Fishing Report

We are now starting to transition into the dry fly time. Rivers are coming into shape as runoff recedes and hatches are going on. We are seeing PMD’s, caddis, green drakes, flav’s, salmonflies, golden stones, and callibaetis. Almost all the waters are fishing well, just have to wait for the northeast corner to clean up yet. We are also starting to see mosquitos with the warmer weather, so don’t forget the repellent.

Yellowstone National Park

Firehole, Madison, and the Gibbon Rivers

Good action, good fishing! Good dry fly fishing too, which is what many of us have been waiting for. Lots of hatches-PMD’s 10am-2pm use the size #16. Caddis will hatch throughout the day, give tan and white millers size #16 as well. Best flies have been sparkle duns and tilt wing duns-#16, tan x-caddis #16, and a new White Micro Muddler in white has been very effective for the white millers.

If you are looking for a bigger fish, stick to the Madison. Spend some time in slower runs looking for rises, then pick the larger fish and make your cast to him. We have seen some good browns rising in the Madison lately, so if this is what you’re wanting to catch, this is a good place to start.

If you are looking for some solitude, try the Gibbon River. Fish an attractor fly, like a yellow or royal stimulator #10, or a chubby #10.

Slough Creek and Lamar River

Still a few weeks away, but the water is coming down.

Montana

Madison River

The Madison River is fishing real well, nymphing has been best, but we are starting to see hatches of mayflies and caddis and salmonflies are being seen at Ennis. More and more fish are rising, so we can fish our dry flies now. The guides have been getting nice browns and rainbows between the lakes and at Raynolds to 3 Dollar.

Float trips start with nymphing and then as it warms up they switch to dries, mainly caddis. The best nymphs have been black rubber legs #6 and #8 in olive, seredipities #14 and #16, pink worms #10, elk hair caddis in #14, and chubbier #10 with #16 bead head droppers.

Gallatin River

The Gallatin is starting to shape up, but afternoon rains are making the Taylor’s Fork dirty. The water is still cold, so nymphing is still best. Rubber legs #6, #8 with lightning bugs #14 and copper johns #14 as droppers.

Hebgen Lake

Things are getting better, as the lake is about full now. Still lots of midges, and chironomids. Ice cream cones under an indicator is working well. Olive leeches in ten feet of water and a slow sink line has been pretty productive. Also, the callibaetis are just starting now.

Idaho

Henry’s Fork

Great hatches! The water is low so wade fishing is easy. PMD’s 10am-2pm #16, tan caddis throughout the day #14 and #16, green drakes #12 from !2pm-2pm. In the afternoon try using flav’s #14, and in the evening try egg laying caddis #14 and #16 or rusty spinners #16. If heading to Box Canyon give golden stones #8 and #10 a try.

Henry’s Lake

Good reports from the trollers as the fish are still scattered throughout the lake. They are using big black leech patterns. The fly guys are in 8-10ft of water using type 2 sinking lines and small olive leeches and woolly buggers. Make sure you strip them slow as that has been working for the fly guys.