Salmon Fly Hatch 2008 Update

As I alluded to in my previous post, the Salmon Fly hatch has finally arrived in full force.  On the Gallatin, swarms of these aquatic delicacies are flying through the Big Sky Canyon area.  The head of the hatch is located around Jack Smith Bridge and has not quite made its way up to the stoplight for Rt. 64, the Big Sky Spur.  Last night was absolutely epic, a true blessing, and ultimately, one of my most productive days fishing on a river.  The night was beautiful, the air crisp, and the fish hungry.  Salmon Flies, Yellow Sallies, Caddis, and various Mayflies all blotted out the skies, as I was able to view firsthand the glory, and the most grandiosely elemental exposition of a river’s life cycle.  I fished a 9’ 4x Rio Leader with a size 8 orange Catpuke tied off the end and dropped a size 8 black Girdlebug two to three feet below on Rio 5x Flouro tippet.  Killer combo…if you are in the area, don’t fish with anything else for the next four days. 

On the Madison, the head of the hatch has reached Palisades, moving its way up from Ruby and McAtee Bridge.  The hatch has been heavy, really kicking off by mid-day when air and water temperatures rise to optimal conditions.  The river is fishing very well, and expounded by thick Caddis falls, trout have been feeding with continual aggression.  Try fishing from six o’clock on; you will avoid most of the tourist “dear-but-square” fisherman, and arrive deep in the thick of the evening Caddis fall.