What started out as a fairly cold season even by Montana standards has morphed into a very mild and dry mid-winter. At the moment we’re looking at a snowpack of about 73% of average with more warmish, dry weather in the forecast. Our snowiest months are still to come however so all is not lost but we’re sure keeping an eye on things as they progress. One of those things being PP&L’s flow regimen for Hebgen. As of two days ago they had the flow out of the dam at just over 1100 cfs (that is, keep in mind, higher than they ran it during the summer months) with an inflow fluctuating around 700-800cfs. They have since dropped the outflow slightly but we’re hoping that in reaction to the real-time data we are seeing with snowpack, moisture content as well as streamflow and weather forecast modeling for the remainder of the season, they hold back even more water. PP&L bases their flow protocols over the winter on NRCS forecasts and data, which try and predict weather and water resources 6 months or more in advance. A couple years ago this cost them (and us) what amounted to many feet of reservoir water with the consequence being low flows through a hot and dry summer. Hopefully they have learned from that mistake and will take into consideration some of the readily available real-time data for existing snowpack as well as updated forecasting which at the moment is calling for generally warmer and drier weather for the remainder of the winter and as well as much lower instream flows for spring and summer than we had the pleasure of last year. Don’t hold your breath, those folks aren’t exactly known for brilliance outside of their own bottom line and licensing parameters. What this means for the moment is some pretty decent fishing opportunities in the next few weeks. We’re approaching last call here for fishing on parts of the upper river. It closes upstream from McAtee Bridge as well as downstream form the Ennis Bridge here at the end of the month. There’s still, as always, plenty to go around. The Varney section tends to fish well this time of year with some of the slower, deeper holes hosting pods of sulking fish. The boats ramps at Varney, Eight Mile and Burnt Tree have remained ice-free enough to make boat use very doable in those stretches. Don’t however, try and float to town unless you’re willing to drag your lonely person boat up and over the ice cliffs still lining the banks here. I drove by the lower river on my way to Bozeman a week or two ago on one of the warmer days and saw a bunch of folks out feeding the Jones. Most were actually hooked up too so the trout must have been a bit antsy as well. Not really much in the way of dries although you may see some midge activity up near 3 Dollar or Reynolds while it’s still open. It’s still been a small nymph game for the few folks who are getting out. It’s also been a relatively calm couple weeks around here; something we don’t get to say that often and I hope I’m not jinxing it. Give us a buzz before you come over and we’ll look out the window at the treetops for you. Hopefully we can help you avoid wasting gas on a gale. In the meantime, pray for snow and pray this El Nino B.S. doesn’t stick around for too much longer. Skiing and riding are one thing but it can sure screw up a good trout season too. Maybe it’s time to burn some skis?

Stay tuned for continuing River updates!

If you are in town, stop by the shop and ask us about the right bugs and stretch of river. We’ll hook you up with the best of both. We guarantee we have the best and most innovative patterns you’ll see anywhere!

Contact us for Madison River Fishing Company's 2010 Fly Fishing Catalog featuring the best fly tackle on the market. Give us a call at 800-227-7127 or email us at mrfc@3rivers.net and we will send you a copy.

We also offer Montana fly fishing schools and Montana guide services.

TOP OF PAGE