Parks' Fly Shop News

Last Updated 05/01/08

1.) Snow pack and likely summer water conditions update: Our snowpack ranges from 111-122 percent of average, with current predictions (assuming 80-120% moisture through the end of May) calling for water levels ranging from 93-104% of normal.  The long-range forecast is calling for cool, wet weather until late in the month, which will mellow the spring snowmelt and allow much of the snowpack to sink into the groundwater to feed rivers and streams slowly throughout the summer.  At this point last year the Yellowstone was already near peak flow, but this year it's hovered around average for the last several weeks and current projections suggest heavy runoff will not begin for at least ten days.  We expect average water conditions this year for the first time since at least 1999, which should make the fishing the best or at least the most consistent in recent memory through August.  Fall fishing will depend on other factors (and it's been good most falls lately, anyway).  The fishing in small streams, the Firehole, and the Yellowstone from Gardiner downstream should benefit the most from these conditions, while the whirling disease-infected streams feeding Yellowstone Lake should stay high, cold and unsilted through the critical summer period, which should give young cutthroat trout born in these streams a good chance of getting back to the lake with low rates of infection.  We sure hope so. Posted 05/01/08

2.) We'd like to welcome Doug Korn, who will be joining us as shop clerk/trainee guide this summer.  Doug just retired from Eastman/Kodak and hopes to be with us for a while.  Posted 02/12/08