Fishing update May 5 2009

Most of our rivers here in South West Montana are one warm snap away from the inevitable run off and will creep over their banks. So if you need to get your fix, now is the time to get it. The mother's day caddis hatch has arrived and has trout looking up. We've recieved reports from the lower Madison of caddis so thick that you can't see the other side of the river. With so many naturals on the water the chances of a trout eating your fly is slim to none, so try throwing something that stands out like a para-adams or a bigger caddis pattern.

The Gallatin is fishing well but most of the action has come from bouncing the bottom with a heavy nymph rig. The water temp has come up a little getting the stone fly nymphs to rome around a bit and the trout are taking advantage. A Pat's rubber legs or a large prince nymph with any bead head dropper will be a winning set up. Water clarity is around 2' and the levels are still safe for wading.

The Yellowstone river has been the star of the show this week. With a wining combo of 2'-3' of visibility and late afternoon baetis, caddis, and march brown hatches, the local trout bums have had some of the best dry fly fishing this spring. For those of you meat hunters out there, a dead drifted sculpin pattern is probably your best bet for that big fat Joe Brown.