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Last Updated: 7/8/2008 The Yellowstone | Spring Creeks | Madison | Private/Local Lakes HIGH WATER AND FISHING FORECAST Yellowstone RiverCFS @ Lamar River | CFS @ Corwin Springs | CFS @ Carter's
The Yellowstone has been dropping like a rock (15,300 CFS), with about about 6 - 12 inches of visibility. A few salmonflies have been spotted through town, but the major part of this hatch will occur from Loche Leven put in all the way up to Gardiner. George floated the Yellowstone from Pine creek to Carter's on Sunday and reported fish rising in the mud - not to salmonflies, but instead to big Western Green Drakes! These are the largest ephemerella May fly we get out here - the same Green Drakes that you'll find while fishing on the Lamar, Soda Butte, and Slough. He also reported more golden stones than Salmonflies, which makes sense for that section of river...
It's going to be a while before the Stone is fishing well, but with all the boat traffic that will be on the Upper Madison this weekend, it may be an option... We're not recommending that people float the Yellowstone until the CFS drops to around 8,000. If you are an expert rower and extremely confident in your ability to get out of trouble, then you can hit the river up right now, even at higher water. Keep in mind the stretch from Carter's Bridge to Mayor's Landing is still closed due to the problems with the 9th street bridge. The Fire Chief said that FWP may opt to keep that stretch of the river closed as long as the failed section of 9th St. Bridge is still there and sagging, for safety reasons. We'll keep you posted as to when this section opens up.
For more, check out our HIGH WATER AND FISHING FORECAST
Paradise Valley Spring Creeks The PMD's are going good now. The hatch seems to kick off around 9:00 - 10:00 with more fish eating nymphs and emergers. By 11:00 however, fish will be eating dries as well as spent spinners. The first PMD’s of the season to appear are the largest – the Ephemerella Infrequens, which are imitated with duns that average size 16 but often look as large as 14’s. Rene’ Harrop’s PMD No-Hackle in a size 16 with a big gray wing silhouette and pale olive body is a perfect imitation. For more information check out George's PMD article.
Aside from the PMD's there have still been midges in the morning (before the water heats up) and in the evening as the water cools back down. During the middle of the day when the water is warmer but the PMD's have stopped you can fish with ants, beetles, crickets, hoppers, or spiders. You can also try dredging deep with a spring creek leech, small bugger, damsel nymph, or sculpin pattern.
The creeks will be extremely difficult to get on right now, but we have a current cancellation list and can sometimes get you on. You never know, so give us a call! 406-222-7130.
The MadisonCFS Below Ennis Lake near McAllister
The Upper Madison is on fuego! People have been foaming at the mouth as the big bugs have really turned on strong. The river is clear, stable, and dropping so the conditions couldn't be better. The thickest part of the hatch has been from Varney to 8 mile, but they'll be moving up soon enough. Aside from salmonflies there are golden stones, caddis, and yellow sallies - the water is literally covered in bugs and the fish are quite happy. This river is mostly likely in its prime right now, so call in sick, grab your gear and get that boat in the water. As more and more boat traffic starts to develop, don't be afraid to rock the middle of the river with two big black salmonfly nymphs or a dry with a 4 foot dropper. If you don't like the sound of casting that all day, you can also target smaller 8-12 inch trout on the edge of the banks with a single caddis dry fly...
Local and Private Lakes
Although the PMD's on the creeks have produced some awesome fishing, local and private lakes are still producing the biggest fish. Lakes aren't for everyone, and we realize that, but for those who enjoy lake fishing give us a call. With all the high and muddy water around SW montana, the private lakes are booking up quickly, so the sooner you can call us the better. 406-222-7130.
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Related Links: Archived Fishing Reports
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The Salmonfly hatch on the Stone has begun but there's still mud. 
