Run-off has commenced in SW Montana

[Mike Cline]

The last two days have been in the 70s and the overnight low in Bozeman was in the low 50s. The forecast is for a least a week more of 70 degree weather and moderate overnight lows. Most of the local streams—Gallatin, Yellowstone, Madison, Big Hole and Beaverhead have seen big spikes in flows over the last two days. And, its likely the high-elevation stuff will start its annual journey to the sea. Its a bit of an early start to run-off but bodes well for an earlier start to decent fishing in late June and early July. August and September might be a bit thin though.

 

[Salmo_g]

Yay! And maybe the receding flow will still be high enough in another month to keep those trout pinned against the banks as the salmon flies come off. Hey, a guy can always dream about perfect conditions, right? I've always wanted to hit a perfect hopper fishing trip in August, but alas, those low, warming waters have come to mean hoot owl and complete closures, so that may never be a "happenin' thing" going forward. Unless I get something else figured out, my MT fishing trips are late June and late September.

What do you MT anglers do from late May to late June? Do you have a stillwater season to tide you over?

 

[up2nogood]

Yay! And maybe the receding flow will still be high enough in another month to keep those trout pinned against the banks as the salmon flies come off. Hey, a guy can always dream about perfect conditions, right? I've always wanted to hit a perfect hopper fishing trip in August, but alas, those low, warming waters have come to mean hoot owl and complete closures, so that may never be a "happenin' thing" going forward. Unless I get something else figured out, my MT fishing trips are late June and late September.

What do you MT anglers do from late May to late June? Do you have a stillwater season to tide you over?

I get up there mid June thru to early Aug . Very seldom do I see much dry fly action until early July, but there’s always nymphing.
I do fish Hebgen , Quake , and Henry’s pretty much exclusively for the first couple weeks. The lakes always fish pretty well , the exception last year was Henry’s, pretty slow , hopefully it will be a bit better this year ,