Lakes Report - August 8, 2024
August is prime time for one of our favorite games to play with a fly rod in Big Sky Country, or anywhere for that matter - Gulper Fishing on Hebgen Lake.
Named for the large brown and rainbow trout who make an audible "gulp" when they rise to eat callibaetis mayfly spinners, Gulper fishing is a thrilling, visual experience. The action revolves around robust populations of callibaetis mayflies living in dense weed mats of the shallow arms and bays of Hebgen Lake.
Calm, warm mornings in August are the ideal conditions to find thick spinner falls of callibaetis, and good numbers of Gulpers gulping. Spinners will fly as long as the wind stays down, which occurs in the early afternoon most days.
Gulper fishing on Hebgen will improve through the month, and continue until the first hard frosts in September. Good numbers of callibaetis spinners have brought gulpers to the surface in all of the classic spots around the lake from the Madison Arm to the southside bays this week.
As temps cool slightly this upcoming week look for spinner falls to be be slightly delayed into the later morning hours, and be ready to take advantage of any rising fish you find before the wind picks up.
Though more localized and infrequent, Gulpers can also be found on Yellowstone Lake. We've seen large cutthroat trout gulping callibaeits spinners on calm mornings recently along some of the wadeable spots south of Lake village.
Earthquake Lake is another fun spot to hunt for gulpers amongst the ghoslty trees. In addition to callibaeits mayflies, terrestrials like spruce moths and hoppers can bring large trout to the surface on Quake.
If you're interested in learning more about Gulpers, where to find them, and how to catch them, swing by the shop and visit the fishy folks at Big Sky Anglers.
