Madison River (Hebgen to Lyon Bridge)

[fishappy]

I am planning a trip up to the Madison June 13th-16th with my dad and grandad. I have been up there once last year and didn't do to well but people around me were killing them. This time I want to be prepared with a decent fly selection to have a chance at some good sized fish. My grandad doesn't flyfish (too bad) so if anybody knows what size-color of lures to use that would be helpful also. Anybody with any suggestions on what to be prepared with as far as flys go would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and a big thanks to Mike and Jason for this awesome site.
Fishappy.

[pinetree]

I fished the madison last year about that time (Mid June). We had a great trip. We caught most our fish on a gold ribbed hairs ear. We were using size 12-14. In the morning and evening there was a great caddis fly hatch and we were cathing them on the top with 14 olive elk hair caddis. We were fishing below the reynolds pass bridge.

[LandGuppy]

I also fished the Madison about that time last year. I went with a guide, and we had the day of a lifetime. My wife and I each caught over 50 in 8 hours on the water. Mostly browns and bows and a few whitefish, nothing under 16".
Midge and caddis patterns worked best. Most action came on princes, brassies, disco midges, and the only dries we ever fished were X-caddis and salmonflies. If you're lucky enough to hit the salmonflies while you're there, get ready for fearless takes and rodeo-style fishing. Even if the hatch isn't there, try one anyway if you're bored. You won't catch as many, but you could net a serious football. Sometimes I think big trout can't pass up a large, easy meal, even when naturals aren't around.

[flyfshr8]

Fished around McAtee bridge about three weeks ago and picked up some very nice rainbows on traditional stuff. Beadhead Prince size 16 and red San Juan. If you can get in it, go for the West Fork camp ground across the the old kirby fishing bridge by the slide. Lure fish with size D7F Rapala, all colors (Rainbow, Perch, etc.) Roostertail spinners too. Have fun!

[Larry S.]

Why don't you contact http:// www.budlillys.com and get on their email list for fishing reports?

The one I recieved yesterday has just what you are looking for.

[fishappy]

Thanks- I didn't know budlillys offered an email list. I will sign up for it right now. Thanks for the good info so far- this trip is going to be a blast.

[wellsw]

You might also check flyfishingyellowstone.com. It is the sight for Madison River Outfitters. I like their reports because they are very detailed. I will be heading up there on thursday for Memorial Day weekend. This time of year I usually use a #8 Brown silly leg stone fly with a # 16 prince nymph as a dropper. I've had success with that combination in june as well. I know around the time you will be up there you can do good with some Elk hair caddis. But also watch for a stone fly hatch If you hit it, it will be awesome.

[crimedog]

I have been fishing the Maddison in that section since I was a little kid. And even now I do not fish it with a fly rod. The best lure for that river is a Perch Rapala count down. That will knock the fish dead all day long. The only downside is when you snag your out 4-5 dollars. But get him half a dozen of those and he will be in heaven.

[Greg M]

ugggggg...I don't know you...I don't know you...I don't know you...

Damn, it didn't work, I can still remember crimedog throwing those gut wrenchers into the river, and his forked stick being full of nice browns...enough to give a guy nightmares.

As for me I swore off those things after getting one of the treble hooks embedded in the meaty part of my thumb about 5 years ago in Yellowstone.

Fishing with the family in a rented boat on Yellowstone lake, to crowded for the fly rod, so we used spinning gear and rapalas looking for the Yellowstone cutts. Well on about the third cast I hooked into a big cutt and worked him to the boat. When I got him there I gently held him around the belly while I worked the hook out with my other hand, much like I would when taking out a fly.

Well I forgot that those damn rapalas have multiple hooks on them, and they are as big as a 16 gage needle, you know the big needles that they stick in a women’s belly to check the amniotic fluid.

Well that hook went DEEP into the lower thumb right near the ball of my hand, all the way to the point the three hooks diverge. Nothing to do then but try to bend down the barb and back the hook out. Did not work, finally I cut off the barb side and removed the rapala from my hand. I vowed then never to touch one of those things again.

So what did I learn? Rapalas are EVIL and a nice size 18 or 20 fly hook is your friend. (they don't hurt nearly as bad when you embed those in your hand)

Greg

[Jason B]

I fish spin geat occasionally and tryed out of desperation on day the infamous Banjo Minnow. I have never had so many fish hit my minnow. The way the hooks are on them make it harder to hook a trout than say a bass. But i have tryed them on the lower provo right above Olmstead diversion dam and done great.

[Larry S.]

......Then you are going to love the Boomerang! Seen it advertized today on the Outdoors Channel. ;^)

[MOKE]

I thought I logged into Utah on the Fly....but I guess I hit the button for Bubba Lure Chuckers instead. :) :) :) :) :) LOLOLOL

Crimedog.....I don't know you, I don't know you, I don't know you!

Greg M......sounds like you are a confirmed non-hardware user! OUCH! At least I hope you got to feel it flop around for a moment...instant karma! (ouch and just kidding!)Ouch, Ouch, Ouch! I shoved a phillips head screwdriver into that same area, so I can relate.
Yes...a size 20 fly hook is slightly easier to remove than a barbed meat hook, even if it still has the barb.

Theres something about a forked stick that strikes dread in my soul...are those thing still legal?

OUT...MOKE

[crimedog]

Excuse me I pinch down the barbs on all my lures. and yes a forked stick is legal but good chain is even better. that way you can stick em through the gills and have em sit in the water a little longer. haha

[1fly]

Greg M

I know you swore off of them, so this is for everyone else.

Yellowstone National Park Fishing Regulations

A.2. General Tackle and Bait Restrictions
c. Lures may only have one hook. The hook may be single, double, or treble....

Rapalas with two treble hooks are not allowed in Yellowstone. Maybe Moke was right about karma.

[crimedog]

Even on the maddison I have always taken the first trebble hook off. not sure if it's the regulation. but we do remove them.

[MOKE]

I'm gonna back Crimedog up on this. I gave these guys a real ration of fly fisher crap, a long time ago and they have removed a hook set and debarbed everything since.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NECESSARY!!, for this type of fishing!
There is WAY too much second hook body damage with rapalas and similar lures.

I do like to rib people about this tactic, but I have to also say that these guys kick my hiner everytime I'm around them! Good thing? I've learned some mean streamer techniques in my attempts to keep up with them!

IMHO coffee grinder reels are a hassle of twisted line and loops poping off the spool...and that whirring noise of the spinning spool / bail....A mild form of torture! Spools falling off....all sorts of hassles here!

MOKE revelation time....I'm an ace with coventional casting equip't. as well.
I do a lot of coastal "Boiler Head" fishing for Calico Bass. This is basically pulling up next to rocks along the coastline that have surf rolling over them.
Usually you catch 5# Calico Bass.....Sometime a 60# white seabass or a 50# yellowtail. Spinning reels sort of explode in this type of fishing, and Fly Rods are way to out of control when you need one hand on the helm.

I'm rambling again....

OUT...MOKE

OOPS sort of forgot about Greg there...I've led him down many questionable dark alleys in his impressionable daze...so I'll take ALL the blame.
MOKE

[Greg M]

While I am a confessed fly fish fanatic I have at times thrown out the spinning gear, but not with Rapalas, they are still EVIL.

First, when fishing with the little one's at the local trout pond.

Second, when fishing off the coast for sea bass or Yellow Tail.

I was introduced to the Yellow Tail a few years back, MOKE and I took off out of Dana Point harbor and headed to the open ocean between the coast and Catalina.

After puttering around looking for the telltale signs of feeding fish, the ocean really does boil at times, we found a likely spot. With the instruction to simply cast the BIG OL lure into the middle of the boil and wait I started to fish. After a few casts the line suddenly went tight, the rod bent towards the water and the reel begin to scream...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

I turned to MOKE and asked, "what the hell do I do now?" as the fish took my line out fast enough that I think I could have done some barefoot skiing behind it.

Somehow I got the fish under control and worked it back to the boat, where he was admired and then released.

(MOKE had already kept one for that afternoon’s barbeque) (Yes, I don't always follow catch and release)

The point of all this rambling is that I was very glad to have a stout casting rig that day, I hate to think what a "small" 25lb Yellow Tail would have done to me on a fly rod.