The spring season is really heating up here in our region of Montana with exception of the Yellowstone River, which is in its normal runoff. We have been finding great fishing throughout our area on the spring creeks, Yellowstone National Park, and lakes and ponds.
Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone River peaked on the last day of May at 13,600 CFS and was 10,200 CFS as of June 4. Only time will tell if it peaks again, but it could be fishing earlier than normal for this time of year. Stay tuned!
View Yellowstone River Streamflow Data>>
Paradise Valley Spring Creeks
Despite being between hatches, the Paradise Valley spring creeks are fishing very well. Anglers are finding rising fish in the morning to midge hatches and later in the afternoon with sparse Baetis hatches. We've also found some fish feeding on small terrestrials (ants and beetles) as well as sucker spawn. We are also starting to see PMD nymphs in the riffles, and they should start hatching within two weeks.
The most consistent fishing has been with a combination of a sow bug/scud and midge or Baetis nymphing rigs. As surface feeding activity begins, switch over to a dry dropper rig to imitate the naturals.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park has been fishing very well over the course of the last week. In particular, the Gibbon River, the Firehole River, and the Madison headwaters are clear and producing some great match-the-hatch fishing. Most of the access restrictions put in place earlier in May on the Firehole River have been lifted.
Dry-dropper and soft-hackle swinging are producing fish throughout the system. We are seeing midday hatches of Pale Morning Duns and afternoon hatches of tan caddis, size #16 and white Miller caddis size #12 or #14.
Lakes and Ponds
Area lakes and ponds have been seeing the first calibaetis hatches of the season, As well as strong midge hatches. This is made for some great top water action For large rainbows, cutthroats , brook trout and brown trout. Fishing a leach pattern To submerged structure Has also been very productive as Fish have yet to be pushed into deep water by Summer's heat.
