The Madison River was one of the last stops on our summer fishing trip to Montana. Being mid-July we were even fortunate enough to hit a very late salmonfly hatch on the upper stretch along with a few evening of great caddis hatches. This video is the story of our trip.
#MontanaFlyFishing #SalmonflyHatch #RisenFly
Essential Flies:
- Elk hair caddis
- Lively Legz Double Trouble
- 3 Dollar Dip
Essential Gear:
- Risen 11' 3wt
Gear Used
• Nymph Rod
• Dry Fly Rod
• Scientific Angler MPX Line - amzn.to/2Gpipli
• Leader Material
o Maxima Chameleon - amzn.to/37setwb
o Amnesia sighter - amzn.to/3aIR7nU
• Cortland Tippet - amzn.to/2Rn5ruM
• Fly Storage
o Dry Fly box - amzn.to/2TRZJme
o Nymph Box - amzn.to/2sWi3Qj
o Streamer Box - amzn.to/2vkXuhe
o Working Fly Box - amzn.to/2RpUhFE
o Extra Fly Storage - amzn.to/2sYSMoC
• Waterproof Camera Bag - amzn.to/38AVEqF
• Wading Staff - amzn.to/2GkBdSP
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My father and I started traveling out to Montana in 2004 from Washington before I moved here in 2012. He had fished the western Montana rivers and was looking forward to some Madison River browns this year. He passed suddenly in October and as I watch your videos of father, son, brothers and friends the amazing memories of our adventures come rushing back. Someday your videos will be precious family treasures, thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much for commenting. You have no idea how meaningful it is to hear that
My stepdaughter and I stayed at the slide inn. We fished right there pl us 3 dollar bridge, lyons, and at ennis. Buggers during the day and cadis in the evening. This was in July 2003 with lots of 16 to 20 inch fish. God I wish Becky was still alive to go back with me again, but she will still be there in my heart!
Thank God for the internet and we can watch all these fly fishing videos from America 🇺🇸 and Canada 🇨🇦 as we can’t get out to fish due to the lockdown over here in Scotland 🏴 and it’s busting my chops so stay safe and tight lines when we can get back out ✊ love from the Jocks 🏴🇬🇧
Really glad that our videos have helped to you fight some of that cabin fever! Hopefully this all ends soon. Be well and stay safe out there!
Nice to see a Father and Son enjoying time together. Treasure that time & thanks for sharing the experience.
We owe so much to our Dad. He's an incredible outdoorsman and has passed his passion for fly fishing, hunting, and just being outside to all four of his kids. Thanks for commenting!
My first time fishing in Montana was at that first spot. I was tying a fly on and looked up to see a bull moose bigger than I ever thought possible. It was probably 15 yards from me on the bank, and I just about pissed myself while running for the islands to hide. It walked towards me a bit but veered off... I'll never forget that.
That is a great memory!!! Thanks so much for sharing!
Wow...that's crazy....you never know in Montana & Wyoming....what your going to see
Really enjoyed this film 🏴
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!
Gotta love Ennis, my home away from home.
Hi, George here from Edinburgh Scotland love your videos. At the bench tying fly for upcoming season at starts in March. Will be fishing the Deveron my favourite river, the Tweed and the Spey this year. Also going way up north to hit 41 hill lochs at Forsinard fly fishing club. God you and your family.
Sounds like you have some great plans for this season! Thank you for the nice comment!
Wow one big riffle.. love the scenery!
Nice to see you giving the Whitefish a little love. Most people don't realize that they are a native fish to our streams in Montana, unlike the rainbow and brown trout. Too many people think they are a garbage fish just because they aren't trout.
Agreed! They're a good sign that the river is healthy. Plus they fight pretty well and are still fun to catch!
Gday from Oz! Great job on the video. I'm a Minnesota/Wyoming Country boy who fell in love with an Aussie Sweetheart 20 plus years ago. I still dream of the Western Skies. Stay cool bro, Dan
Thanks for commenting Dan. Hope this video brought back some good memories!
I grew up fishing and floating the Madison as a kid every other weekend. It is a fantastic river... I miss it. It has been two decades since I have fished outside the park on the river.
Sounds like you're overdue then! Hope you get the opportunity/time to get out there again soon. Tight lines!
Your videos on your Montana trip may be a couple years old but they have lots of good info which I will use... thanks. Also I deduced you are PA guys.. and heard you mention George Daniel... so you've learned your craft on some of best streams in the east... keep doing it.
Nicely done!
Great video capturing the moments or your trip. Looked like a blast with your dad. You guys know how to release the fish the right way. Great job.
Awesome Video!! Loved it!
Unreal series , cherish those moments ! Im always impressed by your content, You guys are also so inspirational , I started fly fishing from watching your videos …. Thanks a lot friend
Phenomenal video guys. Well done!
Thanks a lot Allie! Keep the great content coming on your channel as well!
Thank you for sharing and taking all of us along with you. Really good job. It's inspired me to make the trip myself.thank you.
Hope you have a great trip! Thanks for watching
Thanks for sharing...that was great.
Lovely fishing great scenery & what lovely memories for you all loved watching 🙂🎣
Thank you for the nice comment! Glad you enjoyed the video.
Beautiful scenery. Enjoyed the video.
Thanks for the video. I started going to Ennis back in 2001 (20 yr reunion next year) and just love it. Home-away-from-Home. Started taking my son about 5 years ago and like you mention, love the memories. Can’t wait for this years trip.
This is incredibly beautiful ...just WOW!
Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching!
Some beautiful scenery and some beautiful trout as well nicely done
Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching!
Great series on Montana boys looking forward to future adventures.
Glad you enjoyed the series! Plenty of adventures to come!
Great job on all your videos. Always look forward to your next one
Glad you enjoyed the video! Plenty more to come. Thanks for watching!
great vid, fun to watch. what a great trip, especially cool to do with your dad.
Great Montana trip, I have made the same area trip myself, what a place, forsure. Hope to make it back again. Those trips with your dad will be the most important for you later in life, my dad is gone now, but those trips and memories live on! Never forget! Thank you
So true.. I'll always habe the great memories from this trip. Thank you for the nice comment!
Great-Time...Montana after wintertime such a beautiful place if you like nature & the outdoors.
Seems like it is even really nice during the winter! Our cousin who lives in Missoula loves walking out in the snow. Just beautiful!
Great video and scenery. I was especially interested in seeing you catch fish on the Double Trouble as it is one of my favorite. It is a productive pattern and fun to tie as well.
Very good pattern! Worked well for us out West!
Your videos are very well done. I feel like I was almost there with you. Pa and Montana !!! Life is good. Esp. with your dad.
It's awesome to share a hobby with your Dad. He really is the reason we love the sport as much as we do
Being winter in Maine, your videos have me reminiscing the countless hours I spend on the water every year. Great video, keep em coming 👍
Editing these videos have been helping me with cabin fever here in PA for sure! Not too much fishing we can do with all the snow and ice here. Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching!
Great video! I appreciate your mention of flies and sizes. Helps us to learn.
Glad that you found it helpful. Thank you for watching!
Great day on the water. Thanks for the entertaining video.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!
Backyard Angling That was a fantastic trip especially that you could share with your dad. I’m headed to the Uinta Mountains (UT) this summer to fish brookies and cutthroats in some beautiful freestone streams. Lot of trout, lots of wildlife and lots of outdoors.
Loved this one! Gorgeous brown!!
Glad you enjoyed, Lisa! Thank you for watching!
Sweet trip
Thanks for watching!
Back in 1980 I got to spend two weeks on the Henrys Fork in Idaho and the Madison above Enis. I would rate it as the best fly fishing trip I have ever been on. I would fish the Green Drake hatch at Island Park, when the hatch stopped I would run into West Yellowstone have lunch then on down the Madison and fish the salmon fly hatch until my arms were so tired I couldn't hold them up. WOW, what a trip..I can testify that the wildest Rainbows in the world live in the Madison River.
Ha! The Salmon Fly hatch on the Upper Madison is not overrated when you catch a 22 inch brown on a chubby chernobyl! They are in there and typically only hit dries during the Salmon Fly hatch. It can be difficult to time, though. A Henry's Fork Salmon Fly pattern works really well up there too and always have some Pat's Rubberlegs.
We hope to have the chance to fish it someday! Just have heard it can be kind of hit or miss at times. But i bet it is awesome to have a huge fish slam a big dry!
Hi from Ireland I'm a huge fan of your channel. It must be amazing to be able to fish in Montana I'm so jealous lol . Looking forward to your next visit.
We are so blessed to have the opportunity to fish out there! Thanks for watching!
Planning a trip myself this summer 👍🏽
You won't regret it! Amazing memories
Your best video. Really good. Keep up the good work.
Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching!
Beautiful country!
It truly is! Thanks for watching!
Cool fishing 👍
Thanks 👍
Thanks for great fishing video and great ideas for a future trip I hope to make to Montana. I live in south central Pa and it would seem what we learn fishing in Pa and surrounding states will work anywhere trout swim.
No doubt! We think it's harder to catch fish in PA. If you can catch fish well here you can catch fish out west for sure!
So good! Looks like you guys had an awesome trip. I fished the first section you were at on the Madison. We’ll swap stories next time I see you.
Yes! We need to get out and fish sometime soon!
Cinematic or not I think you guys put out some great content and I really enjoy watching.
Thank you for the kind words! Really glad you enjoy our videos!
Good job! Good film! That nymphing nirvana water can take you for a spill ! Good effects in the video! That area between the lakes is gorgeous...but definitely has some white fish. Tight lines in 2020!
We had a couple of scares wading there for sure! This is only the second time I've fished the Madison but after that first year we told ourselves never to fish it without a wading staff. That helped for sure but still not foolproof! My dad has a friend that lives out there and if he goes fishing by himself he always wears a life jacket. Thanks for the support, Craig!
I'm just getting into fly fishing, haven't even caught a fish yet but I love your videos. I plan on going up to Missoula this summer. Not a ton of trout opportunities in Nebraska. I'll start with bluegill and go from there.
That's how everyone learns! Grab some elk hair caddis and and some poppers and get to it!
Best of luck to you! It is a great hobby!
Glad you guys enjoyed yourself! Sorry if it was a bit lackluster for you on the Madison, but the scenery this summer was unrivaled. Late year for sure. Hell, we had to dodge mud plugs on the Yellowstone in August.
Wish we could go back sooner rather than later! It was neat seeing everything in that later stage since I've never been out there that early in the year. Can't wait to get back out!
My favorite river to fish. I camped near Lyons bridge for 5 weeks in 2020 and I'm familiar with all the spots in your videos of the upper river, including between the lakes. Going back there for another 5 weeks this year... my 29th year in a row. There are plenty of larger fish in that river, but I enjoy catching them in all sizes.
Wow, you probably know the place very well then! Such a great place to fish, between the beautiful scenery and quality trout! Glad you enjoyed the video. thanks for watching!
@@BackyardBassin I have my favorite places and each year I scout new ones. I don't fish downstream below Palisades. I agree that the scenery is breathtaking. I live in Colorado next to the mountains and I still find the ones around the Madison beautiful. Paradise Valley is another spectacular place. Though, wading the Yellowstone River is less fun.
Great video. I just subscribed. Keep up the great job.
Used to fly fish there 40 years ago. Still looks the same.
We caught a bunch of small fish on the Madison too! Strong rainbows tho
Great videos dude! I just spent 3 months in that great state and am trying to find a way to go back, wish I had filmed like you guys had, but so many great memories. Hey, maybe I'll see you guys when you go back haha
We took lots of pictures and video and they are things that I still go back and look at. I guess it just gives you an excuse to go back!
@@BackyardBassin Haha yeah that's what I'm saying! Cheers man
Im somewhat new to fly fishing but i love your video. Would be nice if you showed the fly as well as told the name though. Just a suggestion. Thanks for sharing !
great fishy film . Well done
Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching!
On the topic of salmon fly hatches, you gotta hit that hatch in the first few days. The trout are so gorged after a few days, that they’ll pass up salmon flies once they get too full. Kinda one of those hatches you need to be living near the river you’re fishing, to hit it right on time.
Great trip and wonderful memories for sure. How many days were you on the water during your Montana trip?
I'd say about 5 days for dad and Doug and i (Dan) fished about 14. It was a great trip!
I know that moose. I was guiding between the lakes and my client says to me calmly "oh wow! A moose". Noped the hell out of there. I am more scared of those suckers than bears.
Also, with the salmonfly. The hatch is hit or miss. You really have to be either below them or above them (in terms of where the hatch is going off). If you're right in them, you won't get much of anything on top. The fish typically gorge themselves on the nymphs and it can be really frustrating and shut down the fishing. I have caught so many fish during the hatch where I can feel their bellies crawling with nymphs. The fish this year and past years have been so much more receptive to eating smaller golden stones during the salmonfly hatch. The Madison can be a weird and tricky place, but once you have a 40 fish day with all fish around the 17" mark all on dry flies, you never want to fish anywhere else. I could talk about the weird habits of these fish forever, and how one little thing could have got y'all into a ton more fish! Regardless, y'all killed it and it looked like an amazing time on the Madison.
Agreed! We heard moose attack more people than bears. And a 40 fish day on dries sounds incredible. Especially on big western dries
The salmon fly hatch between the lakes produces giant browns. I’ve had some of my best days throwing a big rogue salmon followed by a hedgehog. Keep the rogue floating and drown the hedgehog and you’ll get some toilet flush hits on some of the biggest browns you’ll ever see. They get really fat from being in quake lake all winter and run up stream all summer
Hoping to get a shot at fishing the salmon fly hatch someday!
Is this on the Madison?
Yes the Madison between quake and hebgen lakes. Look up bob jacklyn fish of a lifetime. He’s fishing the same stretch. It’s only about a 4 mile section and it has some giant trout. I was a guide around that area for a few years. Mostly in Idaho on the south fork of the snake river but I spent an entire summer camped at the same campground that @back yard anglers stayed at just outside ennis. The river near the campground has a ton of little islands and is a great place to take small kids since it’s easier to wade. I miss Montana that’s for sure
It is ironic that in the time of KZhead, many rivers that used to be truly gems, with large trout, are now a mere shadow of their previous reality, due to massive pressure and in some cases from degragation of the headwaters due to development. The videos we see these days reflect the reality that many rivers are a mere shell of thier previous selves. Small fish, and not very often...
The Upper Madison is just a finicky river. Of course, it has seen more pressure than ever before but regulations will be changing on the Madison. Although pressure has increased on these Montana rivers and streams they still sport healthy populations of wild trout and are in excellent condition relative to years past.
The Madison and Yellowstone are great rivers. The Gallatin below Bozeman is great.
I fished the Yellowstone many many years ago but would love to fish it again, as well as the Gallatin, which I've never fished.
I would love to have a few great feeds of moose in the pan plus a few trout with potatoes.
My dad never saw me take up fly fishing. I wonder what he'd have thought 🤔 ...
Nice video guys! My videos are all in Idaho but I need to head out there this summer. Nice vid! Sub here
Nice! We wanna go to Idaho soon. Checking out your channel now!
Nice video awsome nature great fishing with your dad 👍👊👍 Abonnement it for sure 🐾
love this, i used to fish up by yellowstone there a few years ago. I agree with the salmon fly hatch being a little over rated. That is super productive so they dont key in super hard on any hatches. As far as i am concerned the salmon fly hatch is only exceptional on the bitteroot in montana. Anyway, i love watching you guys on the missouri and madison. It reminds me of college. great quality videos
also a fun fact for this and your previous video on the missouri. The bigger trout will be in the shallower faster waters. The oxygen levels even in july sometimes force them shallow. I would guess that was your problem with catching size in this one. Nice to see whitefish though, that means the water was still cold. Probably mid july? anyway, great vids
Thanks for sharing, Matt! Really glad this was able to bring back some nice memories from college for you!
Yep! We were there about mid-July.
A good reminder that if your willing to pay for a good expierienced guide on the Madison & other Montana / Wyoming rivers you can save yourself a lot of time & hook into many more big fish....not Interested in those little ones...I like the challenge of 14 - 18 inch trout....but hard to beat the beautiful country & wildlife
One worked when you caught that first white fish
As someone who has been fortunate enough to hit the salmonfly hatch perfectly on the Madison...it is def overrated, def don’t try and come, huggggeeee waste of time
Mike M haha nice
You tried too hard.
As boring as it gets
How do you like the 23ps?
Very nice rod! Can't beat the price point either. It seemed to handle large a d hard fighting fish with ease. Highly recommended!
That moose looked a little close for comfort.
to avoid the small fish and whities put down the nymphs.. If there are adult stones around the big fish will take them, you might have to work hard and cover lots of water but you will get them.. you also need to be out at 6 am for caddis, 10 am pmds 1 pm stone flies 6 pm til dark or even after dark, caddis... dry flies all day...
I can appreciate some high sticking. But if the salmon flies are out and about you dry up and match that hatch.
Question - if you don't see bugs on the water or fish rising, do you still fish a salmonfly on top to intice one to come to the surface? I want to make sure I'm prepared for next time
Backyard Angling I would. If you find hatched adults then some are on the water or have been recently. The fish are obviously in love with such large snacks. If you find that you are catching the smaller fish that might not even be able to take a salmon fly then the bigger fish are full of salmon flies but would like to make room for 1 more salmon fly. Just like with a summertime hopper you can entice a fish to eat, and with hoppers or salmon flies it’s going to be a bigger fish most often. Fish a “ hopper/ dropper” or in this case a Salmon fly with a dropper.
Hey Backyard...what's with the explanation of every single move you should make(as if the listener doesn't know)...many of us have done this many times before ;-)
I'm an engineer - if you don't explain your plan and what exactly you did, then it never happened. :) Thanks for watching!
4:00 I know that spot so well, absolutely amazing place to fish.
Agreed! Thanks for watching!
Yinz guys gotta yinzer accent N at.
Haha I do think there is a hint of yinzer in there, or Pittsburghese if you will lol
Sofa Pillow!
Can you tell me what kind of tent you were using and how well it performed for you. It looked comfortable and easy to erect. My wife and I love that area and we are looking for a larger tent we can stand up in to change clothes. Our 3 man Northface is a great tent, never leaks, handles high winds but in our sixties its tough to get dressed lying down.
This tent is an REI, although I'm not sure on the particular model. We got it specifically for the almost vertical walls which allows for our cots to fit easily. It handles high winds pretty well too although during a storm in Fort Smith one of the poles did get slightly bent. All in all its a very nice tent!
Hey guys fished all the same water over the last 4 years with the same small fish issues. My solution for all the Montana rivers, contact Matt Hyde at Hyde drift boats and have him build us a boat. This summer will tell the tail.
The salmon flies are in freefall. Unfortunately. Nobody wants to talk about it. But they are.
your audio is coming only from one side
A good video..but the Text pop-ups were very annoying.
Classic Move........ The one time of year to catch the biggest trout in the river on the biggest dry flies you can throw, and you get caught nymphing because it's "productive". If you see shucks and adult salmonflies and you're not throwing a dry you are definitely missing out.
You live and you learn.
Question - if you don't see bugs on the water or fish rising do you still fish a dry to try and intice one to the surface? What is the success rate of that?
@@BackyardBassin Yes. Stonefly hatches are different from mayfly hatches. When mayflies are hatching, the nymphs are swimming to the surface and using the surface film to hatch off the top of the water. That's where your rise forms come from. Stoneflies crawl to the bank. Even if a trout only sees 10 big adults a day, it's enough to make him fully aware of the situation. But you have to fish the ambush spots with nothing but a single dry..... No dropper garbage, just a single dry
@@BigFishOff Good info there, Jake! Although I have had days on the Gallatin and Madison where I've grabbed several live salmon flies, threw them in the water, and...nothing. I've read that the best way to fish that hatch is to fish the nymph stage 3-4 days prior to the hatch -- up against the bank as they are crawling to shore. But, sounds like you've had success.
You found out the Madison is hard wading lol "three dollar bridge" should have went above quake lake much easier bigger fish central penna has as many
First time if fished it back in 2017 I told myself I would not go back without a wading staff!
If you haven't been on the water when there are thousands of salmonflys all over the water. You're missing out! The fish go absolutely bonkers because they have limited time to eat them and when they do they fucking gorge themselves on them.. same with Skwala Stones
I'd love to see that!
why so small. Over fishing? Water quality? Definitely not what I would have thought.
Nymphing with topwater action in MT is a crime
Mid-July and you're nymphing? Okay. Dry fly weather baby, if you're chasing trout. Nymphs are a whitefish magnet at that time of year. LOL No Stimulators? And yes, the Madison does get lots of pressure. I can't figure out why.
There is a BIRD riding on that moose's back...look again. Also record this stuff in 4K...you will be glad later.
Haha I'll have to look closer. I never noticed! Wish our cameras could do 4k, unfortunately the SonyA6000 can't. Thanks for the suggestion though. Something to look for in our next camera
Backyard Angling I
size matters
Seems like a very overrated river
Dude, keep the fish out of the water in shorter time. It's not all about you.
I think you'd be hard pressed to find a single instance in this video where one of the fish we caught is out of the water for greater than 8 seconds. That is even a conservative estimate on my part. I shoot in 60 and 120 fps so a clip that might appear as 10 seconds is actually 5 or even 2.5 seconds in real time. Thanks for your concern and thank you for watching
@@BackyardBassin Awesome video, I really enjoyed it! And I think you and your father's fish handling skills are outstanding.
Always thought the Madison was known for big fish and lots of them…I’m not that impressed
use a salmon fly the bigger fishwill eat them stop using a nymph white fish will beat trout to your nymph.