild and foreboding out there. So it is a catch-up day for work and for fly tying.
The flies that work so far? The fish definitely prefer copper if you’re partial to throwing nymphs with beads. Frenchies with orange hotspots, big dry flies, Zebra Midges, big Stoneflies with red thread collars, Caddis with CDC, and for early in the day, jig streamers. Plus the Mole Fly, for which I continue to thank fellow blogger Joe Drake for telling me about that pattern.
But honestly there is no magic fly on this trip so far. The fish eat when they want, and they will turn away when they want. The key has been reading water and casting from afar. They’re already pretty spooky. And tying your own flies to show the fish something slightly different.
Here are some Insta posts from the past few days.
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