Last weekend was about as nice as it gets around these parts - flip flops, a t-shirt and shorts were the norm.  When the sun dropped below Lionshead, the temps dropped slightly but a hoody was all one needed to keep the chill off. Monday was more of the same, Tuesday was pretty chilly, Wednesday was sunny and wet and today (Thursday) looks like all hell is about to break loose with rain for a couple of days. It's all about the weather now that we are full throttle into the month of September.  The weekend looks pretty nice, but then Monday hits with more wet weatherand possibly snow in the high country. Its time I guess, pay attention and bring your foul weather gear. 

Flows are up about 10% from last week, a project on Ennis Lake with boat docks is requiring normal elevation for the work to be completed. 

Madison River Flows:

Below Hebgen: 873 cfs

Kirby: 976 cfs

Varney: 1090 cfs 

Between the Lakes

Those BWO are around most days and roughly a size 18 or so. Caddis are on their way out now that the cold weather isupon us.  As always this time of the year, don't forget the terrestrial box - those ants, beetles and hoppers could still work, but would not be my first choice or flies. The key, darn near everywhere on the Madison is to cover water and keep moving until you start catching a few fish, then slow down and find similar types of water.  Some days that might be the skinny riffles, some days that might be the pocket water.  Fishing a single fly will help your fly drift with less drag. 

Flies - chubbies in smaller sizes, #18 Iron X Caddis, #18 Jojo's BWO, #18 Sparkle Dun BWO, Purple Haze, Baltz's Paranymph #18, Missing Links, Ginger Chubinator #16, Copenhaver Rusty Spinner #16, #8-12 Morrish hopper in various colors, Thunder thighs in pink and tan, Mimic Hopper, Sweat Dream Hopper, Arrick's Ant, Jojo's Honey Ant, Hoovie's Ant, Heames Honey Ant.

For those wanting to nymph, try smaller nymphs like BH Shop Vacs, Bullet Quill style Jigs, BH Serendipities, Roza's Pink Hare's Ear, Bead Head PT, standard Pheasant Tail, Frenchie, AZ Hare's Ear, PTs, Serendipites and the like.  This is also the time of the year where a #10-12 Rubber legs will pick up a few fish as well.  Dead drifting a streamer is never a bad idea either. Streamers - Bouface, BFE, Rusty Trombone, White Zonker, Copper Zonker. 

Wade Section

Fish the skinny gravel bars and riffles with dry flies, those fish love to hold in those well oxygenated zones.  Don't forget the pockets! Those BWO love to emerge from the slicks, sit back and watch before you jump in.  Fish are eating dry flies throughout the day, but are not eating them everywhere. September is here and we are seeing colder mornings, for the time being terrestrials are still in the mix on the warmer days. Food for thought - If I had one fly in September to fish it would be ants, unless there are BWO hatching. When the hoppers are clicking on the warmer afternoons, the trout will likely eat them, but they might kiss the fly and slap it with their tail justt to show you who's boss.  A floating line and a long leader paired with a BFE streamer is a fabulous way to spend the day. 

Flies - chubbies of all sizes (the smaller ones are a good choice), Iron X Caddis, #14 & #16 Jojo's PMD, Baltz's Paranymph #12-18, Missing Link is various colors from #12-#18, Ginger Chubinator #16, Copenhaver Rusty and or Cream Spinner #14 and #12, Arrick's Ant, Jojo's Honey Ant, Hoovies Ant, Morrish Hopper, Thunder Thighs, Sweet Dream Hopper, Henneberry Hopper, Dave's Hopper, Heames' Honey Ant and Arricks Ant. Streamers - BFE, Sparkle Minnow, Bouface in all colors - we love them all almost equally, Bangtail. 

Short leashing a couple of nymphs or fishing a chubby & a 2ft dropper is a great way to cover the water.  Going deeper, arm's length or so from your bobber to the first fly, is not a bad way to start out the morning - add some weight and get it down.  Flies that we suggest for the wade section are - Hare&Copper, various Serendipities, Shop Vac, #18 Arizona Hares Ear, #18 Jig Pheasant Tail, Red Necks, Hoover Black, Bullet Quills (they all seem to work), Jig Napoleans, Two Bit Hooker, #14-#18 Epoxyback Golden Stonefly, Frenchies or Pheasant Tails, Rubber Legs, Copper Zonker and the TB Ant is sneaky option as well. 

Float Section

Some days have been better than others this past week, but overall, the fishing has been decent in the float stretch.  The morning river temps have cooled down now that September is in full swing. The hopper bite generally doesn't get going until 12pm or so and that is day to day as we enter the second week of September. There are some nice fish sitting in the shallows and eating ants, but they are also picky and watching your fly for drag. That bank water is worth fishing as is the middle of the river, especially on the sunny days.  The tributaries continue to flow and they are injecting cold water into the river. 

Fish are looking for ants, attractors and BWOs on cloudy days are on the menu as well.  If you want to nymph, drop a BH off that #10 dry fly and run it.  The banks, the slicks in the middle, the riffles around the gravel bars all have fish hanging around them. I personally like to fish with a single dry fly these days when targeting rising fish - your drift is just better off. Be on the lookout for BWO emergence this coming week, from 1pm on, there could be some very nice fish rising in the slicks and on the bank.  

Flies - chubbies of all colors and sizes, Parachute Adams, Balts's Iron X Caddis, #14 & #16 Jojo's PMD, Baltz's Paranymph #12-16, Ginger Chubinator #16, Copenhaver Rusty and Cream Spinner #14 and #12, Jojo's Rusty and Cream Spinner #12 or #16, #16 Chubbinator, #12 Pink or tan Morrish Hopper, Thunder Thighs, #16 Jojo's Royal Ant, #16 Arrick's Ant, Hoovies Ant, Jojo's Honey Ant, Heames Honey Ant. 

Nymph fishing under a bobber with smaller bead heads like a AZ Hare's Ear, Red Neck, Hare&Copper, Shopvac, Epoxyback Golden Stones, soft hackle Hare's Ear, various Perdigons, Serendipities, Perdigons/Jigs will produce some good fishing.  A rubberleg or zonker up top and four feet from your bobber with PT dropper is never a bad idea. You don't need to be that deep when fishing on the run out of the boat. 

So far, September has been nice and cool with a handful of warmer days. We still need to do our part and treat the fish with respect. 

1. Pull over and release those fish on the banks. Release them in slow current. 
2. KEEP THEM WET. Do you really need another picture holding a trout?  Get creative with your photos.  Leave those fish in the net to take pics, or keep them as wet as possible.  Take a slow mo video of releasing your prize back to the river. 
3. If your trout swallowed the fly, cut the tippet and leave it in there, no need to jab those hemos down it's throat and make it bleed. 
4. Fish barbless.  
5. Fish heavier tippet whenever possible. 

Treat those on the river with kindness and respect, you will actually catch more fish. When you pull off the bank, give plenty of room to the boats up stream working their way down.  The Madison is moving fast and most folks who are newer to rowing a boat don't realize that 100 yards is NOT enough space.  Give other boats plenty of room and be cool.  When putting your boat in and taking it out, be efficient, get things done and exit the ramp area.  Anchor your boat on the bank. 

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