Salmonfly Hatch Around the Corner

Yellowstone National Park Firehole- There is not a better time to be on the Firehole River than now. Rainbows and browns are actively rising to white miller caddis and soft hackles when the caddis hatch is coming off. Some fish can still be caught stripping a woolly bugger, but the best action is without a doubt on the surface. Gibbon-The water is clear and easily accessible for those wishing to get into some fun brown trout fishing. Small stimulators have proven productive to the average fisherman, but the Jacklin's rusty spinner in a size 14 or 16 has been the go to fly when nothing else is working. Look for rising fish to cast to in the evenings along the shoreline. Madison-The salmonflys have already ran through the park this year, but a select few will still eat the big dry salmonfly. Small attractors work well in the mornings and evenings along with basic nymphs. A great combination is a royal wulff or yellow stimulator with a prince or copper bob underneath it. Yellowstone- We continue to hear reports of people catching a few sizable cutthroat off the shorelines of Yellowstone lake. The best access by far is by boat, but dont feel discouraged if the shore is your only way of fishing. Orange, black, and olive woolly buggers have been the best in the early mornings and late evenings. The fishing will typically slow down mid day. Gold Jakes spinners have also caught fish near the lake's drop off. Lamar Valley--We have received very few reports from the lamar valley, and they have all said the rivers are still blown out for a couple more weeks. Montana Hebgen-Hatches of midges have been coming off in the mornings and evenings lately. Healthy trout can be caught on the surrface with various midge patterns in sizes of 18 or 20. Stripping black or rusty woolly buggers in front of the cruising fish currently seems to be the best way to fish the lake. Trollers are having luck fishing with rapala's and large spoons. Madison Between the Lakes- Fishing seems to have slowed down slightly between the lakes, but trout are still being caught on both drys and nymphs. Copper Bob's, rock worrms, and flashback pheasant tails have been working great below the surface. Large parachute adams and various caddis immitations have brought rainbows and browns up to sip your fly. Below Quake This section has been relatively slow mid day, but is really picking up in the last 45-30 minutes of daylight. Size 12 orange stimulators and 14 royal wulfs are rising nice 18 inch browns. Serendipities and Jacklin's salmonfly nymph are also steadily catching fish. The water flow is at 705 3ft/sec and the water discharge is clear. Henry's Lake-Fisherman are consistently catching fish in the mornings and evenings, just not in great numbers. Size 6 woolly buggers of all colors have been working in the late evenings and early mornings. When the sun begins to rise, a size 10 or 12 bead headed woolly bugger seems to attract hungry cuts. Trollers are having success trolling spoons, jakes, and woolly buggers.