The Madison River in the Park is looking better every week, though water temps on the lower Gibbon and Firehole continue to be an issue.  The Gibbon is looking much better - peak water temps the past few days have been in the 60-61 range, though the Lower Fire Hole has still be running quite warm, peaking around 68 F. 

Flows today near West Yellowstone are 317 cfs at 0515, with the average for today 431 cfs, and the 20% marker 356 cfs.  She’s obviously still running quite low.

The falls runs have not moved into the river in mass,  though there are reports of browns being caught as high up as the National Park Meadows, and we landed several nice browns on streamers and BWO near 9 mile hole on Wednesday morning. 

As weather improves (Sunday looks much cooler and wet) we should see some better afternoon and evening caddis hatches, the western red quill, and more midges.  Streamers and streamer - nymph set ups will make sense on the cooler mornings and overcast days.

Terrestrials later in the day on those sunny afternoons could make sense, downsize a bit, and we like a pattern that rides a little lower in the water in the fall - not sure I can explain it but is seems to work for us. 

The  Upper Madison river in Montana below the lakes continues to fish   well - check our Madision River Reports (divided into Upper Madison and Lower Madison) at Best Fly Fishing Montana.com.(this link will take you right to the report blog).  The Upper and Lower Madison reports were updated yesterday.

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Flies to have in the box:

Dries:  Caddis - EHC, X Caddis,  - tan, olive, black;  your midge package; your attractor package; its too early but we’d have a Red Quill pattern in the box too

Nymphs: San Juan Worm, red, brown, tan; PT; BHPT; BH Hares Ear, Copper John, olive; BH Prince; Lightning bugs, gold, silver, green/olive

Terrestials: Hoppers - Grand, Whit, Dave’s, Carnage, Kicking, Hoppinator; Beetles- Fire, Foam, HiVis, Sam’s;  Ants - Chernobyl, ParaAnt, black and cinnamon, CDC Flying ant, black, brown, cinnamon; Epoxy, same colors

Streamers:  Wooly buggers and Wooly worms, brown, yellow, olive, black; Sparkle buggers, same colors; Girdle bug; Zonkers, assorted

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