MOTHER'S DAY, HOORAY!
May 2022
Updated 5/06/2022
It’s another beautiful spring in Montana. We have had snow, rain, and even some sunshine. We have still mainly been nymphing on the Upper, with a little streamer and dry fly fishing on the way. With our recent snowfall last week our snowpack for the Madison Valley is at 94%, and is supposed to rise more this upcoming week. With that being said, the flows have been raised up to 930 CFS and the river is forming into its usual summer shape. We are hoping it stays cool and that we get some more precipitation so we can maintain this flow all summer for you guys!
There are so many bugs that have been working for us in town this last week. We’ve even seen some mayflies, midges, and skwallas hatching! I have been throwing a Mega Prince, Pat’s Rubber Legs, or a Wooly Bugger as my top fly. With my bottom fly, I have been using Zebra Midges, Copper Johns, Shop Vacs, Perdigons, Three Dollar Dips, and of course a Worm. Always remember to use weight accordingly. When fishing deeper buckets you have to throw on more weight as the fish have been sitting down deep in the slower water.
The past couple days I have been throwing a streamer and it has paid off for me. It hasn’t quite hit its peak for streamers with the water still getting cold at night. I would recommend bringing your streamer rod the next time you come to the Upper Madison. With that being said, the streamers that have been working are the Peanut Envy, Sex Dungeon, Barely Legal, Silk Kitty, and the Sparkle Minnow. With our river being low and fast you can get away with throwing a floating line for these fish.
Remember to keep the fish wet and treat others with respect. Happy Mother's Day to all the awesome moms out there!
Looking for some fly tying material to create these patterns? Check out our fly tying collection online or stop by the shop! As temperatures warm up, continue to practice your best fish handling techniques. Avoid fish pictures for the gram whenever possible so that we can continue to have healthy fish populations for years to come. Give our Cold Weather Gear collection a gander to ensure that you’ve got the proper warmth to maximize your time out on the water. Tight lines, pray for snow and Go Wild!
- MTS Guide Nicko Opinsky
