T_boy
08-14-2008, 04:27 PM
Beaverhead River: Steady flows and good fishing continues. Small flies (16 and smaller) are catching big fish. There’s a multitude of hatches daily, starting around 10 a.m. and continuing through the day. Try nymphing in the early morning. — Johanna McLaughlin, Uncle Bob’s Outdoors, Dillon.
Big Hole River: Flows continue to decrease on the river, and rafts are recommended for floating. Look for Trico hatches in the morning. Also try attractor dries, such as Wulffs and Trudes. — Johanna McLaughlin, Uncle Bob’s Outdoors, Dillon.
Boulder River: Flows have dropped and hoppers are working. Hopper and dropper rigs are producing well. Baetis and caddis are also on the water. — John Bates, Rainbow Run Fly Shop.
Canyon Ferry Reservoir: Rainbow fishing has been fairly consistent throughout the reservoir. Most action has been off Confederate and Hole in the Wall trolling perch colored cranks 15-25 feet deep. Walleye fishing has been fair, fishing north from White Earth and around Hellgate with bottom bouncers with green or chartreuse blades fished 20-25 feet deep. — Eric Roberts, FWP, Helena.
Flathead Lake: After being on-and-off, the lake whitefish bite is getting better. The Woods Bay area is red hot along with the river mouth delta area. The lake trout bite is still on. You will probably get some lakers trying for the whitefish. — Bob Orsua, Mo Fisch Charters.
Fort Peck Reservoir, Dam area: A handful of salmon and a lot of lake trout are being caught. Lake trout are 95 to 115 feet down and hitting on Evil Eye flutter spoons and squids and flashers. Walleyes are biting, but they’re down 25 to 35 feet deep and hitting on Lindy rigs and crankbaits. The Pines area, Graves and Bell points, Bear Creek and Duck Creek are the best areas. — Gene Moore, Lakeridge, Fort Peck.
Fort Peck Reservoir, Hell Creek: Walleyes are down about 25 to 35 feet and hitting green spinners with bottom bouncers. Worms are the best bait. Northern pike are hitting. Lake levels are steady. Smallmouth bass are down about 30 feet and hitting on walleye tackle. — Stephanie Shawver, Hell Creek Marina.
Gallatin River: Trout are eating terrestrials in the valley stretch, and big attractor dries, spruce moth patterns, and caddis in the canyon. Fishing at dusk and into dark with caddis dries and emergers has been especially productive lately. — Kris Kumlien, Montana Troutfitters, Bozeman.
Hauser Reservoir: Rainbow fishing is slow with a few being caught from shore below Canyon Ferry Dam on worms and marshmallows. Walleye fishing is very good in the Causeway while using chartreuse or orange jigs tipped with a worm or leech in 10 to 12 feet of water. — Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena.
Holter Reservoir: Some nice rainbows are still being caught early morning while trolling cowbells tipped with a crawler. Most rainbow action has been from Split Rock to the Dam in 20 to 30 feet of water. Walleye action is very good throughout the reservoir using jigs tipped with a worm or leech and perch-colored crankbaits. — Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena.
Madison River: It’s terrestrial time on the upper river — that means ants, beetles, hoppers and attractor dry flies. Still getting some on golden stones and caddis and a smattering of PMDs. Down under, fish lightning bugs, mustang sallies and other assorted small nymphs below sculpin and rubberleg patterns — Kris Kumlien, Montana Troutfitters,
Bozeman.
Missouri River, Below Holter: The river is fishing well with caddis, tricos and hoppers all producing. Hopper and dropper combinations are a good choice. The flow is about 4,590 cfs. Fishing has been good all day. — Garry Stocker, Montana Fly Goods, Helena.
Yellowstone River, Huntley: Catfish are biting well with some big fish being caught on shrimp. Smallmouth bass are starting to bite well on a smaller minnow with a jig. The best fishing is from Waco Dam on down. A few sauger also being caught on crankbaits or Lindy rigs with a minnow from Waco on down. — Will Suralski, Minnow Bucket, Huntley.
Yellowstone River, Livingston: It’s the best August fishing in many, many years. Hoppers are working well and attractor dry fly patterns are also taking trout. The big rubberleg stonefly nymphs have been a good go-to fly and streamers are working well early in the morning. n Kris Kumlien, Montana Troutfitters, Bozeman.
Big Hole River: Flows continue to decrease on the river, and rafts are recommended for floating. Look for Trico hatches in the morning. Also try attractor dries, such as Wulffs and Trudes. — Johanna McLaughlin, Uncle Bob’s Outdoors, Dillon.
Boulder River: Flows have dropped and hoppers are working. Hopper and dropper rigs are producing well. Baetis and caddis are also on the water. — John Bates, Rainbow Run Fly Shop.
Canyon Ferry Reservoir: Rainbow fishing has been fairly consistent throughout the reservoir. Most action has been off Confederate and Hole in the Wall trolling perch colored cranks 15-25 feet deep. Walleye fishing has been fair, fishing north from White Earth and around Hellgate with bottom bouncers with green or chartreuse blades fished 20-25 feet deep. — Eric Roberts, FWP, Helena.
Flathead Lake: After being on-and-off, the lake whitefish bite is getting better. The Woods Bay area is red hot along with the river mouth delta area. The lake trout bite is still on. You will probably get some lakers trying for the whitefish. — Bob Orsua, Mo Fisch Charters.
Fort Peck Reservoir, Dam area: A handful of salmon and a lot of lake trout are being caught. Lake trout are 95 to 115 feet down and hitting on Evil Eye flutter spoons and squids and flashers. Walleyes are biting, but they’re down 25 to 35 feet deep and hitting on Lindy rigs and crankbaits. The Pines area, Graves and Bell points, Bear Creek and Duck Creek are the best areas. — Gene Moore, Lakeridge, Fort Peck.
Fort Peck Reservoir, Hell Creek: Walleyes are down about 25 to 35 feet and hitting green spinners with bottom bouncers. Worms are the best bait. Northern pike are hitting. Lake levels are steady. Smallmouth bass are down about 30 feet and hitting on walleye tackle. — Stephanie Shawver, Hell Creek Marina.
Gallatin River: Trout are eating terrestrials in the valley stretch, and big attractor dries, spruce moth patterns, and caddis in the canyon. Fishing at dusk and into dark with caddis dries and emergers has been especially productive lately. — Kris Kumlien, Montana Troutfitters, Bozeman.
Hauser Reservoir: Rainbow fishing is slow with a few being caught from shore below Canyon Ferry Dam on worms and marshmallows. Walleye fishing is very good in the Causeway while using chartreuse or orange jigs tipped with a worm or leech in 10 to 12 feet of water. — Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena.
Holter Reservoir: Some nice rainbows are still being caught early morning while trolling cowbells tipped with a crawler. Most rainbow action has been from Split Rock to the Dam in 20 to 30 feet of water. Walleye action is very good throughout the reservoir using jigs tipped with a worm or leech and perch-colored crankbaits. — Troy Humphrey, FWP, Helena.
Madison River: It’s terrestrial time on the upper river — that means ants, beetles, hoppers and attractor dry flies. Still getting some on golden stones and caddis and a smattering of PMDs. Down under, fish lightning bugs, mustang sallies and other assorted small nymphs below sculpin and rubberleg patterns — Kris Kumlien, Montana Troutfitters,
Bozeman.
Missouri River, Below Holter: The river is fishing well with caddis, tricos and hoppers all producing. Hopper and dropper combinations are a good choice. The flow is about 4,590 cfs. Fishing has been good all day. — Garry Stocker, Montana Fly Goods, Helena.
Yellowstone River, Huntley: Catfish are biting well with some big fish being caught on shrimp. Smallmouth bass are starting to bite well on a smaller minnow with a jig. The best fishing is from Waco Dam on down. A few sauger also being caught on crankbaits or Lindy rigs with a minnow from Waco on down. — Will Suralski, Minnow Bucket, Huntley.
Yellowstone River, Livingston: It’s the best August fishing in many, many years. Hoppers are working well and attractor dry fly patterns are also taking trout. The big rubberleg stonefly nymphs have been a good go-to fly and streamers are working well early in the morning. n Kris Kumlien, Montana Troutfitters, Bozeman.