Yellowstone Angler

Only about 4-6 inches of visibiliy in town (5/11)

Looks like the Yellowstone is finally done until mid to late June.  The next couple days an angler could probably throw a streamer or two until the “cottonwood hatch” arrives, (which should be momentarily).  With highs near 80 all week we are sure to see a quick and steady rise with very little chance of the Yellowstone dropping and clearing to a fishable level.  This time of year we’ll look to fish the spring creeks, public and private lakes, the lower Madison, Missouri, and Bighorn.  The Bighorn flows have been low recently, making for some very technical angling.  The Missouri had a hot march brown hatch last week, but should be back to deep nymph mode again with all this sun.  The Lower still has some caddis, especially if you like to hike…

The frenzy is back on! Look in the Valley for the most bugs... Photo: Mike Nelson

Now is your window...

If you were planning on a “sick day” this week to catch the mother’s day caddis hatch on the Yellowstone, Tuesday and Wednesday are looking goooood…  (You should probably show up in the morning, then use the old “I must of ate a bad taco at lunch” excuse).  The hatch will be popping from 3:00 till dark, but the fish have keyed in on caddis and will likely be eating dries all day.  If the wind picks up, pick up your streamer rod.  Visibility is a solid 2-3 feet (with a nice, green tint).  Expect to see a blizzard of bugs up high to mid Valley, plenty in town, but only a few down low.  After the next two days, expect the Shield’s to be dumping in mud down low as well as mud coming from the Lamar.

Eric Paulson with the tail walker of the day... Photo: Dawson Dunning

We’ve had cloudy weather the past few days, which has held back any kind of blanket caddis emergence.  Look for another “pop” coming in the next few days.  There has been just enough March Browns, beatis, midges, and caddis to keep a dry / dropper rig in your hands all day.  For those who don’t mind the chuck and duck game, the streamer bite has been pretty hot as well.  Seems like every color in the box is working right now, black, tan, yellow, white, olive  – you name it – they’re looking for it.  Pound some banks, especially along the riprap or wherever slower water sits next to faster flows…

Sorry trout, the abominable snowman is back...

Yellowstone should fish well this weekend with caddis.  Flows are down to around 5,000 CFS, vis is 2-3 feet, and water temps are rising (hopefully we hit 52 again today).  We’ve been fishing the Stone the past three days – it’s been good, not great.  Tuesday night we floated through town after work, landed 3 for 8, all on streamers.  Saw maybe 100 caddis?  Not enough to switch to dries (as we saw zero rises).  Wednesday we floated down low and boated 5 fish.  Worked really hard for them, all were on streamers, no rises despite hundreds of March Browns in the eddies.  Clarity was a good 6 inches less visibility down low than through town or above.  The shield’s in dumping in some mud, as is Billman Creek in town (near the lumber yard).   Yesterday we floated Pine to Carters.  It was cold & windy most of the day, but we managed to catch 5 on caddis pupa & emergers, one on a caddis dry…

Kristen Hulse with a nice Horn bow! Photo: Eric Paulson

Nymphing has been good on midges (Yongs, Zebs and rootbeers) as well as gray/tan SH sow bugs in the morning, and on RS2s, FBPTs and Starling SH baetis from noon till dark. We had a great baetis hatch from one till four today with the sunshine finally shutting things down on top. Streamers were rather poor this evening. The fish are mostly browns between 13 and 18 inches, with rainbows mixed in. We are seeing more and more fish on redds each day, which is where the bigger bows are hanging out.  The lower river is good and surprisingly clear, at least down to Mallards. The lake is fishing well for small mouth and walleye on calm evenings…  (Report by Bob Bergquist).

Got Midges?

Since most the freestone rivers in our area look like chocolate milk right now, we’ve been hitting up some local and private lakes.   Midge hatches have been THICK lately, (although most of our fish have been actually caught on leeches, damsel nymphs, scuds, and smaller streamers).  To name a few hot patterns:  Barr’s Bouface leece, Pig Pen, Polar Leech, black leadeye, multi-colored leadeye, Barr Damsel Nymph, Olive Sparkle Scud, Tak’s Chironomid).  Usually at some point in the day (evenings in particular) the wind will calm down for a little dry fly fishing.  Conditions change quickly however, so if you want to fish dries be prepared to take advantage of a short window.  Midges have been the main hatch for dries, (a size #20 black parachute has been working) although we’ve also seen some big size traveling sedges already as well, (try a size #10-12 Elk Hair Caddis or Stimulator).  Later in June these lakes will be popping with Callibaetis and damsels.  While not a ton of fish are being caught right now, this is a good time of year to go for a big one…

Getting a little "wiggy" out there...

While there are plenty of caddis out and about, unfortunately the Yellowstone remains too muddy to fish well.  CFS at Carter’s was a whopping 11,000 CFS today!  It looks like we have a few nights this week near freezing, especially up high.  While we expect the Yellowstone to come down at little and clear up 6-8 inches we don’t have high hopes for caddis.  Even throwing streamers is difficult right now since about everywhere you’d want to plop a fly in is covered in sticks and river debris.  That being said, we’ll keep an eye on things, if conditions improve we’ll let you know.  If you are trying to hit the Mother’s Day Caddis Hatch the lower Madison is probably your best bet.  Even there visibility has varied from day to day, but in general a much better shot at the fishing keying in on the bugs.  Don’t forget your baetis or March browns if you have a cloudy day, a streamer or crayfish would also be a good idea, especially if things begin to murk up again.

Mother's Day Caddis on the lower Yellowstone between 89 - Springdale

We’re now seeing thousands of caddis here in town and below, unfortunately the river is now about 8-12 inches of visibility and border line worth it (definitely worth it if you just want cool bug photos).  With temps in the high 70′s the next couple days the river will likely get even dirtier, leaving little chance for dry fly action.  Last night probably saw 10,000 caddis but only one rise.  I tried a mix of my favorite caddis dries (goddard, hi-vis elkhair, harrop caddis emergers, student caddis emergers, pupa, bread crusts), and nothing brought up a fish.  Even switch to two big streamers on a my 8 weight with zero results.  Definitely could have used an extra 6 inches of visibility, although it seemed plenty clear enough for fish to see the bugs and especially a big streamer or two.  Maybe the pigged out all day on emergers, but for whatever reason they were not at all in their usual mother’s day feeding frenzy.  Not much going on in the day, plan on a 3-4 mile evening float if you want to give it a shot…

Had a few boats out on the river yesterday and we’re starting to see some caddis dries, (not many – 20?)  and no fish up eating them yet, but at least it’s a start!  Looks like 70 degree days through Wednesday, so that might help the “pop.”  We’ve had enough lower elevation snow melt already that clarity should hold in there, give us a call for an update.  Just checked water clarity this morning (4/22) and it was 2-3 feet at Pine Creek and in town, with a tint of green.  Water temps have been ranging between 50-55 degrees.  If you are looking to hit the hatch and catch fish on caddis dries, from 3:00 till dark will be best.  (Get some yard work done in the morning and reward yourself with a little dry fly action on the river in the afternoon)!

Paris Erin with a Stellar Gallatin Valley Brown! Photo: Dave Hebert

Seems like state wide there has been a change in the fishing conditions, and thankfully a change for the better!  March Browns have arrived, while baetis and midges are plentiful as well.  We’ve even seen skwalas on the Yellowstone, as well as other rivers you would not guess to see them on.  Soon we’ll start seeing some caddis, (we’ve heard rumors of caddis spottings already – but have yet to see any ourselves) – won’t be long!  Another good (knock on wood), it seems like the wind is starting to slow down.  Seeing a lot more 10-20 mph days instead of those dreaded 50 mph days.  Get out there and hit the rivers hard before the run off begins!