skipper3245
Barbless Hooks save lives
Just got back from a month in Montana and the fishing was pretty spectacular. This year should be much better than last year. Snowpack in southwest Montana is just under 100% so normal flows will be prevalent. Last year, the fishing was not all too great on most rivers, especially the yellowstone due to the record washout. Rivers look a bit different because of it, but new holding water is always fun. A mild winter will make for some great terrestrial fishing in later july, although I already saw hoppers and huge ants before I left. Salmonflies were just coming out this week on the lower madison and will be up on the upper in a week or so. The yellowstone basin will be later. last week of June on the yellowstone and then all the way till early august through the park into lamar and slough creek. That would be a great place to go then since the hoppers are hot then too so a chubby chernoyble will imitate both patterns. Did not get to go out towards dillon this time, but I hear its been fishing lights out as well. Run off started about two weeks ago, but the lower still never dirtied up so its been fishing well as well as the lakes. I would book a trip for august-October. Later the better and if you want the big browns, I would do November 7- November 24. The yellowstone is hit or miss on the salmonflies, but this year it looks like it will be a big hit! River already spiked from what I have heard and we had a snowfall last week, but it was not too bad. Mountains are starting to look bare. I would say June 28 the river will be fishable and that is perfect for that hatch. You do not need too much visibility for top water fishing with these bugs since you slap them on the bank as hard as you can, the fish key into the slap. Took a few pics, but I never really bring my camera along.
