Late July in SW Montana

Summer weather and heavy irrigation demands are changing the fishing picture in SW Montana.

Streams are lower and water temperatures higher on many area rivers. You might consider earlier morning starts and finishing your day earlier in the afternoon.

The Big Hole is dropping daily and water temperatures are high enough that by about 2:00pm you will find the dry fly action slowing down. You can still pull fish off the bottom with nymphs.

The Jefferson is still floatable and again fishes well early morning till mid afternoon. Hoppers off the banks will bring fish to the surface.

The Madison is about normal for mid summer. Fish smaller dry flies such as the elk hair caddis in sizes 12 and 14. Nymphingn is always a good choice on the Madison when water temps are up and the skys are cloudless.

The Beaverhead one of the few rivers in SW Montana that is running high. Irrigators need water for their hay fields so the Beav is about 750 cfs. However this is not affecting fishing. Use small nymphs and you will do very well.

Good luck