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Last Updated: 9/29/2008 The Yellowstone | Spring Creeks | Waters we fish | Guide Services Yellowstone RiverCFS @ Lamar River | CFS @ Corwin Springs | CFS @ Carter's 9/29
The confluence of the Yellowstone and Shield's River It's been pretty warm the last few days but it looks like we have some clouds rolling by wednesday, and getting nastier by the day through Saturday. This is the weather that I've been waiting for. The dry fly fishing should be top shelf and the streamer fishing should be good as well. Got to fish before then? Most of the guides have been floating up in the Valley where the fish counts are high and the dry fly action is more consistent. If you want to float down through town or below, I'd recommend going late and pulling out around 7:00. 9/28
The last few days have been bright and rather tough fishing on the Yellowstone. Saturday actually fished pretty good in the morning but by the afternoon things started to shut down. Still, in general the better fishing has been better in the afternoons.
Looks like we have some bright days ahead of us this week. To me that means focus on the mornings and evenings when the light is lower and the fish are less spooky. I'd focus on shorter stretches with more riffles and get out a lot. Rubberlegs and beadheads should be the knockout fish finders, but you can mix it up with streamers and dries. There have been baetis, fall drakes (a size #12 parachute hare's ear is perfect), and a few pmd like bugs that I can't remember the scientific name of. If you're picking between morning and evening, I'd bet on the later half of the day...
9/25
A nice brown caught a while ago on an unmentioned local stream. This time of year is a fun time to fish the Yellowstone or lower maddy, but the smaller streams are hard to beat since you can guess where the browns are holding a little better. Plus if you are wading on foot, the smaller streams are easier to get around on and you don't have to bring your 8 weight and sinking line. For flies I always like the JJ this time of year. Usually I'll dead drift it with a stonefly nymph behind it and twitch it every 8-10 feet to make it look alive. 9/24
The whitefish are biting hard over here, nice ones too! If you like catching big whitefish on the fly, the yellowstone is on fire right now. The only disappointment comes if you think you've just hooked a fat hook jawed brown, but if you are expecting the bone of the stone you can have a lot of fun. I'm not sure why no one takes pictures of those fat 20 inch whitefish. If you happen to get one send us a pic and we'll send you some flies... 9/23
The Yellowstone is clear and good to go again. Rick talked to someone at Matson's and the river is clear up there as well. The water was nice and cold this morning. Saw a big brown rise up, most likely getting air for his blatter since there wasn't a bug in sight. Makes a guy want to get into a switch rod pretty badly...
9/22
The Yellowstone in town has a chalky green color to it with only about 2 or 3 inches of visibility. The Gardner River still has a bit of tint to it up high, but the river looks fishable way up high. Tomorrow Paradise Valley looks like it should be in good shape. Not sure how low you'd have to go today in order escape the pea green sludge ... 9/21
Mike Bertrand with a big bow from one of the private lakes we fish. Mr. Hook jaw rainbow here ate a hopper. photo: Doug McKnight We're still seeing some callibaetis on the lakes. Not much for damsels out there these days. There have been some big fish eating lately and not much pressure. Streamers have been working well especially with sinking lines. A beadhead, mini worm, or scud hanging 6 feet under a bobber does the trick too. Give us a call if you want to go. We have plenty of float tubes to rent, or even better, book a guide for the day... 9/19
Dennis Bryan with a lunker that he caught on a small dry fly. Fish are still taking hopper during that 2:00 - 4:00 window, but the fish are a little hesitant. We're starting to see a lot of boils underneath the fly as if they just aren't sure about it. Small attractor dries and baetis patterns on the other hand have been quite agreeable with the trout. Work the foam lines and eddies with long drifts, especially places where most boat traffic would go past too quickly. If you're on the sticks, row hard for you buddy in these spots so he or she gets more shots. Or if it looks shallow enough you can even jump out and hold the boat for them. Dragging big stuff behind the boat is also working well these days down low. The Whitefish bite is on strong now though so perhaps try to avoid using beadheads. 9/18
Steve Bryan with nice 21 inch cutbow. photo: Doug McKnight (Although being able to dunk and get things off the top shelf is handy, being 6'4" at times does have it's down sides). The last few days the bite has been good in the afternoon. Mornings have been slower but guides have been picking up a few fish up on nymphs and the occasional deep streamer. If you float the river a lot you know where they are. You probably saw them follow or toilet bowl under your fly... Maybe they even ate your fly but gave you the head shake. Either way you made a little mental note, and the next time you float by that undercut bank you're going to be armed and dangerous. It never hurts to float the same section where you saw the big one or even call your shuttle driver to shorten change your take out and double dip...
PMD's on the Spring Creeks
Sulfurs have been coming off on the creeks in the evenings starting around 4:00. Photo: Doug McKnight The PMD's are still going well out on the creeks, with Sulfurs in the evening. Depending on the wind and weather, sometimes you get an incredible PMD spinner fall. I've seen them start as early as 5:30, or as late as 8:00. The sulfurs are a little more consistent, starting around 4:00. There seems to be more sulfurs on Nelson's but we've seen them on all of the creeks.
The evening is a neat time to be on the creek because the fish really come alive - it is almost as though they know it's frozen margarita time at the rib and chop, hence they feel more free to snack on your imitations. In the early morning you can always rip a few fish on midge larva patterns. Shades of Olive have been working very well on Nelson's and upper Armstrong's. Black has reportedly been the better color on DePuy's for whatever reason. Make sure to bring your 6x because these fish are getting very selective and your drift is the first indication that something with a hook in it is coming down the pipe. GrandMax FX is our favorite choice for if you like fluorocarbon, Rio Powerflex if you prefer mono...
With this colder weather rolling in, you'll have a good chance of seeing some baetis on the water. Aside from the may fly patterns, the real killers have been midge larva, especially Rick's custom larva lace midge larva patterns. For more information check out George's PMD |
Related Links: Archived Fishing Reports
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