News and Fishing Reports

Snowpack figures for the area have declined slightly since my last report. Current figures put the upper Henry's Fork at around 91% of average through the 24th of February. The same is true for the Montana side of the divide with the upper Madison coming in at 87%.  All things considered, these are still very good figures for this time of year. We have just reached the half way point in the winter snowpack reporting period with a full two months to go. Over the past two weeks I have received a number of calls from anglers around the area inquiring about the fishing. During the last two weeks of January there was a ten day or so period where the weather turned unseasonably warm. This provided the locals with an opportunity to get out and try their hand at some early season fishing. We had some decent reports from the Vernon Bridge to Chester section of the river. Most fishermen reported they had their best luck using tandem rigs of beadhead nymphs under an indicator. Since the first of February old man winter has not given us the same kind of break in the weather like we had in late January. There have been very few days when the weather was nice enough to temp anglers to get out on the water. The formula for success now is pretty much the same as it was last month and will remain the same for the coming month. That is, a two fly beadhead combo fished slow and deep under your favorite strike indicator ( I like the new Thingamabobbers myself). The report for the Madison over this same time period is pretty much the same except that the Madison did provide a few days of decent midge fishing allowing for some top water action on small adult midge imitations. Just a reminder, if you want to fish the Madison below Quake Lake you only have until February 28th. The season closes then and does not reopen until the third Saturday in May.