Madison River Outfitters Fishing Report 10/15/2023

The 2023 season is slowly wrapping up in the Greater Yellowstone Area 

Montana
Hebgen: The dry fly fishing on the lake is pretty much finished. Callibaetis/Chironomid nymphs should be fishing okay. When you aren't seeing fish rise it may be worth stripping leeches, larger streamers, or large damselfly nymphs in either the Grayling/Madison arms of the lake, as migratory Browns and Rainbows are for sure moving into the tributaries. 
 
Flies: #8 Black or Olive Simi Seal Leech, #6 Balanced Squirrel Leech Black, #6 Olive or Black Hot Bead Leech, #8 Thin Mint, #12 Balanced Damsel, #6 Peanut Envy Brown, #6 Sculpinator, #12 O.S. Buzzer
 
Flows:
Inflow to Hebgen Lake: 772 cfs
Hebgen Lake Outflow: 834 cfs
Kirby Flows: 875 cfs

** Flows as of 12pm October 15th, 2023 **

 
Upper Madison: Not much has changed since 10/8 :) The Madison is of course still nymphing very well. Smaller mayfly and caddis nymphs, as well as dip style midges are what we're throwing lately. Dry flies are quickly wrapping up in the valley but streamers are heating up on the upper as the weather chills. We could still see some BWO's on the rainier days however.
 
Flies: #16-18 Redneck, #16-18 Shop Vac, #18 Black Crystal Dip, #18 Olive Micro Mayfly, #18 Hogan's S&M Black, #16 Olive Hot Spot, #18 BWO Comparadun, #16 BWO CDC Comparadun, #6 Peanut Envy Brown/Olive, #4 Rio's Make it Rainbow Brown/Yellow, #6 Black Hot Bead Leech, #4 Brown Sculpinator, #4 Olive/White Barely Legal
 
YNP

Streamers & Soft Hackles are the Kings of October in YNP

Flows:
Madison near West Yellowstone: 385 cfs
Yellowstone below Yellowstone Lake : 785 cfs
Gibbon: 101 cfs
Gallatin near Big Sky: 355 cfs

** Flows as of 12pm October 15th, 2023 **

Gallatin: The Gallatin is low, clear, and cold enough that you don't need to be there before 10/11am. Dry fly eats are going to be few and far in between this time of year. We recommend nymphing small mayfly and caddis nymphs. Don't shy away from small streamers and leeches on cloudy/cold days.
 
Flies: #16-18 Shop Vac, #16-18 Black Krystal Dip, #16 Red Neck TBH, #18 Olive Zebra Midge, #18 Red Copper John, #18 $3 Dip, #8 Simi-Seal Leach Black, #6 Slump Buster Olive, #6 Hot Bead Thin Mint
 
Madison/Firehole/Gibbon: Same ol' Song and Dance! Lake run fish have finally ascended into the Madison. We're getting them pretty consistently on streamers on days with more inclement weather. Soft hackles have also been fishing well most days. The Gibbon is nymphing decent but hoppers are pretty much done here as well. Soft hackles should also be taking fish on the Firehole.
 
Flies: #8-10 Partridge and Orange, #8-10 Partridge and Pheasant Tail, #14 Prince Nymph, #16-18 Frenchie, #14 Diving Caddis, #6 Olive Slump-Buster, #6 Olive Montana Mouthwash, #8 Black or Olive Hot Bead Leech, #6 Double Bunny Olive/White, #6 Olive Slump-Buster
 
Yellowstone/NE Corner: The Yellowstone is slowing down drastically as the season continues. The Lamar and its tributaries will also start slowing down as they are at a much higher elevation than here in West. Fish should still be eating nymphs streamers and soft hackles pretty reliably however. 
 
Flies:  #16-18 Redneck, #16-18 Shop Vac, #18 Black Crystal Dip, #18 Olive Micro Mayfly, #18 Hogan's S&M Black, #16 Olive Hot Spot, #6 Black Hot Bead Leech, #6 Olive Slump-Buster, #6 Olive/Black Crystal Bugger

We are now booking float, & walk/wade trips for the 2024 season. Give us a call if you have any questions or are looking to book a guided trip.