Trout In The Gallatin
TROUT IN THE MADISON
MAYFLIES ON RADAR !!
<- AP photo
.. The thunder was very loud at 2:30 AM, this morning. So, we stumbled to the computer with a glass of milk and clicked on FISHING JONES. Mayflies were on the radar!
.. The reference in the OUTDOOR PRESSROOM sent us to JSONLINE and from there to the Madison, Wisconsin CAPITAL ONLINE. Good stuff for LaCross, Wisconsin. Probably good for the fish on the Upper Mississippi too.
.. We got a late start yesterday and had brunch instead of breakfast at Campfire Lodge. On the way back to visit the Gallatin we stopped for some early afternoon fishing at the tailwater section of the MADISON RIVER below Hebgan Dam. It was crowded, and everyone was using different flies. Brown & Rainbow Trout along with Whitefish were taking dry Salmonflies, large Elk Hair Caddis, (size 8 - 10,) and Prince nymphs, (sizes 12 - 16.) We joined in for about an hour and then continued up to the Gallatin River in Yellowstone Park.
.. There was only one car at the Fawn Pass pullout; we made it two. The braided channels of Fan Creek & the Gallatin River were just beginning to see shadows and we fished a sparse caddis hatch until the rain shower at 5:00 PM. We took several fish to 12" and one Cuttbow that was about 14" on caddis dry flies, and some that we sunk just below the film. The same large sizes as on the Madison River.
.. We drove downstream to mile-post 22 and parked above the wide spot in the meadow. We fished 'til dark and used the same flies to take both Rainbows and hybrids. The clouds made it dark early but fish were taking right up to the time we left at 9:00 PM.
.. Second-hand, (but trusted,) information:
- Nez Perce Creek in the meadow above the Chief Joseph storyboard has some good fish taking floating nymphs and small caddis in the evening, (sizes 14 -16.)
- Yellowstone Lake around Thumb and Grant Village still has Cutthroats to 16" cruising the shallows. They are taking light colored wooly buggers and big soft hackles, (sizes 6 - 10.)
- The Lamar River at the narrows just above Slough Creek is fishing well to Stonefly nymphs and wooly buggers. This section runs over bedrock and is very swift and slick - be extra careful.
- Soda Butte Creek has the same conditions as reported in the last post & is worth the walk.
- FOR THE VERY BRAVE -- Soda Butte in the Ice Box Canyon area is full of very eager Cutthroats. These fish in the 'pockets & pillows' are taking soft hackles and gold-ribbed Hare's Ear nymphs. Expect fish to 10" or 11" and be very careful here too. The canyon walls are loose and treacherous.
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