Fall Shaping Up

BLUSTER IN THE FORECAST

Bring Bear Spray

go west young fisher

.. Quake Lake and Hebgen Tailwater fish are responding to streamers. Large fish are beginning to pod up at both the inlet & outlet of Quake lake. Woolly Buggers, Dark Spruce, and pink Montana Duster's. Fishing has been excellent in the late afternoon right up to dark - no artificial lights please!
.. The 'narrows' at Hebgen Lake and the Madison Arm Estuary have pods of large fish waiting for the starting gun to rush upstream to the spawning gravels. Use the same flies here. The South Fork Estuary is devoid of the large fish - they are about 6 weeks away in this area.
.. The Madison River has a few early submarines at the Barns Holes. See yesterday's post for details. As the weather becomes more like fall there will be more fish entering the system.
.. The flows on the Gallatin River are still low and the fish are concentrated in hides and holes. If you fish early it may be necessary to tease them into striking. Use a double Wooly Worn combination - black and yellow or red and yellow, size 10 -14. A few afternoon Caddis are around and the fish will rise to the naturals. Use a double-bobber rig, A hopper followed by your favorite Caddis or an attractor will work. Keep both of them floating high.
.. Cache Creek is loaded with 18" - 22" fish. Streamers are the ticket here. If you catch it on a warm still afternoon, (with a gentle drizzle,) Drakes on top or Caddis nymphs below should be just the thing to gather up a few monsters. Tomorrow or Friday should be ripe.
.. Shameless commercial plug.

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URGENT NEWS

.. The bears are out in force this Fall. The berry crop has mostly failed, there are a few nuts and seeds, the fish are slow to run, and the tourist numbers are up in Yellowstone. Bear attacks are up and even the safety officer for Yellowstone National Park has been attacked and mauled. Get and carry bear spray. Get the big can. Sing ribald songs and keep your eyes open. This is no joke!