By early July, summer is in full swing and water levels are stabilizing. For the next few months, we have access to more trickles, creeks, rivers and lakes within a hundred mile radius than one can fish in ten lifetimes.

Summertime is dry fly time. Big Sky Anglers takes pride in the art of dry fly fishing and we try our hardest not to stare at strike indicators all day. One can expect to find abundant hatches of PMD’s, Caddis, several species of Drakes and Stoneflies throughout the summer months.

Starting mid-July to early August, Callibaetis mayflies begin hatching on local still waters, most notably Hebgen Lake. It’s here you will find the famous “gulpers.” These rainbows and brown cruise the surface audibly inhaling cripples duns and spinners. This type of angling is not for everyone as it can be very technical, but the rewards are many of this unique fishing experience. One must be able to double haul 50 feet of line with great accuracy to catch these fish on “tough” days. A great day combines gulper fishing in the morning and a short float or wade trip in the afternoon if the wind comes up on the lake.

Terrestrials play a huge part in daily fishing as summer progresses. Grasshoppers, ants and beetles all find their way to the river and trout love them! Some years we fish hoppers well into the Indian summer days of October.

For us, nothing says summer like a day wet-wading across a backcountry creek or an afternoon float on the Madison with good company.