So far most of western Montana is looking really good for snow levels. The Madison river drainage is a little light but we still have lots of time left. All of the other rivers that we fish have above average snowpacks in their drainages. When there is plenty of snow across western Montana, mid-summer fishing tends to be good even on the rivers that don't have dams. On a good water year anglers are spread out, the fish are happy and floating is easier. On years that we get below average snowpack, rivers like the Madison, Missouri, Beaverhead and Bighorn usually still fish well because they have lakes to keep them flowing high and cool all summer. On these years our freestone rivers like the Jefferson, Yellowstone and Ruby can fish a little tough in late July and August. The Madison river is surrounded by freestone rivers so a low water year can drive traffic to the Madison from the Yellowstone and Jefferson drainages. Overall widespread ample snow levels keep people spread out and expands our variety of good fisheries beyond the Madison river.
Snow pack information is also very useful in terms of planning to hit a specific hatch or avoid runoff. The duration of our runoff is dependent on snow levels and weather. Insect hatches are determined by water temperatures which also depend on how quickly the cool waters from snow melt begin to warm. In general, above average snowpack will push both hatches and runoff later into the season. On the Madison river runoff usually hits in late may and lasts through early June but on a high water year it may continue until late June. Likewise, the Madison river salmon fly hatch is usually over by July 10th but on a high water year I have seen salmon flies around into the first days of August. You can follow the current snow levels for the Madison river and other drainages or just give me a call and by early spring I can usually give you an idea of what we can expect water levels to look like throughout the summer.
Snow pack information is also very useful in terms of planning to hit a specific hatch or avoid runoff. The duration of our runoff is dependent on snow levels and weather. Insect hatches are determined by water temperatures which also depend on how quickly the cool waters from snow melt begin to warm. In general, above average snowpack will push both hatches and runoff later into the season. On the Madison river runoff usually hits in late may and lasts through early June but on a high water year it may continue until late June. Likewise, the Madison river salmon fly hatch is usually over by July 10th but on a high water year I have seen salmon flies around into the first days of August. You can follow the current snow levels for the Madison river and other drainages or just give me a call and by early spring I can usually give you an idea of what we can expect water levels to look like throughout the summer.
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