Fishing Report | River Journal

 

Fishing Report

Updated on July 3, 2008

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Yellowstone River near Gardiner, MT

High and muddy.  Runoff peaked last week and the river is dropping at a steady clip.  That said, it's unlikely to be fishable at all before the 10th-15th and not floatable until the 15th-20th.  After that, late July and August are going to be awesome, with the fish sitting tight to the banks and eating attractors, stones, caddis, and hoppers far later into late summer/early fall than they have been in recent years, all due to high water keeping them where it's slow.

Depuy's, Armstrong's, and Nelson's Spring Creek (Paradise Valley spring creeks)

The creeks are now on summer rates of $100/day/angler.  Availability depends on cancellations.  Look for PMDs from midmorning until early afternoon, with spinner falls both in the early AM and in late afternoon.  Some caddis late PM are possible.  Otherwise, scuds, small attractors and terrestrials (beetles, little Green Letort Hoppers, ants), and midge, scud, and mayfly nymph imitations are the primary tickets.  Try small to medium-sized buggers just before dark.  Top Flies: Your favorite three PMD duns #14-18, Eric's Rusty Spinner #14-18, PMD CDC Emerger #16-18, Flashback PT #16-18, Rust Shimmer Nymph #16-18, Olive Woolly Bugger #8, Hot-Sight Beetle #16, Little Green Letort Hopper #12, Ben's Ant #18.

Yellowstone River below Yellowstone Lake, YNP

Closed until July 15.

Grand and Black Canyons of the Yellowstone, and Tributaries

Unfishably high and muddy.  The lake is almost at its yearly crest.  Expect the Grand Canyon to start cleaning up immediately once it starts dropping, though it will remain extremely high through July.  We expect good Salmonfly, Golden Stone, and caddis fishing (as well as attractor dries and streamers) this summer.  It is very likely salmonflies will remain in some portions of the canyons (below cold tribs especially) until the first week of August this year.  The Grand Canyon should be worth a shot by the tenth, the Black Canyon by the 15th.  Think big and black.

Slough Creek, Soda Butte Creek, and Lamar River System

This water is dropping quickly, but the flowing water is still unfishable with the SLIGHT exception of Slough Creek above the Buffalo Fork, basically the upper (1st-3rd and Frenchy's Meadows).  Streamers and nymphing the slower pools are the best bets for another week, roughly.  Then some PMDs, Drakes, and the other classic bugs should start hatching.  Soda Butte and the Lamar are going to have to wait until the 15th this year, actually a much needed respite from the season-long pressure these fish have gotten over the past few seasons.  Trout Lake is fishing well, though try to restrain yourself from braining the ignorant morons trying their darndest to come within a millimeter of the "NO FISHING" signs protecting spawners in the inlets.  Target cruisers with scuds, small beadheads, and midges.  Strip damsel nymphs or scuds.  The big Traveling Sedge (Banksiola) is imminent.  Use tan Woolly Worms or Letort Hoppers stripped just under the surface to imitate these #8-10 2XL bugs.

Gardner River System

The Gardner is fishing well for good anglers.  You have to get tight to the banks, as the main current is still far too strong to fish.  Stone nymphs are your tools, and use nothing lighter than 3X.  We have been fishing 0X-1X mostly.  Some adult salmonflies have been seen below Boiling River, but any dry fly fishing is a week or more away, as much because of the level as anything else.  The upper river is still pretty dirty, but the tribs are dropping and clear, making them a good bet for beginners.  W. Wiese had a great time Monday with some hefty 10" brookies in a stepover creek that shall remain nameless.  He caught probably 30, no more than 5 of which were more than a rod-length away.  Top Flies LOWER RIVER: Matt's Golden Stone #8-10, Matt's Black Stone #4-6, Matt's Bead Hare and Copper #10-12.  Yes, that's it.  UPPER RIVER: Coachman Trude #12, BH Prince #16, Sparkle Bugger #10-12.

Firehole, Gibbon, and Madison Rivers  

The Firehole, Madison, and Gibbon are probably at their yearly peak fishing, or at least their early season peaks.  Hatches on all three have been excellent, though crowds have been big too.  On the Firehole and Madison, morning PMDs and evening caddis are the prime draws.  The Madison should fish in its faster reaches all day, primarily with stonefly nymphs and streamers, but the Firehole is probably getting a bit too warm to fish well between 1:30 and 5:00.  Mornings and evenings are still excellent, though, and should remain so for a week.  Last year we were done fishing the Firehole by 6/15 due to low water and high water temps, making the blessings of this year's high water apparent while locals are still cursing its effects on the Yellowstone --we'll get our good fishing up here soon enough.  On the Firehole, two caddis have been important, a smaller tan/gray/brown one earlier (Hydropsyche and probably some Cheumatopscyhe mixed in) in the evening shading into the lovely Nectopsyche (cream and ginger with olive-gold body) from 7:30 onwards.  Don't quit until at least 8:30 in case this hatch is getting wound up!  On the Gibbon, midmorning PMDs and mid-late afternoon caddis are the draws in the meadows.  In the canyon, fish attractors, caddis, and small stones trailing BH Prince.  Both average size (maybe 10-11") and maximum size (numerous reports of 16-18" fish, including one of the latter by W. Wiese) seem to be up this year in the canyon water, but for a better shot at 15"+ fish, you want to fish the meadows.  Above Norris things are chancier, but some solitude, brookies, browns, and grayling are around.  Also don't forget Grebe Lake, but bring your bear spray!  Top Flies FIREHOLE/MADISON: Nectopsyche Softy #14, Palmered CDC Nectopsyche #14, Glasshead PT Soft Hackle #14-16, Rust Shimmer Nymph #16-18, X-Body PMD Para-dun #16, Rusty Spinner #16, PMD Sparkle Dun #16, Hi-Viz Para-PMD #16, BH Flashback PT #16, Partridge Caddis #16-18, Olive X-Caddis #16-18, Olive Sparkle Pupa #16-18, Matt's Golden Stone #8, Matt's Black Stone #4, Olive Woolly Bugger #6.  GIBBON: The same flies in the meadows, with the exception of the Nectopsyche, plus the following in the canyon: Elk Hair Caddis #12-14, Olive and Yellow Stimulators #12-16, Coachman Trude #12-14, Wiese's Four Feather #16, BH Prince #16.

Other Area Waters

Lewis Lake and Trout Lake are the best big trout bets right now.  Strip large baitfish patterns in the outlet of the former (and watch for evening caddis in the river itself).  In the latter, see the notes for Lamar/Soda Butte/Slough Creek.

Fishin' Hole of the Week

Cascade and Grebe Lakes.  The hikes get you away from the crowds and Griffith's Gnats, Callibaetis Nymphs, #16 Adams dries, and #16 Soft Hackle Hare's Ears will get you cutts and grayling in the former and grayling and rainbows in the latter.  CARRY YOUR BEAR SPRAY AND WEAR A BELL IF TRAVELING ALONE!!!