Bob Jacklins Fishing Report

Salmon Flies Are Here

2011-07-18T16:52:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

Well the waters are comming down now in most rivers but the Yellowstone and Gallatin are still very high.

THE PARK
Everything is now open in Yellowstone but the hot spots are the same. The Firehole in the morning and the Gibbon after that, makes for a fun day of fishing and you might even catch a Grayling in the Gibbon. The Gardner River (no i in the river the town is Gardiner)has Salmon Flies, Golden Stones and believe it or not Cicadas! The Northeast corner is blown out. Try a small creek now they are all fishing well. A client and I made a two mile hike today and caught a pile of brookies up to 13 inches (and as small as 3 inches).

MONTANA
Salmon Flies are up to Windy Point and fishing has been good. Caddis are all over in the evening and the fishing with a size 16 x-caddis is working well. We are also seeing some good gulper fishing on Hebgen Lake until the wind blows.

THE SHOP
Come in and give the shop help a hard time and pick up a new rod while you are at it, you know you need one.

See You on the River,

Rob Orsini

High Water Still

2011-07-01T19:30:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

We are still having some high water here in Yellowstone Country. The Madison (below Lyon's bridge), Gallatin and Yellowstone Rivers are all blown out and not good fishing options.

THE PARK
The Firehole is still fishing well. The White Caddis is in full effect and we are seeing some PMD's everyday. Soft hackles are fishing well in the riffles, when the fish aren't rising try them.
The Gibbon River is clear enough now to fish. I have seen Golden Stones below Gibbon Falls and had a bunch of rises to them in the past few days.
The Madison River has been good in the morning fishing PMD's, in the evening try a sz 16 tan body caddis.

MONTANA
Most rivers are blown out, try a lake. Hebgen has a nice midge hatch in the morning and the fish have really been on them, go get some early season gulper fishing in.
Cliff and Wade have been fishing well with some midges in the morning and streamers in the evening.

THE SHOP
Come in and get the latest info. Our shop help fishes all the time and can put you around the fish. If you want to catch the fish come hire a guide!!

Rob Orsini

Firehole

2011-06-20T11:41:00.001-07:00

Hello,

The summer is trying to start and the weather for the next week is looking good.

THE PARK
Most rivers are very high still but in the last few days we have seen the Madison (in the park) and the Firehole come down from very high to high.
There have been a few big bugs in the Firehole Canyon and some BWO's all over the River. We expect the Madison to start fishing well in the next couple of days. The Gallatin in the park has cleared up but the water tempature is still very cold but some nymphs on the bottom should bring in some fish. (Try a rock worm or a March Brown Nymph.)

MONTANA
The Madison and Gallatin in the Montana are both very high and dirty. Try fishing lakes like Hebgen or Cliff and Wade. If you need to fish a river try a Rubber leg or a Bugger right on the bank.

IN THE SHOP
We have a selection of Salmon Flys picked out, four bugs for five bucks. Having trouble finding fish on your own come in and talk to the shop guys and they will point you in the right direction and show you some flys that are working. Need more help, hire a guide for a half day or full day.

Have Fun,

Rob Orsini

Big Bugs

2010-07-03T09:30:00.000-07:00

The Madison River has salmon flies from 8 Mile Ford all the way up to Windy Point. The color of the river is still a little off, but working the big bugs near the banks will raise some nice fish.
The Park is still fishing really well. The Madison has PMD's late morning and caddis in the evening. Look for PMD's on the Firehole.
The Henry's Fork has brown drakes coming off in the evenings and a spinner fall in the morning.
The North East part of the park should be waking up real soon reports to come.

Rob Orsini

Here we go!

2010-06-23T18:27:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

The fishing on the Firehole the last few days has been real hot! Mostly smaller fish but a few nice ones are popping up here and there. There are PMDs, Yellow Sallies, and White Caddis showing up all over. The Madison has some Golden Stones as well as the bugs that are on the Firehole. Fishing has been very good on both rivers. All other rivers in the park are coming down and clearing up, so more reports on park waters soon(ish).

The Madison in Montana is clearing up a little more everyday. I still think we are more then a week away for the big bugs. I keep on telling you Dr. Burke to stay away until the fourth of July. (For the rest of you if you want to catch the Salmon Fly hatch on the Madison in the coming years call the shop and find out when the Burkes are coming out and book the next few days, you will be right on). Big Rubber Legs right on the banks are catching a few fish now.

If you need a guide for the big hatch get it now the books are filling up.

Rob Orsini

Rivers are Coming Down

2010-06-16T14:23:00.000-07:00

Hello again,

The rain has let up slightly and with that the rivers are coming down. There are a bunch of hatches to talk about on the Firehole, there are PMDs and white caddis coming off all over the river. You might even find some of the big bugs coming off in the right places! There is also a graphite hatch with all the people fishing. The Madison in the Park is following the same pattern as the Firehole, with less pressure. The Gibbon is also a place to give a try with some small attractors.

Yellowstone Lake just opened up and the action has been great! Hearing reports of people catching double digit lake trout from the shore!

The Madison in Montana needs a little more time. Can you catch fish? Sure.

The county boat dock is the place to fish at Henry's Lake.

June 10th

2010-06-10T13:39:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

It has been raining for the past two weeks and all of the rivers are very high. The Firehole is your best bet. There are a few caddis comming off and about a size 14 light colored elk hair will bring up some fish. If you are looking for more places to fish you are going to have to try lakes. Wolly buggers on the SW shore of Hebgen have been catching some nice fish. They are letting a lot of water out of the Dam on Hebgen it is high and off colored all the way to Three Forks.
We need the rain to stay away for a week and things will really start to get going!

Good luck

Rob Orsini

Summer Fishing is finally here!!

2009-07-26T17:28:00.000-07:00

The Bugs we are use to fishing on the Madison below Quake are finally working. Hoppers, Ants, Bees, Beatles, Wullfs, and Trudes are bringing good fish up on a regular basis. The world famous caddis hatch is going strong every evening and yellow sallies are hatching everyday.
The Park is also fishing very well! The Yellowstone below the Grand Canyon is a good bet. The Gardner River has a bunch of golden stones as well as little olives. Slough and Soda Butte is bound to be a fun trip. All these rivers will fish well with terrestrials. For a fun adventure try hiking some of the small creeks inside the park, they all have fish in them!
The Gallatin and Lamar Rivers are more of a gamble, not because they haven't been fishing well but because all the rain we are having is really keeping them off color. If you happen to see them clear I would fish them because it might be your only chance this year.
No Spruce Moths yet this year!

Good Fishing
Rob Orsini, Guide

Golden Stones

2009-07-09T18:27:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone sorry it has been a few days since I got on here. For all the people that I have guided in the last few weeks you will be happy to know that my car exhaust is now fixed!!

The Madison salmon fly hatch is going strong but the fish seem to be looking for the Golden Stones. The hatch is a little spotty this year and the ighest upstream I have seen bugs is 5 Rock Island. There are a bunch of caddis and PMDs comming off everday as well.

Brian from the shop and I went up to the Gallatin the other day and beat up the trout on golden stones. We put the boat in and floaated for only about 2 miles. You can't fish from the boat on the Gallatin so we got out and fished around gravel bars and good rock ledges.

Small creeks are the ticket in the Park. The northeast is blown out and the Firehole is getting HOT (temp not action).

Madison, Firehole, Gibbon

2009-06-26T18:47:00.001-07:00

I took a guide trip in the park today. We fished the firehole and had a bunch of fish come up to a size 14 white caddis. The timming of the hook set was a little off and we only managed to land three fish. A little later a nice PMD hatch came off and the again we missed some more fish. Such is the life off a fishing guide.

The Madison in the Park is fishing well in the evenings. A tan elk hair caddis with a rusty spinner off the back both in size 16 will be the best.

The north part off the park is starting to come down and clear up. Slough, Lamar and Soad Butte are high and dirty but should be fishing soon. The Gardner River is fishing well right now, not much on top but nymphing will produce fish. The Yellowstone is high but comming down.

We are still waiting for the big bugs to pop in the Madison near Ennis (anyday now). Nymphing is still the best bet down there.

Hebgen Lake is good and we are getting good reports from there everyday. A woolly bugger and a ice cream cone will bring them to the net.

Henry's Lake is also fishing well. Your favorite leach pattern will work. We like the simi seal. The ice cream cone has also been working out there.

Come in to the shop and take advantage of our deals. We still have a few of the Salmon Fly boxes left where you get 13 flys and a box for 12 bucks. Also we are trying to get rid of all Hodgeman waders (make a deal). And for you fly tiers we have necks for $1.00.

Rob Orsini, Guide

June 14, 2009

2009-06-14T18:04:00.000-07:00

This is the time of the year that the Firehole and Madison (in the Park) traditionally fish the best. This year is no different! The upper Firehole will fish best with a sz. 16 PMD or a sz. 14 white caddis. If the hatch slows a soft hackle in a green or yellow will work! The lower Firehole has Pteronarcys Californica (aka Salmon Flies) a sz. 4-6 Jacklins Salmon Fly will really bring them up to the top. A trick you can use is to hang an unweighted rubberleg (sz. 4-6) 12 inches off the back of the dry. The Park section of the Madison is fishing very similar to the Firehole. The section of river right below the bordwalk about 2 miles in is a good place to try.

If you are in this part of the Park but you want to try something else, a small attractor pattern in the Gibbon River will bring a bunch of fish up.

The Gallatin is fishing well above Big Sky, also with the big bugs. Also try Jacklins Rock Worm in a sz. 16 in this section of the river.

The Madison down below Quake Lake is really clearing up and the fishing is improving everyday. The banks should be your focus with a large stone fly nymph or try stripping a streamer.

Good Luck,
Rob Orsini Guide

June 2, 2009

2009-06-02T13:13:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the out of date posts. We are all back from our off-season jobs and will be posting much more often. I will try and keep it up to date this off-season as well.
The weather is going to be bad for the next few days with rain and thunderstorms moving through the area. Bring your rain gear and a 4 wt and let's head into the park. The Madison from the Junction to the Lake has been fishing ok with nymphs; a few PMDs and caddis are starting to show up as well. The Firehole is high but there are hatches everyday and if you know the Firehole you know it likes this type of weather. White Caddis and a few PMDs are around (look in the faster water for some big bugs! Hint, Hint!!)
Hebgen Lake is fishing with midges on top most days, the fish are cruzing the edges looking for them. If there is no action on top pulling Woolly Buggers with a small midge off the back is effective.
Gallatin River is blown out below the Taylor’s Fork. The park section is ok but I would wait a few weeks.
The Madison below the Lakes is high and off color. A big nymph behind rocks and close to the bank is your best chance if you go out there.
The Lower Henry's Fork is coming alive there are Salmon Flys from Chester to Warm River along with Caddis and BWOs.
The shop is having a sale on Salmon fly patterns you get 13 Salmon Flys with a box for only 12 bucks! Come in, stock up for the season and talk to the guys about your day.

See You on the River,
Rob and Andy Guides

2009-05-17T10:12:00.000-07:00

Montana fishing season opener was Saturday May 16th and the fishing was good on the upper Madison at the Reynolds bridge area. A brown rubberleg and a red or black serendipity dropper was just what the fish were looking for on the way up the river, on the way back down I threw a mixture of big olive, white, or brown articulated streamers, that got the fish interested but not enough to actually eat the fly, the fly that did the trick on the way back down was a big size 2 black flashy bugger fishing less than a foot off the bank casting and twitching by all the undercut banks or big rocks trying to move one or two big fish and ended up with 3 nice browns within 20 yards of the bridge.

The ice is now moving off hebgen lake but you better hurry cause it wont be there for long, from the longhorn saloon down to the damn is iced over but its disappearing in a hurry, the flies to use on hebgen along the banks and out in a boat would be a mixture of leech patterns, wolly buggers, streamers, griffiths gnats and a nice assortment of chironamids in all different colors and sizes and possibly even a big crayfish pattern that we sell here at the shop.

The park is opening up this saturday the 23rd for fishing and as long as the water holds up, it should be another great weekend of fishing, the firehole always fishes good on the opener with small nymphs, soft hackles, and depending on weather possibly some small dries. Please feel free to stop by the shop with any questions or to pick up the equipment you might need for the day on the river.

Chris Daniel

Fly Fishing Report

2008-08-21T17:52:00.000-07:00

August 21, 2008

Andrew Klatt and Conrad Steiner

The Madison River
The Madison River is still fishing excellent! It is the middle of August and the terrestrials are here. Caddis and mayflies are starting to taper off, but are still producing fish. Be sure to have some caddis, rusty spinner, and epeorus spinners if you are fishing in the evening! Mid-day look for flying ants, hoppers, beetles and Bees! The spruce moth is also tapering off but still fishing well in areas with pine trees. Look back to the basic flies and fish royal wolfs, trudes and adam parachutes.

The Gallatin River
The Gallatin River is fishing good, especially down low beyond Big Sky. Spruce moths are fishing extremely well, but get out their soon because it will not last much longer. In the park section fish terrestrial patterns and look for a few Pale Morning duns.

North East corner of the park
The Lamar, Slough creek and Soda Butte are fish very well right now. In the morning look for gray drakes, some days they are their and other days they are not. Fish a lot of ant patterns and small hoppers patterns to trick those big cutthroats.

Hebgen lake
Gulper fishing on the lake has been fishing great lately. Get out their early in the morning and fish to the rising fish. We are starting to see and good number of flying ants. There are also lots of tricos and callibaetis patterns. Fishing for gulpers is very difficult but very rewarding. If the wind cooperates you will have a great day targeting these big rising fishing.

Other water:
Yellowstone National park and the surrounding area is a big region that takes a lifetime to explore. Try something new and get away from the big rivers. Almost every little stream or trickle has fish in it, and they are just as rewarding to catch as a bigger fish. Standard attractor patters like adam parachutes and humpys will do the trick. So go get out away from the roads, put your bear spray on and go have some fun?

Summer Fishing

2008-07-27T14:07:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-16T15:45:00.000-07:00

Fishing Report: by Bob Jacklin

The Salmon Fly Hatch:

Fishing the Salmon Fly hatch is more then following the hatch as it moves up the Madison River and other rivers in our area. For me this hatch is a time or season of the year. This year, we are experiencing a very late spring runoff and all of our hatches have been several weeks late. This is the latest I have ever experienced the Salmon Fly hatch on the Madison in my many years of fishing the hatch. As I stated earlier, this hatch is very special and it signals the starting of all our major hatches for the season. Just as our rivers start to clear hatches of caddis start to show and then when everything is right the Giant Salmon Fly (Pteronarcys Californica) will become active and the nymphs will move towards the banks of the stream and will emerge working it’s way up stream on many of our larger rivers in this Yellowstone region. The most noted of all the river hatches is our famed Madison River.

Fishing the Madison River can take a lot of work. This fast moving river that drops almost two thousand feet in elevation in the seventy miles from Yellowstone Park to Ennis, Montana has been labeled a seventy-mile long riffle. The river moves very fast and with the heavy flow this year is best fish by floating. The fishing trick is to fish through and past the major hatching area attempting to lure some fish to a large Salmon fly imitation. Having a nice wild trout rise and take a size four or six dry fly is quite a thrill and one that will last forever. Our guided fishing trips have been experiencing some great action in the last several days. Warren and Ann Phillips who have been fishing with us for over 30 years said they had the best fishing on the Madison in over twenty years. They were using my Jacklin Giant Salmon Fly pattern I developed many years ago. This Fly tied on a number four hook floats well and has the proper silhouette and wing formation to bring the big fish up. Naturally, I believe my pattern for this giant Stone Fly is the best. However, I do believe that all the Salmon Fly patterns work well and that is part of the fun. Tying your own fly and catching a nice trout on the fly you tied. There is one trick needed and this is more important then the right fly. Having a drag free float with your fly floating high down stream and acting as though is were not connected to your leader or line. This can and must be accomplished with ever cast or you will not see a fish to your fly. I use a 2 or 3X nine-foot leader with an 18” butt section and 24 to 30 inches of 3 or 4X tippet. This longer leader gives me lots of slack in the leader when I “Check the Cast”. This checking the cast is easy to do and a must on the Madison. Cast about ten feet more line then you need to reach your target area. Cast higher then needed and after the forward cast has been made, “Check the Cast” by stopping the forward cast in mid-air and dropping your rod tip down. This will pile up your leader with lots of slack and will allow your fly to drive as though it were not attached to anything. This is not always easy to do with the fast current and the ever-present wind, butt mandatory.

Where To Fish the Madison:

The Salmon Fly hatch has reached the Quake lake area and that means that the entire river from Quake Lake down stream will fish. For the wade fisherman the Raynolds Pass bridge and down through the Three-Dollar Bridge will offer an excellent opportunity to fish this great hatch. Crossing the bridge at the West-Fork Cabin Camp and driving up stream along the river will offer some great afternoon fishing as the Sun will be at your back and you can cover the water quite well from shore. For many years in my personal guiding I concentrated on fishing the Salmon Fly Hatch well below the hatching area. The fishing was slower with lots less people but many of the larger trout were still on the lookout and were willing to take the “last” Salmon fly of the season, it worked. Fishing and casting up stream tight along the bank and the willows is the prime area. Getting a good drift out in the center of the Madison can and often does produce a good strike. Fish it all.

Other places to fish the Salmon Fly Hatch:

The Salmon fly hatch is now on the Yellowstone River. The upper river in Yellowstone National Park is very high but fishable. There are some Salmon Flies at Le Hardy Rapids and I expect fishing to get better in the next several days. The lower Yellowstone at Tower Junction is very high and milk colored. Fishing along the banks would be a good bet using the big Salmon Fly Nymph and the Salmon Fly Dry. The Salmon Flies are all through the Gallatin River and using the Salmon Fly could still bring up some nice size fish. I like the area of the Gallatin River just above the Big Sky junction. Fishing between the lakes, below Hebgen Lake Dam is another good bet for the next several days. The Hatch is now working up the Lamar River and the Lamar is fishable but high. The flies are hatching up the Gardiner River. Remember, This is a time of the year when the fish know the salmon flies are around and using the big fly can bring up a big trout. Slough Creek is high and fishing well. Gray Drake Spinners and the Pale Morning Duns are hatching. I rose two fish to the Salmon fly yesterday, when fishing Slough Creek. If you wanted to fish the Salmon Fly Hatch, now is the Time. Another good trick in fishing this great hatch is not to fish the larger Salmon Fly, instead, offer the fish a smaller fly like a Golden Stone or the little Western Yellow Stone Fly. Some fish could be feeding on these smaller flies or even caddis and some Pale Morning Duns on the Madison and other rivers. Take the time to look carefully and try to see what is hatching and try to match the hatch. Remember, This is Salmon Fly time of the year and the trout know they are present. Presentation is more important then the right fly.
Good Fishing!
Bob Jacklin

Salmonflies and Goldenstones and Olivestones... Oh My!!!

2008-07-13T18:51:00.000-07:00

The Madison is fishing great the last few days! There are Salmonflies from just about Raynold's Pass Bridge all the way to below Varney Bridge! Olivestones and Goldenstones are fishing well from Macatee Bridge to Eight Mile and the last few days that is where I have been. I have been raising a bunch of fish with a Jacklin's Salmonfly followed by a sz 8 yellow Stimulator; give it a try!

The Gallatin is fishing very well now, even though the Taylor Fork is running dirty. There are Salmonflies flying around and the fish are on them. A salmonfly with an unweighted rubberleg (sz 4-6) is really working great; almost to good!

The Firehole is really starting to warm up (I mean temperature wise). The only fishing is in the evening with a caddis emerger.

The Madison in "The Park" is fishing the same as the Firehole but a rusty spinner in the evening will work and a PMD sparkle dunn in the morning may raise a few fish.

The Gibbon River is fishing well know with a whole array of attractors and look in the evening in the upper meadows for a brown drake hatch.

The rivers in the north east part of Yellowstone are still dirty, give them another week.

See ya on the river
Rob Orsini Guide

Why Are You At Home Reading This?

2008-07-06T07:39:00.000-07:00

You should be here! The Salmonflies are finally starting on the Madison around Varney Bridge. A long float from Macatee Bridge to Eight Mile will float you right through the middle of the hatch and we have been raising some good fish. I took the day off on the 4th and floated my girlfriend Amy who landed a beautiful 20" brown trout on a sz 4 Jacklin's Salmonfly. This was here first time flyfishing and her first trout she ever caught (not bad). The hatch will now progress up river and I will keep you up to date as much as possible. The River is still high and a little off color so wading can be a bit of a chore. The best way to fish the hatch is from a drift boat so come on up and let us float you down the Madison.

The Rivers on the west side of the Park are all continuing to fish well. I would hit up the Gibbon ( try an elk hare caddis sz 16 or a Royal Wulff sz 14), or maybe even the Gallatin (any nymph in a sz 14-18) in the morning and afternoon. Then for the evening go and take a look at the Madison around 7 Mile Bridge or 9 Mile Hole or the Firehole around Midway Geyser Basin. A caddis emerger or a soft hackle will work great in a sz 16 or Bob's Rusty Paraspin also sz 16.

The Gallatin near Big Sky is also fishing well and we are starting to see some Salmonflies flying around. A big unweighted sz 4 rubberleg hanging 8 inches below your favorite salmonfly pattern (Bob's Bullethead Salmonfly) will knock them dead.

The Rivers in the north part of the Park are still mostly off color and we don't expect them to be ready until the 15th of July. But, if you are up that way driving around and you feel the need to wet a line the Gardner will offer the best fishing. There are a few adult Salmonflies flying but your best bet is a sz 4-6 stonefly nymph. You got to get it down to the bottom so bring a lot of flies because you will lose a bunch on snags.

See Ya Soon,
Rob Orsini Guide

2008-07-03T18:06:00.000-07:00

Listen to Bob on flyfishradio.com

The Rivers Are Still High

2008-07-01T16:58:00.000-07:00

The Madison is still running high. Most of the tributaries are still off color especially the creeks draining out of the Madison Range, there is still a lot of water that needs to come out of there. The river is fishing OK with nymphs but there are a lot of snags moving down the river so expect to get hung up a lot. Between the lakes is fishing well and a big rubber leg will get them to eat.

The Firehole is fishing well with a Caddis emerger in the evening and the PMDs are coming off when the afternoon thunderstorms pass by.

Hebgen Lake is fishing great now! You can get fish on nymphs (like a pheasant tail) and some surface activity with midges in the mornings. A woolly bugger will work well when the others slow down.

Rob Orsini Guide

Is it Still Spring???

2008-06-23T13:48:00.000-07:00

The weather is warming up and the snow is all gone...... KIND OF! The high peaks still have a bunch of snow on them and because of that the small feeder creeks are still blown out. Our crafty guides have been taking clients to some of Yellowstone Park's less known places and having good success. Recently I took one of my favorite clients to a creek so unknown I could not find a name of it on a map. The creek was small and most of the fish were small but we did catch a few fish that were in the foot range on small dries.

The Madison in the Park is just starting to fish well. There are some PMDs coming off (sz 16). I use a PMD sparkle dun or Bob Jacklin's rusty para-spin. Every evening there is a great caddis hatch (sz 14-16) and a tan elk hair caddis will work great. Also remember that in the evening those PMDs from earlier should be in their spinner stage, once again Bob's rusty para spin will work great.

The Firehole has once again had a great spring. The upper Firehole is fishing great with soft hackles in the riffles. Whenever a cloud covers the sun a hatch of PMDs comes off (sz 16) and in the evening a nice bunch of caddis emerge. The Firehole Canyon is still fishing very well with Salmon Flies and Jacklin's Salmon fly sz 4 is still the best. A few other good patterns to try are the Sofa Pillow and the Hedgehog (sz 4-6).

The Gibbon is not ready yet and almost all of the rivers in the northern part of the park are running the same color and consistency as a chocolate shake. You should have a good 15 minutes of fishing on the Gallatin in the Park from about 4 when the water is warm enough to really get the fish moving till 4:15 when it gets to cold again.

The Madison in Montana has been hit or miss. If the weather stays warm at night the river will be very dark the next day and fishing will be harder. However, if the temperature gets cold at night for a few days the river will clear up a bit. Brown rubber legs and Jacklin's stone fly nymph have been working well in sz 4 and 6. Also a sz 18 pheasant tail will work great. There are a few caddis starting to come off and around Three Dollar Bridge if you are intent on catching a fish on a dry and you really work hard a sz 14 Adams will work because there are a few Battis around.

The conditions are improving everyday and we are expecting the Salmon Flies to start popping any day now on the Madison. Book your trip now while there are a few guides left in town for the Salmon Fly hatch and come on in for an updated fishing report the shop guys here will be happy to let you in on a few of our secrets.
See you on the river,
Robert Orsini Professional Guide

2008-05-30T15:06:00.000-07:00

It is springtime in Montana!! The rivers are running high and the ice is melting off the lakes. In Montana the rivers and streams are fishing poor due to the muddy water. The PPL is starting to increase the water out of the dam and the water levels at the Kirby ranch will reach about 3300cfs making the river dangerous, so watch you step if you attempt to fish it. If the weather cooperates the PPL will lower the flows to normal levels on June 2nd. The river is still producing a few fish along the banks using big streamers and stone flies. The Gallatin is flowing super high and is unfishable. Hebgen Lake is almost full now and is fishing well along with cliff and wade lakes. Midges are hatching now and can be productive on calm days. Wooly buggers and small nymphs are very productive right now. In the park you have the scenario is the same. The Firehole is fishing the best right now in this area. It is running high and a little bit off color, but it is still fishing well. The main hatch is Blue Wing Olives, but their are a few Pale Mourning Duns and Caddis starting to emerge. Swinging soft hackles is great right now. Small basic nymphs are also producing fish right now. The Madison is starting to get good also. Lewis lake is still frozen at the moment, but the ice should come off any day now. When it does, you should be there throwing big streamers and buggers. If you have any questions feel free to give us a call for more up to date information!!

Andrew Klatt

2008-05-10T21:45:00.000-07:00

We still have Ice on Hebgen Lake !!! I expect it to be open by May 17th.
will keep you posted.

Spring Fishing Report

2008-04-30T18:13:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Spring, 2008:
This is April 30 and it is snowing all day in this mountain village of West Yellowstone, Montana. The question most asked by the locals is, When will it stop snowing this Spring, "Winter"?
The Madison River below Hebgen Lake is fishing very well. The first mile of river is clear and loaded with fat Rainbows and some good Browns. We still have lots of snow and it is melting, but not fast enough.

The Ice goes off Hebgen Lake on the last week of April, but not this year! I look forward to fishing Hebgen Lake each spring just as the Ice goes off the lake. My guess it will go off by May 8th this year. If we get lots of warm day's I could be even earlier. I will have the current conditions of Ice Out, so call me for the current report on the Ice.

This year we are having a late spring so everything will be late. We still have piles of hard snow pack all over the town and everyone is plowing and praying for warm weather. The Salmon fly Hatch will start on the Lower Madison near Ennis Montana about June 20th. or ever later. I expect the water to be high and off color which is great for the Salmon fly hatch. The high water puts the fish on the bank and under the willows where the most Salmon Flies will hatch. The Float fishing this year should be great using the big black Salmon Fly Nymph and also the Salmon fly Dry Fly.

The general fishing will open in Yellowstone National Park on the Saturday Morning before Memorial Day, this year will be May 24th. The Firehole should be fishing well with all wet flies and small Woolly Buggers.

For more information please call me on the telephone. I will be opened for the season on May 10th and look forward to talking with all who call.
Good Fishing!
Bob Jacklin

Late Season

2007-10-13T16:17:00.001-07:00

EARLY FALL: September 1 to Sept. 20th
Because of the cooler conditions in the high country at this time of year, much of the insect activity is focused during the middle of the day. Small mayflies and some caddis can hatch on the Firehole, Madison, Henry's Fork, and many of our smaller streams.
About September 10th the brown trout in Hebgen Lake will have started their annual spawning run. The average size spawner is from two to three pounds. The Platte River, Light Spruce, and the Woolly Bugger are my favorite flies.
LATE FALL: Sept 20 to Oct. 3l
Along with the fall run of brown trout out of Hebgen Lake, we have a fall run of large rainbow trout. These fall run rainbows will also average from two to three pounds with some larger. Most of the fishing in late fall is on the upper Madison River near West Yellowstone. The Firehole, Gibbon and the South Fork of the Madison also have fall runs of brown trout.

For more information please call 406-646-7336 -Bob Jacklin