Salmonfly Hatch Almost Finished

Yellowstone National Park Firehole River- With the recent warm weather, I expect the Firehole River to slow down mid day from 12-3 or possibly 4p.m. Although, P.M.D's and white miller caddis are still hatching in the mornings and evenings. This is a great time to be fishing the Firhole with some dry flies in a size 14 or 16. Gibbon River- The Gibbon continues to be productive for most fisherman. The water temperature is a little cooler than the Firehole and Madison, so the Gibbon should fish well throughout the day. With this in mind, mornings and evenings will still be better than mid day. Rusty spinners and elk hair caddis in a size 14 seem to do the trick for these fun brown trout above and below Gibbon Falls. Madison River- Pool #1 and above 7 mile bridge has been fishing the best with rusty spinners, elk hair caddis, and P.M.D.'s. Nymphs such as copper johns, phesant tail emergers, and princes are another great way of fishing these memorable stretches. Yellowstone Lake- Reports of healthy cutthroats are being caught off of several points throughout the lake. Surprisingly, a few fisherman are still catching lake trout off of Gull point using woolly buggers and jakes lures. These lake trout should be moving into deeper water soon with the warm weather forecast we have for the next week. Yellowstone River- Closed until July 15th. Lamar Valley- Beginning to clear up, but still not recommended for fishing just yet. Montana- Gallatin River- Nymphing continues to be the most productive way of fishing the Gallatin River. Jacklin's salmonfly nymph with a size 14 copper john has been a great combination on the cool running Gallatin. Salmonflys are still near Big Sky, but are moving closer each day. Hebgen Lake- Cruising fish can be spotted in the late mornings and evenings just off the shoreline gulping various nymphs. Midges continue to be a large part of the trout's diet, but callibaetis are starting to show up in small numbers. Black and brown woolly buggers are doing great when casted in front of a cruising trout and stripped slowly. Trollers are having luck with rapala's, large spoons, and golden spinners. Between Hebgen and Quake- Salmonflys are hatching between the lakes and fisherman are having great luck with Jacklin's own salmonfly pattern. Size 8 or 6 orange stimulators have been working well with a lightening bug or Jacklin's salmonfly nymph trailing behind the dry. Below Quake- Evening fishing has been the best with elk hair caddis and numerous caddis nymphs. Brown serendipities and iris caddis have produced great success in the last few minutes of light. Salmonflys are just above McAtee bridge and will move swiftly with this warm weather. Henry's Lake- Big fish are beginning to congregate near creek inlates because of the rising water temperature. Brown, black, and olive woolly buggers are attracting trout in the early mornings and late evenings. Damselfly nymphs are a great pattern when fishing in 4 feet of water or less. Trollers are still catching big fish with size 4 woolly buggers and olive sculpin patterns. The weeds continue to grow each day so trollers may soon find it harder to find those open pockets where fish hold. -Dillon Given