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Call us for a wind report! 406-222-7130 Last Updated: 12/29/2009 by James Anderson The Stone | Spring Creeks | Yellowstone Park | Guide Services Local & Private Lakes | CFS @ Corwin Springs | CFS @ Carter's Yellowstone River
12.29 Still too much slush floating down to do much fishing. If you're really jonesin' for a fishing fix, through town is more open than the valley or down low. La Duke would also be a good choice, if you have time for a drive. Bring some midges or plan on nymphing with sculpin patterns, stonefly nymphs, or beadheads. I took drive to Billings today, from Grey Bear down the river looked totally frozen over with several bank to bank ice jams. It doesn't look like the weather is going to get any better soon. Creeks are probably the only worth while option this week unless you feel like hitting up the Bighorn.
12.24 As of yesterday slush has begun to build up again, making it hard to fish. Give the Yellowstone a few days, it looks like it will be below freezing for through the weekend. The good news is we saw a 1/2 dozen rises or so in the morning, plus a VERY big fish working the shallow bank with his back out of the water, most likely looking for sculpin to snack on. Ahh, of all the days to leave your rod at home! Most of the ducks were flying high yesterday, but there were still a few mallards, goldeneyes, and mergansers coming in on the deck. For those of you who like to tie spey flies, the drake mallards now have some beautiful, dark bronze mallard on them.
12.20 Only random ice chunks floating and no slush, even early in the morning. Should stay fishable until Wednesday, when subfreezing temperatures settle in and making floating too dangerous. Winds should be under 20 mph but you never know. Give us a buzz before you head this way...
12.19 There was still slush floating for most of the morning. The river was gin clear and I could see a few vacated redds just beyond the 6 inch shelf ice. There were midges on the ice, but they were clinging on for dear life, the wind was ripp'en fast enough to rip your hat off if you weren't careful. If you had a raft and a 40 foot tow rope I think you could float 89 to Springdale without getting pinched by shelf ice too bad.
12.12 While the weather is getting warmer this weekend, the winds are picking up. Wind Advisory with gusts as high as 55 mph today. Sunday looks better for wind (11-14mph), but only 24°F and 70% chance of snow.
12.7 Things are still way too cold to make a day of fishing worth while. I think your time would be better served at the vise or getting some of that Christmas shopping done early. That way when things turn around next week you'll have time to wet a line instead of spend the day wrapping presents.
develop on the Yellowstone. Give us a call before you head out. 12.4 With wind chill values well below zero, you'll be as frozen as your guides in no time. Not to mention it is tricky to get a drift between all the chunks of ice floating by. If you're looking to get out of the house, the spring creeks would be a far better bet this week. RECOMMENDED FLIESWhite Home Invader #2 Bow River Buggers #4-8 Black leadeye Bugger #4-8 Rubberlegs (all colors) #6-10 George's Brown stone #4-8 Strom's Stone #8-10 Epoxy Back Goldenstones #10-12 Copper Johns (all colors) #14-18 Rubber Leg prince #14-16 Beadhead Prince #14-18 Beadhead Pheasant tails #14-18 JJ Special #2-6 Parachute Adams #12-18 Harrop Sparkle Dun #16-20 Harrop Baetis Emerger #16-20 Hi Vis Elk Hair Caddis #12-16 October Caddis #10-12 Lime Trude#16-18 Rag Sculpin #2-4 Egg Sucking Rag Sculpin #2-4 Whitlock Sculpin (black/white) #4 Articulated Streamers #2-4 Spring Creeks
Steve Wilson with a nice Armstrong's brown. Photo: Joe Barett The creeks have been fishing well this winter season. No need to wake up at the crack of dawn, 11:00 to 4:00 has been meat and potatoes of the baetis hatch. Nymphs, emergers, CDC duns, Compara duns, no hackles, the usual suspects... No need for 6X, 4 or 5X will be fine. We didn't have many refusals, I don't think the fish haven't seen flies over here in a while. It's actually a great time to learn the creeks because you have A LOT of water to yourself and the fish are hungry.
If nothing seems to be hatching or the wind is blowing the bugs off the water try nymphing with scuds. In flipping a few rocks last week, there were more scuds than any other food source. Saw some sculpin too, if you're not opposed to throwing a streamer on the creeks.
Rates are $40 right now, and with virtually no other angling pressure this is one of my favorite times to fish the creek. In certain spots fish will still be spawning, so go easy on the redds. ADDITIONAL REFERENCESRead George's news on Nelson's Spring Creek "Paradise Valley PMD Hatch" by George Anderson HATCHESLook for midges in the morning, with possible baetis from 10:00 until 2:00. For nymphs look a scuds, midge larva patterns, sawyer pt's, spring creek leeches, and smaller buggers. Sight fishing can be great with nymphs on brighter days, when fish are less likely to snap at a dry. You might as well chuck something nasty before you leave because you never know where the 28 incher is sitting - go big before you go home. RECOMMENDED FLIESHarrop's Baetis Sparkle Dun #18-20 Stalcups Cellophane wing baetis cripple #18-20 Wollum's Baetis nymph #18-20 Barr's Meat Whistle (brown) #4 |
Related Links: Archived Fishing Reports Need help for Christmas Ideas?
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With this week's colder temperatures, slush ice has begun to 
