Recent fishing reports for Montana. 6/15

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[size 2]These reports are for specific areas of Montana. Please scroll down to the area that interests you and find your report for that section. There is some flyfishing information included for most of the areas as well.[/size][size 1] [/size]
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Bitterroot River - June 14th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=78,re"][#0000ff]The Kingfisher[/#0000ff][/url]
FISHING: Fair
River Levels [[url "http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/current?type=dailystagedischarge&group_key=NONE&search_site_no_station_nm=Bitterroot+River"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]
Bitterroot River Montana FWP Guide [[url "http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/fishing/guide/report.aspx?llid=1141176468612&begmeas=0&endmeas=84.2779998779297"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]
West Fork Bitterroot Montana FWP Guide [[url "http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/fishing/guide/report.aspx?llid=1141267459398&begmeas=0&endmeas=42.326000213623"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]

REPORTS: Conditions are still not ideal on the 'root, but there are fish to be had here, especially on the upper end and The West Fork. Today's forecast of partly sunny skies and wind won't help much either. The water flow is still on the way down now, though, so once the river acclimates to the sunny weather and we lose another few hundred cfs, The Bitterroot should be swinging once again. There is more melt to come, though, so if we do get a solid week of 80 to 85 degree weather, there'll be another short lived bump. Today's flow near Darby is 1820 while the river closer to Missoula is running 5380.

HATCHES: Midges, caddis, yellow sallies, giant goldens, few salmonflies, PMDs, green drakes.

FLIES: Extended body drakes in a 10 or 12, parachute adams in both larger sizes for the drakes and march browns and in smaller sizes for baetis. Have some Goddard and elk hair caddis and some salmonflies if you go higer. Keep some smaller green and red bodied nymphs such as brassies if the fish won't play on top.

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Blackfoot River - June 14th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=78,re"][#0000ff]The Kingfisher[/#0000ff][/url]
FISHING: Fair
River Levels [[url "http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/current?type=dailystagedischarge&group_key=NONE&search_site_no_station_nm=Blackfoot+River"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]
Blackfoot River Montana FWP Online Guide [[url "http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/fishing/guide/report.aspx?llid=1138907468712&begmeas=0&endmeas=127.319000244141"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]
North Fork Blackfoot River Montana FWP Online Guide [[url "http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/fishing/guide/report.aspx?llid=1131290469848&begmeas=0&endmeas=38.4850006103516"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]

REPORTS: The Blackfoot is down another 200 cfs from this time yesterday. This river has been a good thing lately. Look for the warmer weather and dropping flows to just keep improving the fishing and the bug activity/diversity. There have been LOTS of salmonflies, drakes and goldens as well as a later in the day caddis blizzard. The heaviest stonefly activity continues to be on the mid to lower river. The canyon has a few salmonflies out and about, but nothing like the lower river does. This could change as the week warms up. Expect The Blackfoot to remain good even during the next few days of cloudy to sunny weather transition. Expect the other local rivers to take a day or two to settle into the new weather pattern. Near Bonner, the flow this morning is 3060 cfs.

HATCHES: Salmonflies, caddis, green drakes, golden stones, PMDs.

FLIES: Rogue salmonflies and goldens, button emerger and cripple green drakes, #12 or 14 royal Wulffs, deep and slow tandem nymph rigs.

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Clark Fork River - June 14th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=78,re"][#0000ff]The Kingfisher[/#0000ff][/url]
FISHING: Good
River Levels [[url "http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/current?type=dailystagedischarge&group_key=NONE&search_site_no_station_nm=Clark+Fork&format=pre"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]
Clark Fork River Montana FWP Guide [[url "http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/fishing/guide/report.aspx?llid=1162072481455&begmeas=9.43000030517578&endmeas=336.802001953125"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]

[b]REPORTS: Clouds good, sun bad! That's it in a nutshell today. If you have clouds above you, the fishing should be VERY good. When the sun peeks out or remains out, it'll be tough. There have been EPIC hatches on The Clark Fork lately, and these hatches have been producing some amazing fishing. The dryfly action has been from right out of the chute in the mornings up until it's time to get off the river in the evenings. By and large, the fish are looking for smaller mayfly patterns and will pay little attention to the standy stonefly/dropper rigs. Towards evening, it's caddis, caddis, caddis. Today might be the best day to go for the next few since the bright sun will take over starting tomorrow. Be aware it'll be windy today, so the lower floats will once again be your best chance to avoid the worst of it. The upper river from above Milltown is still an algae mess.

HATCHES: Caddis, march browns (still), green drakes, giant golden stones, salmonflies, PMDs.

FLIES: Tan or yellow buggers. Large prince nymphs and bright red San Juan worms, Rogue stones (orange and gold), button emerger green drakes, drake cripples, extended body drakes, elk hairs and Goddards in a #12, smaller parachute Adams (like a 16 or 18).
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Missouri River - June 14th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=78,re"][#0000ff]The Kingfisher[/#0000ff][/url]
FISHING: Fair
River Levels [[url "http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/current?type=dailystagedischarge&group_key=NONE&search_site_no_station_nm=Missouri+River"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]
Missouri River Montana FWP Guide [[url "http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/fishing/guide/q_Missouri_River__1039825479786_1586.77905273438_2312.46704101563.aspx"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]

REPORTS: Not much change to report. You'll still be able to find pods of risers when the wind's behaving itself and when you do, they'll be more than willing to eat. Smaller royal Wulffs and cripple patterns seem to be the name of the game although there have been LOTS of caddis out and about too. Later in the day, the caddis will make skating a Goddard or elk hair a fun alternative to delicate cripple presentations. If the wind keeps you subsurface, once again, you'll do better with red after about noon. Before noon, though, especially on the lower river, black has been the key for us. Streamers continue to be effective and seem to be working in a wide variety of water types from shallow sloping cobbles to choppy riffles to waist deep current along banks. Moderate winds today should have you fising a variety of bugs and tactics. Well, hmmm, at least it's dropping!

HATCHES: Midges, blue wings, hoppers, caddis.

FLIES: Yellow poxy head buggers, green and chartreuse buggers, size 16 and 18 cripples and parachute patterns. Ray Charles, eggs, size 16 to 20 flashback p-tails, lightning bugs, RS2's, red San Juan worms, pink and grey scuds (pinks in 16s and 18s and greys all the way up to a #12). For the dries, try palaminos in red, tiny comparaduns, size 18 cream colored cripples and parachute Adams, Griffith's gnats in 14 to 18, button emergers in 16s to 20s.

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Rock Creek - June 14th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=78,re"][#0000ff]The Kingfisher[/#0000ff][/url]
FISHING: Fair
River Levels [[url "http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/current?type=dailystagedischarge&group_key=NONE&search_site_no_station_nm=Rock+Creek"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]
Rock Creek Montana FWP Guide [[url "http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/fishing/guide/report.aspx?llid=1154428475830&begmeas=0&endmeas=10.9219999313354"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]

REPORTS: Both the upper and lower creek are dropping quickly. It's going to fish top to bottom today. Look the heaviest salmonfly activity to be on the uppermost stretches with golden stones and green drakes filling out the mix. A boat is STILL your best option but there is still ample opportunity to wade. Look for side channels, backeddies and the softer water when fishing on foot. Look for the much warmer weather this week to kick the stoneflies back into high gear.

HATCHES: Midges, caddis, green drakes, salmonflies, golden stones, PMDs.

FLIES: Bigger attractor or stonefly dries with red San Juan worm droppers. More realistically sized mayfly offerings such as parachute Adams, comparaduns or cripples in the 14 to 16 range. Green drake cripples or duns in 10s or 12s. Slow moving streamers will also be a good option. Larger stonefly nymphs with bright red San Juan worm droppers.

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Gallatin River - June 14th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=86,re"][#0000ff]Montana Troutfitters[/#0000ff][/url]
FISHING: Good
Steam Flow Information [[url "http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/current?type=flow&group_key=NONE&search_site_no_station_nm=Gallatin&format=html_table"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]
Gallatin River Montana FWP Guide [[url "http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/fishing/guide/q_Gallatin_River__1114924459385_0_97.1900024414063.aspx"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]
East Gallatin River Montana FWP Guide [[url "http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/fishing/guide/q_East_Gallatin_River__1113345458915_0_42.1290016174316.aspx"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]

The flows at the Ennis Powerhouse are 1860 C.F.S. These flows are down from the high flow of over 3000 C.F.S. on Friday. We recieved an awesome amount of rain on Thursday and Friday which pushed the flows up very high. The flows have dropped over the weekend and the fishing was very good for those who ventured out to the river over the weekend. The Salmonfly hatch is taperin off with most of the hatch activity taking place well up into the Bear Trap Canyon Wilderness area. The fishing near the powerhouse and dam with big bugs will be your best bet for the next couple of days. If you are fishing the lower reaches of the Canyon or downstream of the Canyon you will want to concentrate your efforts on streamers or matching the hatch with the adult insects that are flying around. The Crayfish are molting and thus the large fish have really keyed in on them. Fish the crayfish patterns trailed with yukl bugs and Ugly bugs on and indicator. When you are in deeper water dead drift the flies and when you are in the shallower water give the fly some movement. The higher flows have pushed some fish to the banks which in return make the fish chase down a streamer pattern when it is stripped. If you are into the dry fly action look for a great hatch of caddis as well as PMD's. The caddis are hatching throughout the day and the PMD's have been comming off between noon and 2 pm. There are also some Yellowsallies and larger adult goldenstones hatching as well. You can try fishing a large salmonfly pattern if you would like because a few fish may have the large flies still stuck in their heads from the prior weeks hatch. If you are looking for the adult salmonflies it is time to head to the upper river where I would expect to see the hatch start later in the week.



Fly Pattern Suggestions :Terranasty #4-6, Rogue Foam Stone #4, Golden Chernobly Ant #6, Norm Woods Special #6, Parachute Adams #14-16, Royal Wulff #12-16, Parachute PMD #14-16 Yellow Stimulator #8-12, Madam X #8-10, Elk Hair Caddis #12-14, Slick Water Caddis #12-14 Parachute Caddis #12-14, BH Mangy Caddis #14-16, Black Lite Brite Caddis #12-14, Hot wire Caddis #12-14, BH Prince #8-12

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Madison River - Upper - June 14th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=86,re"][#0000ff]Montana Troutfitters[/#0000ff][/url]
FISHING: Good
Stream Flow Information [[url "http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/current?type=flow&group_key=NONE&search_site_no_station_nm=Madison&format=html_table"][#0000ff]click here][/#0000ff][/url]
Madison River Montana FWP Guide [[url "http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/fishing/guide/q_Madison_River__1115074459269_0_131.90299987793.aspx"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]
South ForkMadison River Montana FWP Guide [[url "http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/fishing/guide/q_South_Fork_Madison_River__1112332447461_0_20.701000213623.aspx"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]
West Fork Madison River Montana FWP Guide [[url "http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/fishing/guide/q_West_Fork_Madison_River__1115837448893_0_33.1749992370605.aspx"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]

The flows at Kirby Ranch are 900 C.F.S. The river is clearing below the West Fork and the fishing is heating up on the lower river close to Ennis. The river is dirty green and in good shape for fishing. There have been no adults as of yet, however we are very close to seeing the adults on the river near Ennis. The big nymphs are working their way to the banks and we may see some adults start to hatch by mid week. The weather forecast looks good for the hatch to start sometime this week and if you can take anytime off from work you may want to try and get out. Flows are on the low side but it should not hender the early fishing on the lower portions of the upper. We may also see the power company let out some water as the rainbow fry begin to emerge from the gravel. This is an ongoing project that the power company has been working on to try and manage the Whirling Disease issue on the Madison river. The flows have been low because they are storing water to release when the fry come out of the gravel. If you would like more information on the project visit the Whirling Disease Foundation website or email for extra details.

Fly Pattern Suggestions: Black CH Buggers #2-6, Black Beauty #2-6, CH Bow Bugger #2-6, Yuk Bug #2-6, Ugly Bug #4-8 Egg Patterns, San Juan Worms, BH Prince #8-12, Griffith's Gnat #16-18, Mother Shucker #20, Red Midge Larvae #18-20

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Yellowstone River - June 14th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=86,re"][#0000ff]Montana Troutfitters[/#0000ff][/url]
FISHING: Poor
Stream Flow Information [[url "http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/current?type=flow&group_key=NONE&search_site_no_station_nm=yellowstone&format=html_table"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]
Yellowstone River Montana WFP Guide [[url "http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/fishing/guide/q_Yellowstone_River__1039825479787_15.3889999389648_570.177001953125.aspx"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]

Flows at Livingston are 8560 on the Yellowstone and we are seeing some clearing in the water. As of Sunday there was only 4-6 inches of visibility, which was a bit of improvement over the clarity at the end of the week last week. I would not get to excited because I would expect to see the river off color for another week or two at the very least. We will update you when the river becomes remotely fishable.

Fly patterns include: White Zonker #2-4, Zoo Cougar #2-4, Yuk Bug #4-6, Rat Sculpin #2-4, White Double Bunny #2-4

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Yellowstone National Park Rivers - June 12th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=108,re"][#0000ff]Henry's Fork Anglers[/#0000ff][/url]
FISHING: Fair
The Firehole River is the best bet for early season fishing. The river is somewhat swollen, but fishing has been good with PMD and BWO imitations. Also, swinging soft hackles is always a good bet. We've been seeing some Salmonflies for the last several days, on the Firehole.

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Madison River - Lower - June 12th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=86,re"][#0000ff]Montana Troutfitters[/#0000ff][/url]
FISHING: Poor
Stream Flow Information [[url "http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/current?type=flow&group_key=NONE&search_site_no_station_nm=Madison&format=html_table"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]
Madison River Montana FWP Guide [[url "http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/fishing/guide/q_Madison_River__1115074459269_0_131.90299987793.aspx"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]
South ForkMadison River Montana FWP Guide [[url "http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/fishing/guide/q_South_Fork_Madison_River__1112332447461_0_20.701000213623.aspx"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]
West Fork Madison River Montana FWP Guide [[url "http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/fishing/guide/q_West_Fork_Madison_River__1115837448893_0_33.1749992370605.aspx"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]

The flows at the Ennis Powerhouse are 3030 C.F.S. The river has made a drastic jump from 1650 C.F.S. on Thursday. The huge amount of rain that we recieved on Thursday has spiked the flows and turned the river off color. As of Friday morning the river had about 4 to 6 inches of visibility. This may change over the weekend as the rain lets up and the flows drop. This weekend may be a tough one for fishing the rivers in the area because of all the rain from Thursday and Friday. If you do not live in the Bozeman area we recieved close to two inches of rain on Thursday and many of the rivers have seen drastic increases in flows. I would expect to see the flows drop over the next few days, however it may take a day or two until the clarity returns. If you really want to get out the good news is that the higher water will push the fish to the banks and the streamer fishing could get very good for a couple of days until the flows drop back into the 1500 C.F.S. range. It doesn't take much clarity for streamer fishing to be productive either. The Salmonfly hatch is in full swing however it has been very sporadic this year. The adults have only been in small pockets this year and we have not seen the hatch really blow up with bugs everywhere. Keep your eyes in the bushes as you hike around the river and if you find some adults flying in the air or in the bushes give the dry flies a try. Nymphing has been good on the entire river and concentrate on fishing the larger nymphs in the deeper pockets and in the faster water inside of the Bear Trap Canyon Wilderness area. The streamer fishing has been very good on the river outside of the canyon. It is most likely going to slow a bit as the water continues to drop. The higher water spread the fish out a bit and moved them to the banks where the anglers fishing from boats could target them a little easier. The crayfish are also molting so dead drifting a crayfish imtation has been productive. The fish really like the crayfish when they molt because there shells are soft and they are easier to digest. There has also been some nice hatch activity that is not centered around the Salmonflies. Pmd's, Caddis and Yellowsallies have been hatching in very good numbers and if you want some good dry fly fishing you can have a ball matching the hatch. The river should stay in pretty good shape, however the upper river has been very dirty and there is a real good possibility that the muddy water could make it's way through the lake and turn the lower river into mud as well. We will continue to update this report as the conditions change.



Fly Pattern Suggestions :Terranasty #4-6, Rogue Foam Stone #4, Golden Chernobly Ant #6, Norm Woods Special #6, Parachute Adams #14-16, Royal Wulff #12-16, Parachute PMD #14-16 Yellow Stimulator #8-12, Madam X #8-10, Elk Hair Caddis #12-14, Slick Water Caddis #12-14 Parachute Caddis #12-14, BH Mangy Caddis #14-16, Black Lite Brite Caddis #12-14, Hot wire Caddis #12-14, BH Prince #8-12

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Big Hole River - June 12th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=86,re"][#0000ff]Montana Troutfitters[/#0000ff][/url]
FISHING: Fair
The Flows at Melrose Montana are 2190 C.F.S. The river came up some with the heavy rains that we had on Thursday and Friday. Clarity on Friday morning was about two feet. I would expect that the clarity will improve over the weekend and we may see some nice water by sunday. The Salmonfly hatch flew up the river in record time this year and the fishing for the hatch was for the most part a bust. There are still bugs out flying but the bulk of the hatch flew the river system within a few days. It is time to look past the salmonflies and start concentrating on the other hatch activity that takes place in the early summer months. Yellowsallies, goldenstones, pmd's and caddis will dominate the hatch activity and you can have some great dry fly fishing on the Bighole after the Salmonfly hatch is over. It doesn't appear that the outlook for the summer is too promising on the Bighole so if you like to fish it you should get over there while it still is flowing decent flows and the fish are happy.

Fly Pattern Suggestions :Yellow Stimulator #8-12, Madam X #8-10, Elk Hair Caddis #12-14, Slick Water Caddis #12-14 Parachute Caddis #12-14, BH Mangy Caddis #14-16, Black Lite Brite Caddis #12-14, Hot wire Caddis #12-14, BH Prince #8-12 Yuk Bug #4-8, Ugly Bug #4-8, Turd Blossom Special #4-8, Rogue Foam Stone #4
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Beaverhead River - June 12th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=86,re"][#0000ff]Montana Troutfitters[/#0000ff][/url]
FISHING: Fair
The Flows at Barrett's Diversion Dam are up to 501 C.F.S. The river is clean from The dam dowstream for about a mile to the High Bridge. The small creek, which I believe is called Clark Creek, which empties into the Beavehead just downstream of the High Bridge is running dirty and making the fishing below there tough. The angler pressure over the weekend will all be condensed into this short stretch of river so if may be a little crowded on the river. The nymph fishing has been good with small scuds, sowbugs and small mayfly nymphs. Don't forget to try a san juan worm or a streamer if it is cloudy out.

Fly Pattern Suggestions :Red San Juan Worms, Red Sawyer PT #18-20, Grey Scud #14-16, Olive Scud #14-16, Red Midge Larvae #18-22, Olive Midge Larvae #18-22, Olive Hares Ear #16-18, Green Weenie #18-20.