Lower Jefferson
Updated 33m agoJefferson · Cardwell area to Three Forks (confluence with Madison and Gallatin)
🌡️ Water hit 79.7°F in the last 3 days — hoot owl territory
FWP restricts fishing from 2pm to midnight when water hits 73°F for three consecutive days. An official restriction may follow — check FWP before an afternoon session. Fish mornings, land fish fast, and keep them wet.
Fishing Report
Report conditions: 351 cfs · 67.6°F · ▼ 3.8% 24h · ↓25% median
Flows are down to 351 cfs, 25% below median, but the good news is water temp checked in at 67.6°F this morning — cool enough to fish responsibly if you're on the water early. Focus on deep runs and buckets with a crayfish/attractor-to-midge nymph rig, and don't overlook hoppers, ants, and beetles along undercut banks and grass lines during the warmer parts of the day. Recent shop reports flagged hoot owl restrictions and high temps on the Jefferson, so plan for a morning session and be off the water by early afternoon to protect fish. Overcast skies and cooler air today should help keep temps in check, but this is still a fish-early, fish-smart situation.
| Conditions | Clear, Declining |
| Nymphing | Dead Drift Crayfish #8, Zebra Midge #20, Red San Juan Worm #14, Rainbow Warrior Jig #16 |
| Dry Fly | Chubby Chernobyl Hopper #10, Amy's Ant #14, Foam Beetle #16, Elk Hair Caddis #14 |
| Streamer | Montana Humdinger, Daddy's Money, Sluggos, Dungeons |
Based on current conditions and 3 local shop reports · 1h ago
What's Hatching Now
Seasonal Chart →| Dries |
CDC Caddis #14-18
Corn Fed Caddis #14-18
Elk Hair Caddis #14-18
X-Caddis #14-18
|
| Nymphs |
Hare's Ear Nymph #12-18
|
Year-round
| Dries |
Griffith's Gnat #18-22
|
| Nymphs |
Mercury Midge #20-22
Spanish Bullet #16-18
Zebra Midge #18-22
|
Major food source in valley water
| Dries |
Chubby Chernobyl #6-12
|
| Terrestrials |
Dave's Hopper #8-12
|
Conditions
Near Three Forks
33m agoOvercast
| Flow | cfs · 1.97 ft · 66.7°F |
| Trend | ↓28% med · ▼ 7.7% 24h |
| Wx | 59° · 💨 12 N · 🌧️ 1% · H: 70° / L: 57° |