Yellowstone River:
The Yellowstone has reportedly been a tad bit off color from some accounts, I fished it on Saturday, and drove over it again on the way home around Livingston and it was in fine shape - it has a bit of color to it, sort of green, but is plenty fishable. Fishing wise right now, things have been good pretty much all day long, from the early mornings, through the afternoons and right on into the evenings. Streamers and nymphs are working well in the mornings, hatch activity is pretty much non existent except for a few of the midnight goldenstones here and there, and a few tricos way down low. As the afternoon progresses, hopper activity has steadily progressed through the day, fish are looking up at Chubby's and Grand Hoppers as well as the old standbys like a Dave's or Whit's. Evenings are decent if there is any hatch activity left over, maybe a few caddis here and there but not much, it's time for streamers and nymphs again for the evening stretches typically.Fly pattern suggestions:
Ugly Bug Brown, Golden, & Black: 6-8-10 Mega Prince: 6-8-10 CH Bow River Bugger Olive & Black: 2-4-6 Silvey's Sculpin Olive, Tan & Black: 2 Chubby Golden: 6-8-10-12 PMX Lime, Black, Red & Peacock: 10-12-14 Chubby Orange: 10-12 Twisted Baby Yellow and Red: 14-16 Twisted Baby Purple: 14-16 Twisted Baby Tan & Chartreuse: 14-16 Mustang Sally: 16-18 Lightning Bug Gold: 12-14-16 Chubby Hopper: 6-8-10 AttractAnt: 16 Fat Head Beetle: 16 Hopper Popper: 6-10 Grand Hopper: 8-10-12-14-16
Last Updated: 8/26/07
Lower Madison:
Still on closures, seeing a lot more people on the water, haven't made any trips out here myself though - heard that fishing has been really marginal and we certainly aren't running trips on it yet. Flows are extremely low still, just because the water is cool, doesn't make it good fishing conditions - bright and sunny and low, not ideal. That is why the restrictions remain in effect still. Fishing wise, I have no clue - see the countless reports in which I explain that I don't fish this again until September at the earliest in drought years. Still wouldn't be my first choice of rivers in the area to fish, but really early in the morning you might be able to go out and snag a few fish in between moss mats... Wait and see, when they lift closures I might give this a thought - still won't send my trips out on this... The river is still low, and the fish aren't going to be very healthy yet at this point.CLOSED FROM 2PM TO MIDNIGHT
Fly pattern suggestions:
Take a metal detector and a huge musky net and play Find the Empty Beer Can Stash! First one to 100lbs of cans wins, BLM pays the prize winnings, call them for details.
Last Updated: 8/26/07
Gallatin:
It's Sunday and as I update this, the river remains in good fishable condition, fished earlier in the week at Shed's and it was decent, a few fish up right before dark on caddis, but for the most part it was nymphing. Fishing activity wise, it's hoppers down in the valley below Axtell in the afternoons, attractors up in the canyon in the afternoons, plenty of fish on buggers and stoneflies, dropper rigs have been the most effective lately all day long. Hatch wise, caddis only, a few tricos actually here or there, but nothing I would bother concentrating on too heavily. Plan on having a lot of nymphs along with you in the morning till it warms up a bit, then blast some hoppers around. Fished at Williams last Saturday morning, was fun, fishing was decent, caught fish on sculpins, nymphs, and my dad was all over the fish in the nooks with a hopper. Spruce moths are done, don't bother with those anymore at this point, concentrate on nymphing with caddis larvae, it's whats in the river at this point!Fly pattern suggestions:
BHFBPT: 12-14-16 Little Bit Of E: 12-14 San Juan Worm Red & Brown: 10 Mega Prince: 6-8 Mega Pheasant Tail: 6-8 Mr Rubberlegs Hares Ear: 6-8-10Tungsten Golden Lab: 6-8 Yummy Gummy Golden: 8-10 Mangy Caddis Olive & Brown: 14-16 Mangy Pooper: 12-14 Yellow Rubberleg Stimulator: 8-10-12 Birkenstock Special Olive & PT: 12-14-16 PMX Peacock, Royal and Lime: 10-12-14-16 Elk Hair Caddis Tan & Olive: 12-14-16 CDC Elk Caddis: 14-16 X Caddis Olive: 14-16 Ripcord Caddis Tan: 14
Last Updated: 8/26/07
Yellowstone NP:
Sounds as if restrictions have been evaluated and contrary to rumors, they acted and lifted the closures as of the 22nd. Surprised? I sure am, and it's a really nice surprise, so now it's time for afternoons and weekends into the park to fish the NE corner. So with the nice cooler evenings water temps are easing back to fishable levels and fish are active, there was some substantial rains in the park on Friday, and things are just starting to clear up. Come late August and September this is one of the best places around to go and pitch ants and beetles as well as hoppers and attractors. Don't wait any longer to see on how things shape up, just plan on there being some decent terrestrial fishing on all of the typical stuff. The Gallatin in the park has been fishing well again, a sometimes forgotten place the Gallatin inside the park (off the beaten path up higher) fishes pretty well and the terrestrial fishing in August can be a really good time, to get away from people, hike away from the road a ways, it works wonders...Park Licenses Available for Sale
Park License Pricing for '07: 3 Day License - $15 7 Day License - $20 Annual License - $35
Last Updated: 8/26/07