Yellowstone River
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The Yellowstone has dropped consistently over the past week, and it is in great fishing shape right now. We’re about two weeks ahead of our normal runoff cycle and nearly 3,000 CFS below last year’s flow at this time. Only time will tell how the Yellowstone River fares over the summer, but we encourage you to fish it while the river is still nice and cold. The next month-plus will produce some of the best fishing of the year.
We are seeing golden stones, caddis and PMDs consistently on the river near town. The afternoons and evenings have seen good dry fly fishing (as the wind allows.) Running a dry-dropper rig with a Chubby Chernobyl and a rubber leg dropper 2 to 3 feet below is a great bet all day. If fish can be observed actively feeding, size #12-#16 caddis imitations or #14-#16 PMD patterns should pick up risers.
We’ve had reports of Salmonflies showing up, with lots of nymphs along the banks, particularly from the middle of Paradise Valley to Gardiner. Only a few adults have been reported, but expect more in the coming days. For current hatch reports, please stop by the shop or give us a call.
Please note that spring runoff leaves the river with unexpected obstacles and debris in the river. Be cautious of cottonwood strainers and emerging rocks as the river recedes when floating, and take great care wading in strong currents.
Yellowstone National Park
Fishing in the Park is starting to ratchet up. Rising fish can be found consistently on the Firehole, Gibbon and upper Madison rivers, especially on overcast days. The middle of the day has tended to produce the most activity with PMDs and caddis producing the most fish. In sunny conditions, fishing a soft hackle #14-#18 below a White Miller’s Caddis or ant pattern will be a great way to cover water when the fish aren’t rising consistently.
Flows are still on the high side in the northeast part of the park with the Lamar River running around 2,000 cubic feet per second (CFS,) but it is dropping overall. The Lamar, Slough and Soda Butte creeks should be coming into shape within the next week or so.
Pebble Creek is clear and fishable, providing good dry-dropper fishing for native Yellowstone Cutthroat.
Trout Lake is also fishing well with leeches, midges, damselflies, and Callibaetis nymphs.
Paradise Valley Spring Creeks
It is again that time of year that anglers love on the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks. The pale morning dun hatch has begun in earnest. We are seeing good numbers of bugs and rising fish on all of the area's spring creeks. The hatch has been starting at approximately 10:30-11:00 a.m. and going through about 3:00 in the afternoon.
Anglers should be equipped with all stages of flies for the PMD hatch. This includes the nymph, an emerging pattern, a dun pattern, and a spinner pattern. Accurate casting and clean drifts are essential to success.
Additionally, early morning has some great midge fishing as well, with the midge hatch waning as the PMD hatch begins. There are also some good baetis still hatching on the creeks, which can confuse the hatch. Don't be afraid to try a baetis, even though there are good numbers of pale morning duns about.
Nymphs
- Sawyer's pheasant tail size 16-20
- Crackback nymph size 16-20
- Zebra midge size 20-22 (red, black, gray, light olive)
- Trashcan Midge size 20
- Mercury midge size 20-22
Emergers
- Harrop’s CDC PMD biot emerger size 16-18
- Last Chance Cripple size 16-20
- PMD mole fly size 16-20
- PT flymph size 16-20
- Hanging midge size 20-22
- Transitional midge size 20
Dry Flies
- PMD Comparadun size 16-20
- Sparkle dun size 16-20
- Biot cdc comparadun size 16-20
- Harrop’s para spinner size 16-20
- Rusty spinner size 16-20
- CDC PMD spinner size 16-20
Note: Spinner falls tend to be in the late afternoon and evening, staying on the creeks until the sun begins to set. Use a spinner with a strong crucifix silhouette.
HAPPY FISHING!
