It still feels very much like summer in Big Sky with warm, sunny weather predominating. September is right around the corner though, and is a favored month by many anglers… locals and visitors alike. September is a month of transition in Montana, the days grow shorter, and the nights longer. Frosty mornings give way to beautiful afternoons and we often see our first snow of the season in the high country. The kids are back in school, and as hunting season opens we see less and less pressure on many of our local waters. It’s a fantastic time of year to spend some time knee-deep in a Montana river.
From a fishing standpoint September is a time that finds increased hatch activity on our area rivers, with fall baetis and October caddis enticing trout to rise. Hoppers and beetles typically remain in play throughout the month, providing additional dry fly opportunities. The nymph bite remains solid, with baetis nymphs generally being the go-to patterns. But perhaps more than anything else, it is the streamer bite that gets many anglers excited about September fishing. As the month progresses the streamer bite gets better and better as the brown trout become increasingly aggressive prior to their spawning season. In fact beginning in mid- to late-September our guides begin focusing almost exclusively on the fall-run of brown trout in and around Yellowstone National Park – it’s an incredible experience.
If your plans to fish in Montana are impacted by river closures, give us a call and we can work with you to plan a revised itinerary that will exceed your expectations. Let one of our seasoned guides show you the ropes on the Gallatin River, Madison River, or within Yellowstone National Park.
GALLATIN RIVER FISHING REPORT
The Gallatin is fishing very well. Water temperatures have improved with the recent cool weather. Terrestrial dry fly fishing remains sporadic, but productive at times. Nymphs remain the most consistent action, but we’re also starting to see more fish come to streamers.
Water temperatures have dropped a bit in recent days due to cooler weather and longer nights… the high country has seen a few rain showers as well. Some days feel very much like summer, while other days are fall like. We’ll be hearing more and more reports of fall baetis emergences in the coming weeks, particularly on the upper river on overcast afternoons. October caddis will be fluttering around the river any day now as well, and an orange, size 12 Stimulator makes a great imitation.
Baetis nymphs are active in the river, and are an important food source for the river’s fish over the coming weeks… in fact baetis nymphs are our top producers right now on any given day. Virtually any small (#18-20) baetis pattern will do the trick, but a few of our favorites include: Pheasant Tail, RS-2, Little Green Machine, WD-40, Transitional Dun, and Lightning Bug. Midge pupa patterns are effective at this time as well with simple patterns such as the Zebra Midge taking their fair share of fish.
The mainstay terrestrial patterns – hoppers, ants, and beetles – are providing the most consistent dry fly action right now. Hopper eats have been sporadic, and the action is day to day. A windy day on the meadow reaches of the upper river can provide good hopper fishing.
The streamer fishing is improving with the best action coming early and late in the day (when there is no direct sun on the water)… and on overcast days the bite can be productive throughout the day. Smaller sculpin and baitfish patterns have been most productive… think Bow River Bugger, McCune’s Sculpin, Sparkle Minnow, Kreelex, Clouser, and Home Invader – natural colors have been producing best.
Give us a call today to book a day with one of our professional guides on the blue-ribbon waters of the upper Gallatin River.
Dries: Morrish Hopper #8-10, Grand Hopper #10-12, Dave’s Hopper #8-10, Parachute Hopper #8-12, Parachute Ant (Cinnamon & Two-tone) #12-14, Hi-Viz Foam Beetle (#12-16), Stimulator (Orange) #10, Trude (Lime & Adams Grey) #14-16, X-Caddis #14-16, Purple Haze #12-18
Nymphs: RS-II (Grey) #18-20, Little Green Machine #18-20, 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/Olive) #18-20
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
The upper Madison is in great shape and is fishing very well. Nymphs are the go-to tactic for the most consistent fishing, but we’re seeing good opportunities to fish dries throughout the day – particularly in the float stretch.
The terrestrial dry fly fishing has become more consistent on the upper Madison over the past week. The hopper bite has been productive, but so too has the action on flying ant patterns. The best dry fly fishing has been on the float stretch of the river, downstream from Lyons Bridge. That’s not to say that you can’t get into some fish in the walk/wade stretch, but be prepared to work a little harder for dry fly eaters up there. The nocturnal stonefly action is subsiding, but a Chubby will still get some looks during the early morning hours and anytime that the fish are on hoppers.
The nymph bite has been really good all day long river wide. Top patterns have been smaller mayfly nymphs and midge pupa patterns… along with some small attractor patterns. A box stocked with Lightning Bugs, Pheasant Tails, RS-2’s, Serendipities, Shop Vacs, and Zebra Midges will typically suffice.
The streamer bite has picked up noticeably, with the best action coming during the early morning hours on small sculpin and minnow imitations. Later in the day these same patterns can be dead-drifted successfully as part of a tandem nymph rig.
Call today to book a float trip on the world-famous upper Madison River.
Dries: Chubby Chernobyl (Tan, Purple, Royal) #8-10, Chernobyl Ant (Tan) #8-10, Morrish Hopper #8-10, Grand Hopper #10-12, Dave’s Hopper #8-10, Parachute Hopper #8-12, Parachute Ant (Cinnamon & Two-tone) #12-14, Hi-Viz Foam Beetle (#12-16), Stimulator (Orange) #10, Trude (Lime & Adams Grey) #12-14, Purple Haze #12-18
Nymphs: Pats’ Rubber Legs #8, Mega Prince #8, Pheasant Tail #16-18, Soft-Hackle Lightning Bug #16-18, Lightning Bug #16-18, Shop Vac #16-18, Serendipity (Brown/Red) #16-18, Crystal Dip #16-18, Anato-May #16, Military May #16, Hogan’s S&M #18, Transitional Dun #16-18, San Juan Worm (Purple) #12
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 RIVER FISHING REPORT
The Yellowstone River and ALL tributaries are closed to ALL recreational use, including fishing due to a parasite that is deadly to fish.
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks has closed the Yellowstone River and ALL tributaries (including the Shields, Boulder, and Stillwater Rivers) to all water-based recreation. This is a drastic move that underscores the severity of the parasite and FWP’s concern about the possibility of anglers and floaters transporting the parasite to other fisheries.
Read FWP’s official press release about the closure: http://fwp.mt.gov/news/newsReleases/headlines/nr_4277.html
Let’s cross our collective fingers in hopes that the Yellowstone River trout fishery isn’t drastically impacted by this parasitic infection. And let’s all do our part to ensure that the parasite isn’t inadvertent transported from the Yellowstone to other water bodies. If you’ve fished the Yellowstone in recent weeks, now is the time to clean, inspect and dry your gear… boots, waders, boats – including your entire anchor rope, etc. etc.
Dries: Chubby Chernobyl (Tan, Purple, Royal) #8-10, Stimulator (Yellow) #14, Elk Hair Caddis (Tan/Olive) #14-16, X-Caddis (Olive) #14-16, Lime Trude #12-16, Sparkle Dun (PMD) #16-18, Purple Haze #14-18
Nymphs: Pats’ Rubber Legs #8, Mega Prince #8, San Juan Worm (Red) #12, CDC Pheasant Tail #16-18, Pheasant Tail #16-18, Lightning Bug #16-18, Copper John #14-16, Beadhead Yellow Sally #14, CDC Emerger #14-18, Shop Vac #16, Serendipity (Red/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
The Yellowstone and its tributaries are fishing very well. The Firehole and Madison remain warm are largely out of play for anglers. The Gibbon remains a productive option on the west side.
The Yellowstone River and its tributaries throughout Yellowstone National Park are OPEN to fishing.
The canyon reaches of the Yellowstone River are fishing very well, with a variety of attractor and terrestrial dry fly patterns. The river is now open above the falls, offering anglers opportunities to sight fish to large, native cutthroat. All of the Yellowstone’s tributaries are in great shape with excellent dry fly fishing on Slough and Soda Butte Creeks as well as on the Lamar River.
The Firehole and Madison in the park remain a bit on the warm side, but if the weather cooperates they may be an option again soon, particularly early in the morning. The Gibbon River is fishing well along its entire length, providing a good option for anglers on the west side of the park. It won’t be long before this system is harboring fall-run browns and rainbows from Hebgen Lake… our guides will begin focusing almost exclusively on these fisheries in mid- to late-September until the park closes in early November.
Give us a call (800-423-4742) to discuss planning your own trip to fish Yellowstone National Park.
Dries: Adams #18-20, Sparkle Dun – Olive (baetis), Yellow (PMD) #18-20, Purple Haze #18-20, Light Cahill #16-18
Nymphs: Pheasant Tail #18-20, Soft-Hackle Pheasant Tail #18-20, CDC Emerger #18-20, Partridge & Olive Soft Hackle #18-20, Lightning Bug #18-20, WD-40 #18-20, RS-2 #18-20, Pat’s Rubber Leg #8
