Early February on the Gallatin River with Tara Prather
GALLATIN RIVER FISHING REPORT
Water temperatures are cold, and the fishing is best during late morning through the afternoon. Nymphing has been most productive and will continue to be throughout the coming months . If we do see some cloud cover, you can expect good hatches of Midge Flies .
Bobby Sisk Getting it done on the Gallatin River 2-09-2017
The Gallatin is a particularly cold river, especially during the winter. All but a few miles of the Gallatin River above Big Sky is covered with ice. The parts that are open above Big Sky is because of the cold water springs that enter the river. During the summer months Mr. fish likes these spots because they are cooler than the rest of the river. In the winter months these spots become Mr. fishes happy place. That is there happy to be in the what now feels like warmer water to Mr. Fish. So the key to winter fishing on the GallatinRiver is to find and fish where the water is warmer. The easiest way to figure this out to take a look at the river when the outside air temperature is well below zero. You will notice that some of the water steams more than the rest. This is the area where the cold water springs are.
We’ve been seeing some hatches of over the past week or so, with the best emergences occurring on calm, overcast afternoons. A size 20 or 18 parachute Adams or Griffith’s Gnat is typically all you need to imitate these little midge flies, but having a couple of CDC dun and emerger patterns on hand can make all the difference at times. Spend a day on the water right now and you’re likely to see a few baetis as well.
The nymph bite remains steady, with the usual suspects… small midge and baetis patterns are still our top producers.
Take a break from skiing and give us a call today. Book a Half or Full day with one of our professional guides on the blue-ribbon waters of the Gallatin River.
Dries: #18-20, Adams #18-20, Parachute Adams #18-20, Purple Haze #18-20
Nymphs: RS-II (Grey) #18, Little Green Machine, Grey #18 , Pheasant Tail #16-20, Soft-Hackle Pheasant Tail #16-18, Soft-Hackle Hare’s Ear #16-18, Lightning Bug #16-18, CDC Emerger #14-18, Shop Vac #16-18, Serendipity (Red/Crystal) #16-18, Zebra Midge (Black/Red Ass) #16-20
Streamers: Sparkle Minnow #4-6, Bow River Bugger #4-6, Home Invader #2-6, McCune’s Sculpin#4, Gonga #4. Be sure to have an array of colors represented in your streamer box including: white, yellow, olive, natural/tan, and black.
UPPER MADISON FISHING REPORT
With the new fishing regulations that were put in place March 1, 2016, the Madison River is open from Yellowstone Park boundary all the way to the confluence of the Missouri River year-round. The Madison River above Hebgen Lake to the park line has been covered in ice during the last few cold snaps that we’ve had.(20 to 30 below). The Madison between the lakes(Earthquake and Hebgen) will stay open year-round no matter how cold it gets. This stretch offers some great fishing during the winter. The trick to this section is being prepared to snowshoe, hike or ski because the access is only good in the first half-mile below the dam. The Madison River below Earthquake Lake is my favorite during the winter. The fishing can be exceptional especially during the winter. I tend to concentrate on the water from the West Fork all the way up to Slide Inn. There are so many fish in this section of river during the winter that it’s hard to want to fish anywhere else. They can be very picky some days and totally insane for whatever you would like to throw at them on other days.
Launching a drift boat on the upper Madison during the winter months is not something that we are comfortable doing. Mostly because all of the boat ramps and access points are on accessible due to deep snow. Also float fishing during the winter can be a very dangerous option if you were to fall in or get wet. So during the winter months we only offer a full day Wade trips on the Madison River.
Call today to book a Wade trip on the world-famous upper Madison River.
Dries: Adams #18 and #20, Parachute Adams #18-20, Purple Haze #18-20
Nymphs: Pats’ Rubber Legs #10,Pheasant Tail #16-18, Soft-Hackle Lightning Bug #16-18, Lightning Bug #16-18, Shop Vac #16-18, Yellow Robbin # 16 and 18,, Hogan’s S&;M #18, Transitional Dun #16-18.
Streamers: Sex Dungeon #4, Circus Peanut #4, Barely Legal, Sparkle Minnow #4-6, Bow River Bugger #4-6, Home Invader #2-6, McCune’s Sculpin#4, Gonga #4. Be sure to have an array of colors represented in your streamer box including: white, yellow, olive, natural/tan, and E specially black.
YELLOWSTONE RIVER FISHING REPORT
The Yellowstone River this time a year can be hard to fish at best. When it gets cold like it has been lately, the main channel will slush up with chunks of ice. It is not on common for the river to freeze over completely in some of the sections both above Livingston and below. If you’re going to fish the Yellowstone be prepared to wade.
Dries: #18-20, Adams #18-20, Parachute Adams #18-20, Purple Haze #18-20, Griffith’s Gnat #18 and #20, Midge#18 and #20 , Midge Cluster #16.
Nymphs: Pats’ Rubber Legs #10, Prince #12, CDC Pheasant Tail #16-18, Pheasant Tail #16-18, Lightning Bug #16-18, Copper John #14-16, CDC Emerger #14-18, Shop Vac #16, Serendipity (Crystal) #16-18.
Streamers: Sex Dungeon #4, Circus Peanut #4, Barely Legal, Sparkle Minnow #4-6, Bow River Bugger #4-6, Home Invader #2-6, McCune’s Sculpin#4, Gonga #4. Be sure to have an array of colors represented in your streamer box including: white, yellow, olive, natural/tan, and black.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK FISHING REPORT
Yellowstone National Park is closed for fishing Intel the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. This year that day is May 27, 2017.
Give us a call (800-423-4742) to discuss planning your own trip to fish Yellowstone National Park this spring,summer or fall.
Dries: Yellowstone Park is closed for fishing until the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend
Nymphs: Yellowstone Park is closed for fishing until the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend
