Fishing Locations

 ** From Ghost Town access to Beaver creek is close for now due to bears feeding on a moose carcass they took down in the river. ** The upper has been fishing great overall. The west fork has been pumping mud into the madison some days more than others.  Small and flashy is the name of the game if you decide to nymph; Green Machines, $3 dips, purple deaths, worms, shop vacs, black & brown rubber legs, and your favorite caddis pupa are all good bets. You can also have some success dead drifting a sculpin under a bobber.  It's crucial that your bugs are getting down fast on the upper. If you're not ticking bottom every cast add some weight until you do. Dry fly fishing has been good if you stay late in the day. A elk hair caddis trailed behind a purple haze has been our go to when fish are eating on top. We have had good reports of anglers doing well on BWOs near Raynolds and 3 dollar bridge when theres some clouds and low wind conditions. There has been some nice fish coming on the streamer recently, cloudy days have been better overall.  Streamer color has been variable lately, but typically black, olive and white are our favorites. We have had reports of anglers getting better streamer eats near lyons bridge and below.  The sweet spot seems to be the three dollar area with excellent streamer, dry and nymph opportunities.  Keep an eye out as the salmon fly hatch will be happening soon.  And watch that weather, wind can be the kiss of death for the dry fly fishing up this way. Lastly, be sure to leave those reds alone. 

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Fly Pattern Suggestions

Dries| Renegades: 14-18, Griffith’s Gnat: 16-18-20, Z-Lon Midge: 20-22, Matt’s Midge: 20-22-24, Brook Sprout BWO: 16-18-20, Film Critic: 16-18-20, Thorax BWO: 16-18-20

Nymphs| Mega prince: 8-12, Delektable Hurless: 6-10, Lil' Spanker Gold Purple or Red: 16-18, Lightning Bug Purple or Silver: 16-18, SH Thorax Bead, Tan: 14-16-18, SH Copper John: 14-16, Nymphicator: 16-18, Green Machine PT: 18-20, King Prince:12-16, Coppertone: 6-8, Pat's Rubberlegs: 6-8-10, Copper John Black and Blue: 16-18-20, Green Machine: 16-18-20, Crystal dip: 16-18 Three Dollar Dip:16, Worms: 12-16, Rainbow Warrior; 16-18, Split Case BWO; 18-20,

Streamers| Smoke N Mirrors Cream #4, Sparkle Minnow Smoke #4, Complex Twist Bugger White Size #4, Sex Dungeon Rust, Yellow, Black: 2 Silvey's Sculpin Black: 2 Conehead JJ Special: 2-4 Home Invader Yellow, White: 2 Zonkers White, Olive, Natural/Copper: 4-6, Double Screamer Streamer Olive/Black: 2 Circus Peanut Olive: 2 Sculpzilla Black, Dark Olive: 4-8, 2 Dolly Llama white, 8 Baby Gonga white

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More USGS Water Data