Jefferson River, MT Fishing Report

Not your best option right now. River is pretty dirt and rising. If you must get out there, I would throw the largest streamers you have in your box and San Juan Worms. We will keep you posted when it starts to fish better. Flies: #6 Prince Nymph, #6 Pat's Stone, #8 Wire Worm,#4 J.J. Special #6 Home Invader White, #4 Circus Peanut Olive, #4 Yellow Yummy

The Jefferson can be an interesting option in the early spring. It is best to stop at just one or two productive early season runs and spend some time nymphing slow seams that hold a lot of trout. The standard spring patterns that work on the Lower Madison also work on the Jeff.

Pretty iced over on the Jefferson. Things won't get going on the Jefferson until about mid April. We will keep you posted when we thaw out.

Jefferson River~ 1019cfs near Twin Bridges. The Jefferson River is not an option, as it is under several feet of ice.

The Jefferson gets significant ice shelves in the winter but these still haven't developed and the Jeff should be still producing some nice options. We haven't been over there recently but I bet it is pretty decent right now. This will be off the market as soon as some colder nights make ice more of a problem.

The Jefferson gets significant ice shelves in the winter but these still haven't developed and the Jeff should be still producing some nice options. We haven't been over there recently but I bet it is pretty decent right now. This will be off the market as soon as some colder nights make ice more of a problem.

Water temperatures on the Jefferson are great right now and this is a nice fall option. A good day on the Jeff won't produce the numbers on some other rivers due to the lower trout density but it is a good place to find solitude and some nice sized average trout. This is also a good location to pull streamers the size of your forearm in hopes of roping a stud brown.

If you have been wanting to hit "The Jeff", now is the time. Dry dropper, nymphs, and streamers have all been good. Nymphs:

Jimmy Legs #4-#10, Pat's Rubberlegs #4-#10, San Juan Worms #10, Lightning Bugs #14-#16 Streamers:

Sex Dungeon, Marcum's Butte Rat, Double Screamer Dries:

Black Magic, Chubby Chernobyl, Donkey Kong Hopper, Morrish Hopper, Ants

Fishing is decent Temps are much of an issue with temps in the 60's. Water is at 379 cfs wich is low for the year. Hatches are still happening Hoopers, mayflies, bwos, and nymphing is a good option but tought until moss clears up.

The water temps on the Jeff are now in great shape and the good fishing extends beyond the early morning. The flows are still very low from irrigation but the last cuttings of alphalpha are coming soon and when the head gates close water levels will bump back up. This will be improving by the day and should elevate in status as the fall extends onwards.

Ok fishing and the water is running slow. Water heats up quickly. Best bite is in the early morning and try to use hoopers. Watch out for the temperature and do not stress the fish out.

Get on early and off at noon on the Jefferson. We have had good fishing early and when I say early I mean 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. You can fish a Chubby early or a streamer and focus your time fishing the riffle water and tail outs of runs. Water temperatures have been exceeding 70 degrees on the Jefferson so I would keep your fishing to the first third of the day.

Get on early and off at noon on the Jefferson. We have had good fishing early and when I say early I mean 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. You can fish a Chubby early or a streamer and focus your time fishing the riffle water and tail outs of runs. Water temperatures have been exceeding 70 degrees on the Jefferson so I would keep your fishing to the first third of the day.

Fishing is good in the early morning with hoppers. Must fish early! Water Temps get critical in early afternoon. After am its no good. The water temp make it for morning fishery.

Nymphing has become very hard with all the moss. Streamers if there is some cloud cover is still an option.

Try some terrestrials on top....hoppers, ants, beetles! Nymphs:

Jimmy Legs #4-#10, Pat's Rubberlegs #4-#10, San Juan Worms #10, Lightning Bugs #14-#16 Streamers:

Sex Dungeon, Marcum's Butte Rat, Double Screamer Dries:

Black Magic, Chubby Chernobyl, Donkey Kong Hopper, Morrish Hopper, Ants  

The Jeff is now too warm for good fishing most days. If you catch a cold front you can jump it for a day or two and have great fishing but otherwise this is going to be a fall destination.

The Jeff is now clear (or tea colored to be more accurate) and is fishing well on big yellow streamers and tight lined crayfish and sculpins trailed by beadhead attractor nymphs. It is never a high numbers game because of the lower trout numbers but an interesting option for the early summer.
 

The Jeff is now clear (or tea colored to be more accurate) and is fishing well on big yellow streamers and tight lined crayfish and sculpins trailed by beadhead attractor nymphs. It is never a high numbers game because of the lower trout numbers but an interesting option for the early summer.
 

The fish are still spread out and the best way to prospect for a big fish is throwing streamers along the soft banks. We have also been nymphing large pat's stones and San Juan worms. You should start to see summer stones on the Jefferson. The visibility and flow are good right now on the Jefferson. Overcast days has produced the best fishing right now on the Jefferson. Flies: #4 Weise's Love Bunny #4 pats rubber legs #8 san Juan Worms. , #8 prince nymph, #10 Pheasant tail #2 Black Home Invader Black Sculpzilla