rod

Winter fishing is in full force here in Southwest Montana.  The past couple of weeks have seen temperatures climb into the 30's and 40's for highs making it feel like summer compared with the deep freeze of recent weeks.  All this warm weather has excited both the trout and the fishermen.  Hot spots have been on the Gallatin River, spring creeks, the upper and lower Madison, East Gallatin, Missouri and Bighorn. 

On the freestone rivers such as the Gallatin and Madison stonefly nymphs, wooly buggers, midge nymphs and dries, as well as smaller bead head nymphs are a good bet.  On the spring creeks and tailwaters scuds, sow bugs, midge larva and sparse nymphs such as Flashback Quill Nymphs, Sawyer Pheasant Tails and Wonder Nymphs are all good  choices.

So if you want a break from skiing or just need to get out of the house, grab your rod and hit the rivers.  This is winter fishing at it's best!

Chad Olsen

February 21st

Water:
Lower Madison River Fishing Report

Updated:
2/22/08

Stream Flow:
1,200 cfs @ Below Ennis Lake Dam

River Conditions:
Gin Clear & in great shape for winter fishing.

Hatches:
Midges

Dries:
Black & Gray Midge Sprout #20, CDC Midge Adult 318-#20, CDC Hanging Midge 318-#20, CDC Midge Emerger #18-#20, Adams Midge Cluster #16-#20, Parachute Griffith's Gnat #16-#20, Parachute Adams #18-#20 and Pearl Midge Winker #18.

Nymphs:
Pink Lightning Bug #14-#18, Red & Copper Tungsten Copper Johns #16-#18, Micro Mayfly #14-#18, Shop Vac #16-#18, B.H. Flashback Hare's Ear #14-#16, B.H. Flashback Pheasant Tail #14-#18, Might May Baetis #18, Pearl Three Dollar Dip #16, Red or Wine San Juan Worms #8 or #14, B.H. Black Beauty #18, Mercury Flashback Midge #18, Cheesman Emerger #18, Gray & Black B.H. Polywing Emerger #18, Blood Midge #20, Black & Red Zebra Midges #16-#18, B.H. K-Flasher #18, Pink & Orange Scuds #14-#16, Pink & Tan Soft Hackle Sow Bugs #14-#16, Pink Soft Hackle Ray Charles #16, Pink, Tan & Gray Ray Charles #16 and Ice, Red or Black GT's Perfect #18.

Streamers:
Black & Olive Crystal Woolly Buggers #6-#10, Black & Olive Bow River Buggers #6, Halloween Woolly Buggers #6-#10, Olive & Pearl Zonkers #4-#6, Black, Olive or Claret Carey Buggers #8-#10, Sheila Sculpin #6, Coffee's Conehead Sparkle Minnow #4-#6, Dead Drift Crayfish #8, and Clouser Crayfish #8-#10.

Fishing Conditions & Comments:
This has been one of the hottest spots for winter fishing in the Bozeman area lately. Fishing has been best from about noon until 4 pm. Try fishing sow bugs or scuds with midge droppers. A large attractor such as a trude with a zebra midge dropper is effective in shallow water and many fish will eat the trude as a midge cluster. Also, try buggers and crayfish with nymph trailers. Don't be afraid to start stripping streamers as the big fish are beginning to look for a big meal!




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