We’ve had an incredible start to the summer fishing season and the news couldn’t be better…We were fortunate to have had an unusually wet and cold spring. Consequently, the hatches were put on hold and the trout didn’t get their usual opportunities to feast in June.  This weather also provided some beautifully healthy bug habit. …

For us, it’s always a countdown to the 3rd Saturday in May because it marks MT’s General Stream Opening Day, which means the famous “Channels” section of the Madison, right behind the Ranch, can be fished.  Dan Larson had the following report on opening day… With sunny upper 70’s and no wind, we geared up…

As the water temps hit 55 degrees at noon today (Saturday, May 11th) the MASS HATCH began!!! The Mother’s Day Caddis Hatch is officially in action on the Lower Madison.   Although the Hatch was on, the bite was slow.  With the sporadic cloud cover a few heads looked up to dries.  A couple of nice…

It’s no surprise that the weather in SW Montana has been swinging from heavy snow storms to calm warm days ~ It’s March after all and this has given me some great opportunities to wet a line!  I’ve been taking advantage of the warmer days to ’scope’ out the local fishing. One of my favorite holes on the Madison River has…

I haven’t fished the last ten days but the next two days will be devoted to getting an elk in the freezer. However, this weekend’s weather forecast should provide us with a few hours of fishing. We have a couple midge patterns to try and I’ll report on their effectiveness. The nights have seen temperatures…

One of the most remarkable things about The Channels and other rivers in this state is their non-exclusivity unlike so many other trophy fisheries in the western United States.  Sure, you can’t just walk right into the river at any point, but Montana’s attitude toward stream access puts an experience like the one I described…

This past spring I spent an entire crisp, clear day wandering the “Channels” section of the Madison river just outside of Ennis, MT. Scanning this broad expanse, I couldn’t help but marvel at the endless opportunities that presented themselves as I made my way downstream. Riffles, cut banks, oxbows, shelfs, pools…it was all there, every…