May 20......the OPENER.......Mud. When Holly and I first pulled up to Reynolds Pass the river was not quite as green as the day before. There were a few rigs and trailers, but those folks were way down stream by then. We geared up and headed upstream with another...
Madison RIver
The past week in West Yellowstone has been beautiful. 70 degrees and sunny. The rivers and creeks have swollen with Spring snow melt, but there is a ton of snow in the high country. How long will run-off last????????? Who knows, the ten day forecast is calling for...
Madison & Missouri
When is run off? I wish I new. This year it seems that the Madison is going to fish good for the month of May but when June gets here expect to see the river to swell for a couple of weeks or more. There is a ton of snow up in them hills and when it melts the Madison...
Florida
Florida's water is now starting to warm up to a consistent temperature and today I packed my bags to make the long trip home. Bummer. There are several stops along the way and we won't be in MT until the first of May. Next year, I hope to stay down here until the...
Back to Montana
We are in IL on our way back to MT and the weather has been wonderful. I have been out turkey hunting but have not shot a Tom just yet. The turkeys have been extremely vocal until they fly off the roost. Once down on the ground, they seem to be busy with the hens and...
Florida
Over the past few weeks I took another trip to Titusville and fished another back slough off Palma Sola Bay. The first evening in the Indian River was windy and cool, but I was able to hook into a red that I spoted laid up on a sand spot. That red came unbuttoned...
Reds
My how time flies. Over the past month I have fished the Titusville area for Reds with PB and a local flat on Palma Sola Bay here in Bradenton. Titusville was a ton of fun, but the weather got the best of us. I was able to get a nice 10 lb Red on the fly and had a few...
Florida
I have been busy. I applogize for not updating my reports as often as one should. Sorry. I wish that I could say that I have been out fishing in the boat, but I have now taken the carburetor off for the third time and it is headed to a mechanic friend of mine's house...
Florida: Sarasota Bay
Yesterday, Holly and I went down to Port Charlotte and picked up the boat. It's an 85' Aquasport Osprey measuring in at 17.5 feet including the polling platform. She needs a paint job and a little love, but she'll run and get us out to the fish. Now all we need to get...
Florida: Sarasota Bay
I have been down here for about 2 weeks and have been fishing twice. No fish and no boat. The boat I am using for the winter is in the repair shop......the engine doesn't even make a sound and there is corrosion everyhwere. It has worked very well in the past from...
Madison River below Quake
Most of October had been warm, sunny and dry.....until today. This morning I hit the snooze a couple of extra times as it was hard to get up with the rain tapping on the roof. Once things cleared off, the clouds revealed a white glaze on the Lionshead, Hebgen and on...
Madison River below Quake Lake
Old Man Winter has arrived in Southwest Montana. This morning we woke up to 3 inches of snow at 6666 feet and there is quite a bit more in the mountains surrounding town. Starting 3 days ago, we had masive winds down on the river and in town. There were gusts up to...
Madison River below Quake Lake…..& Archery Season
I must appologize to the loyal readers first. Archery season for elk started the 3rd of Sept. and the bugle has just gotten really hot over the past week. Sorry for the lack of fishing reports, but I really want to kill an elk this year with my bow. I will be more...
Madison River: Quake to Ennis
Over the past week, Fall has arrived. The aspens are just bearly showing some yellow, the elk are feeling their oats and there is snow in the peaks. Yes, it is cold......and it will warm back up again. I have heard reports of big browns moving out of Ennis Lake, but...
Madison River: Quake to Varney
This morning I woke up to what seemed like a classic October day......cold, rain/snow and then slightly warming up in the afternoon with sunshine. Down in the Madison Valley there was a blizzard for about an hour or so and visibility was minimal. I was at home by the...
Madison River Lyons to Mac
Over the past two days we have had beautiful weather. Prior to that, it was cold, rainy and windy for several days. On Friday, the flying ants exploded out of the ground and fish were rising for any ant pattern and were quite stupid about it. I had the pleasure of...
Madison River below Quake Lake
The river is flowing 794 cfs out of Hebgen and things are getting a little skinny on the Madison. Thankfully, the cool overnight temperatures are keeping the river chilled. The dry fly fishing is in full swing now and there are caddis, pmds, yellow sallies, and even a...
Madison River – Lyons Bridge to Palisades
Most folks think that August is too dry and hot and therefore the angling suffers. At the bar the other night a few of us were discussing the weather patterns over the past few seasons. This is the third summer in a row that August has been wet and cool, providing...
Hebgen Lake
Yesterday we got to the lake a little later than expected and found fish rising when we arrived. Two local guides and myself rigged the boat and dropped it into the Madison Arm of Hebgen Lake. There were lots of trout rising, but their patterns were inconsistent. Most...
Hebgen Lake
Gulp........It is that time of the year on Hebgen Lake. We have been out fishing to those large cruising trout for about 3 weeks now, but it is just starting to get consistent. There are tricos, caddis, midges and calibaetis.......and a little wind. We like to get on...