Southwestern Montana
SOUTHWESTERN MONTANA
ReportFrom the no-boating section down to Ennis Lake, ants, beetles, and small hoppers are bankside and trout respond to patterns of these dead-drifted nearby. The river between Hebgen Lake and the Yellowstone Park boundary remains on a Hoot Owl restriction. The same restriction is on the Beaverhead River below Dillon and the Madison River below Ennis Lake. There are Hoot Owl restrictions on portions of the Big Hole River as well — check the Fish, Wildlife, and Parks website to find the specific locations.
Gulpers are chasing speckled duns and tricos on Hebgen Lake's Madison Arm, providing some of the best fly fishing in southwest Montana right now. Trico and speckled dun activity is densest early on wind-free mornings and should continue through August.
The Gallatin River flow is dropping, concentrating trout in deeper runs and pockets. They respond to insect patterns including those for spruce moths, yellow sallies, caddis, and traditional attractors.
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tricos | #20–22 | Strong | Early morning, wind-free |
| Speckled Duns | #18–20 | Strong | Early morning, wind-free |
| Ants | #14–18 | Active | Midday–afternoon |
| Beetles | #14–18 | Active | Midday–afternoon |
| Small Hoppers | #12–14 | Active | Midday–afternoon |
| Caddis / Yellow Sallies / Spruce Moths | #14–18 | Present | Morning–evening (Gallatin) |
- FIRST LIGHT TO MID-MORNING: Prime window for Hebgen Lake Madison Arm gulpers — trico and speckled dun activity is densest on calm, wind-free mornings
- MIDDAY TO LATE AFTERNOON: Dead-drift ants, beetles, and small hoppers tight to the banks on the Madison no-boating section to Ennis Lake
- ALL DAY (GALLATIN): Work spruce moth, yellow sally, caddis, and attractor patterns through deeper runs and pockets as flows continue to drop
