MADISON RIVER FLOWS 

West Yellowstone – 363 CFS 

Below Hebgen - 400 CFS

Kirby - 667 CFS

Varney - 1120 CFS

With any luck a rain shower or two will turn up here soon and give us a little more water in the system. Be on the lookout this weekend for stormy weather.  The local weatherman in BZN is actually calling for snow at higher elevations, we could definitely use some of that!  Flows continue to be the topic of conversation right now.  Northwest Energy is holding back water for a few of reasons:

1. They are still trying to fill Hebgen Lake, which is 1 foot from full pond.
2. Water conservation is their main goal this year, we won't get any more water out of Hebgen until its absolutely necessary. 
3. Pulse flows for the Lower Madison River, below Bear Trap Canyon, have not been needed just yet.  When they are, the river below Hebgen will increase. 

BETWEEN THE LAKES

She's low folks, the highlight here is that the water is cold and topping out at 54 degrees on most days this past week. Cabin and Beaver Creeks are running clear and are dropping fast.  Our fly selection remains relatively unchanged from last week’s report – heavy tandem nymph rigs featuring a rubber legs and smaller mayfly nymphs or caddis larva hung off the back will be your most productive sub surface rigs.  Patterns of choice here recently have been the 101 Stone from Cat3 or Heames’ Jig Rubberlegs in #8 or #10 paired with a #14/16 Redneck or Olive hot-spot perdigon hung below. For caddis larva and pupa - the AZ Hares Ear, Shop Vac or Blow Torch are great choices.  Not into bobber fishing, we don't blame you. Try swinging the Blow Torch or Soft Hackle PT for some high quality grabs.  Early morning streamer fishing can produce as well right now, heavy streamers such as the Sparkle Minnow, BFE or Bouface Leech are working before the sun hits the water.  The dry-dropper rig is as effective option these days as anything. Hang any of these nymphs two feet below a Chubby and let it roll. 

WADE SECTION

The Wade Section continues to fish well and there are fish looking up. It's all about those caddis! Getting around the river is pretty easy right now, but watch out for that thigh deep water, its super pushy and those rocks are greasy. Fish are moving into the their summer haunts, fast shallow riffles, soft pillows in front of boulders and edges close to the bank all have fish lurking around. Cover water quickly, slow down when you find a fish and observe the type of water said fish came out of.  Then find more of it!  A skilled nymph fisherman will pick up more fish with a stonefly and a midge, caddis larva/pupa or small mayfly nymph - but is it really about quantity?  Dry fly fishing is sooooo much more satisfying! As with BTL, try dry-dropping something big and fluffy - you might be in for a few fish looking up for an early salmonfly. 

FLOAT SECTION

The river is clear and low from Lyons Bridge all the way to Ennis. The tribs in the valley are dropping fast, but are flowing cold which is a blessing during these lower than normal flows. The big chocolate bomber caddis is bouncing around the river and there are trout looking up for those.  The Tan Caddis, aka Hydropsyche, are in full swing and hatching daily.  Its pretty darn good fishing down there and the dry fly fishing is solid. Dragging a bugger/zonker with a beadhead below has been producing some great fishing as well, if that's what you're into.  The dry/dropper fishing is producing and a great way tot start the morning until the caddis begin to hit the water.  Think sparsely dressed, fast-sinking droppers with a big tungsten bead. We’ve got a number of gnarly, 3.8mm bead perdigons in the store that’ll do the trick — namely the Tungsten Jig Splitcase PMD in #14/16, and Roza’s Pink Hare’s Ear Jig in #14/12. Olive Hotspots, Shop Vacs, Prince nymphs, Pheasant Tail, AZ Hare's Ear, and Redneck’s in #14/16 will also fool plenty of fish.  There is no time like the present to fish dry flies. #14 Elk Hair, #16 Compara Buzz, #14/16 Chubbies, #14/16 Chubbinators are great choices. There are Big Bugs, aka Salmonflies from Varney to Town.  You wont be alone, the word is def out, the hatch is easily 10 days early this year. Gonna be an interesting hatch this season, liekly to blow up river wide here very soon. 

If you haven't used the Fly Banjo combined with your favorite fly floatant, than you are truly missing out on the greatest little dry fly secret there is.