Summer Fishing

The Madison has unfortunately started to come back to normal fishing, the Salmon fly hatch is just about over; though you can find some big bugs still hatching in between the lakes and a few left overs all the way down to Palisades. The hatch was the gift that kept on giving this year and if you missed it I am sorry but I did tell you to get here awhile ago.
Fishing is now going to get a little harder. To catch the big fish you are going to have to be on your game. The trout are going to be eating in different areas daily. It may take you or your guide a little while to find out where that may be. If you go down to the river try the banks first then 4 feet from the banks in the deeper water called the trench. If those still don't produce try fishing the really skinny water on the gravel bars then the deeper water off the gravel bars. Still not working try the nondescript water in the middle and don't forget in front, the sides and behind rocks. Still not catching fish; maybe you should try golf!

The Gallatin has finally cleared up and those fish are really hungry. Any small nymph (sz. 16-20) will catch lots of trout all the way up to Four Corners. You will see some PMDs hatching in the late morning (sz. 16-18) from the park up past Big Sky. There are some Golden and Olive Stones flying around up there still so a size 6-8 golden stone with a PMD nymph or dry will work.

Firehole and Madison in the Park are just about done for a few weeks. Can you catch a few fish there....... sure but I would stay away and let those fish deal with the hot water temps. If you want to fish in that area the Gibbon is still your best bet. Someone catches a great big one in the Gibbon every year and I have not heard of that fish being caught yet this year, maybe it will be you.

The north part of the Park will be your best fishing inside the gates. The lower Yellowstone (below the lower falls on down) has been really fun. PMDs in the morning with a spinner fall to follow at night. In the afternoon hoppers and other terrestrials will get a few fish to come up.

This is a great time of year to take a hike and fish some of the creeks and lakes in the Park that don't see quite as much pressure. Come in and talk to the shop guys they can give you a few ideas based on what kind of a hike you want to do.

Hebgen Lake....... wow! Callabatis are coming off in the morning and there is a spinner fall in the evening. The only thing that will hurt you on the lake is the wind, once the wind starts to blow fishing with dries is over. You can sit out there with a bobber... I mean indicator and a nymph if you want, I'd go to the Gallatin.

See you on the river,
Rob Orsini, Guide