Last Updated: 10/24/2007

The Yellowstone  The wind has calmed down from last week and there have been some Baetis hatches on warmer, overcast days.   Some nice rainbows have been caught in the foam eddies and riffles.  The fishing is really good right now, and many of the guides wish their clients were here to experience how good the Stone can be.   The bigger browns are now starting to head for spawning gravel, so be sure to slow down at the tailouts where pea-sized gravel often builds up. You'll want to avoid steppping over any cleared off pebbles while you are wade fishing, (the more eggs that survive, the better our fishery will be later). Less people are floating 10 mile floats, so keep the lower sections in mind if you want less pressure.  Most people have been floating through town or the bird float, but week days have been more or less vacant of drift boats.

The Madison  The Upper Madison has been fishing really well this week.  3 dollar, Slip and Slide, the Madison in the Park.  Everything has been fishing well both on small beadhead attractor nymphs, stoneflies, and baetis patterns.  Also don't forget about the water closer to home like all the braids from Varney to Ennis, the powerplant, the middle of the Beartrap, or the Lower Madison.  A 27.5 inch brown was caught in Bear Trap this week. 

The Spring Creeks Now that the Creeks are down to $40 a day of private water fishing is just a call away.  Baetis have been coming off strong around 11:00.  Midges have been the main hatch to fish in the morning.  Give us a ring or stop by the shop for the scoop on what bugs to use and where to use them.  We have all the maps and highlighters you need to find fish, unless you want to higher a guide for the day which would make fishing even better. 

Yellowstone National Park  The Gardiner River, Lava Creek, Lamar, Soda Butte, Hellroaring, and Slough Creek have all been fishing well with beadhead attractor nymphs, (especially green colors), streamers, and parachute Adams.  The Firehole has had some of the best dry fly oportunities, particularily near Biscuit Basin.  The Madison in the park has revealed some real brutes this fall!  Prepare to see some people though...

Local and Private Lakes  Burns lake has been on fire!  Anglers are reporting catches of 50 or more fish a day, with several older fish in the 20-22 inch class.  Plus... look out Big Brookies!  There are a few browns at Burn's that have grown over 5 pounds.    As for local lakes, check out Dailey, Hylite, Ennis Lake, Newland Reservoir, and the "Hog Hole" for your best shot at some true pigs.  Don't forget to bring your camera - you're going to need it!

The Bighorn Dry fly fishing continues with good hatches of small Baetis mayflies and midges.  Most people are fishing nymphs like sowbug and Baetis patterns although midge larva and midge pupa patterns can be deadly.  George caught the brown to the left on a size #18 Baetis dun.  On the lower river streamers are a good bet for a big brown.  This is the time of the year to combine some pheasant hunting with the late fall fishing. 

The Missouri   The MO is truely fishing well right now.  Big fish, looking for streamers in the morning, baetis in the afternoon.  As long as the wind doesn't blow off the hatch, you can have some incredible dry fly fishing.   Clouds are nice, but if you're stuck with sun, try nymphing a long leader with 5 or 6x and a combination of scuds, sow bugs, eggs, thin baetis nypmhs, WD40's, SJW's, or whatever your favorite Fall MO nypmh might be. 

Local Hot Spots   Places like these can't take a ton of fishing pressure, so we don't post them on line.   For these places, it is best to come see us in person (and be very polite).  The reality is that if you are nice, we'll hook you up.  We'll give you a map, (ask you to keep it to yourself), and sell you a few flies for the day.  We've been on the road before too, and know how cool it is to get help from a fly shop.

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