Call us for a wind report! 406-222-7130

Last Updated: 9/22/2010 by James Anderson

The Stone | Spring Creeks | Yellowstone Park | Guide Services

Local & Private Lakes | CFS @ Corwin Springs | CFS @ Carter's

Yellowstone River

9.22 As you'd guess, the cloudy weather today fished well with streamers. Hot window seemed to be around 10:00 - 11:00. Home Invader was the fly of the day.

John Harmon and Brian Sienkowski at it again... more pics

9.20 There's been a little wind over here (imagine that) but during the calm moments the fish have been plowing drakes and baetis. Bright windy days have been tough, pretty much have to stick with nymphs and hope the whitefish don't see 'em. Rubberlegs are still good lead flies but size down your beadhead droppers to 18's. Seems to keep the white fish off a little more and the trout have no problem seeing them.

Bob Lepointe and Brian Sienkowski with a nice brown

9.16 Basically three games out there right now: 1. Drakes and Baetis (any variety of green/grey/brown drakes and parachute adams on 4X, 2. Hoppers and Ants (smaller size 8-10 hoppers with a small yet visible rust or black ant dropper), or 3. Stripping Streamers. Oh, there's also 4. Rubberlegs and beadheads (don't worry, as long as your fly is in the water you'll be dubbed "whitefish king" in no time). Bring as many boat rods as you can so you don't have to re-rig everything each time you want to switch up the game. Personally, I'd go with option 3 since now is one of the best times to catch a trophy. The river has dropped a ton in the last few days and the holding water is easy to read, don't forget the tailouts...

9.13 Cloudy overcast days have been worth throwing a streamer or two. This brown wasn't a very big one, but was enjoyed along the way of "paying dues." Take 'em as the river gods dish 'em out, if you stick with it, it's only a matter of time until you connect with mr BIG.

Bob Coffee with a 20 inch "Last Cast" boat ramp brown...

9.10 Quite the inclement weather we've been having. Mornings have been tough with these lower water temps. Might as well get a late start around 10:00 to let the bugs get popp'en. Hecubas and baetis weren't blanketing the water by any means, but there were definitely enough to get the fish interested. Our best window for dries was between 12:00 and 2:00. Any size #10/12 Green or Grey Drake followed by an adams will do the trick. 4X tippet was fine for dries.

The shield's was dumping in some pretty thick mud so floating up mid valley or through town might be better for clarity. Looks like the Lamar is going up - we'll see what happens.

The 89 Fishing Access Site is now officially closed until January. I've taken a few breaks at lunch and they are already working on it and blocking the put in with heavy equipment, so poaching this one will likely be irritating for the workers.

A positive thing about these rainy days ...

9.8 The fishing has been solid despite all the moisture. Hatches are thicker and those willing to put up with a raincoat have been catching some nice fish. The whitefish bite is hard in the valley. I never thought I'd say a bugle nose looked cool, but I kind of dig seeing them in their classy orange-glazed look.

John Loomis with an evening bruiser. The browns are starting to get more and more aggressive for streamers. (self timer)

9.6 No mas moss... which means you no longer have to check your nymphs every ten casts for green cling ons. The whitefish are starting to spawn in the upper valley and above Yankee jim so a small otter's milk egg is a smart dropper. Bigger fish have already been caught on streamers through and below town.

A fresh coating on of new snow on the mountains makes for a

very scenic float through paradise valley right now...

9.2 Friday and Saturday look like possible decent hopper days. Sunday and Labor Day will likely be better nymphing or a good day to throw streamers. Although the Lamar bumped a little again the flows at Corwin have been stable. The Shield's is back to over two feet of vis.

9.1 We've been getting some thick hecuba hatches the dark cloudy days. There have been some baetis on the water as well, but if the larger green drake like bugs are on the water the fish will be on them instead. Any green drake pattern should work well for representing these big greenish-gray may flies. When the sun the comes back grab your hopper rod but it will probably pay to have two rods rigged up and your nymph rod will likely get the most use.

Recommended Fly Patterns

Purple Haze (#12-18)

Parachute Adams (#12-18)

Hecuba Greek Drake (#10-14)

Hecuba Emergers (#12-14)

Green Wulff (#10-14)

Chubby Chernobyl (#10-12)

Bead Head Price (#14-18)

Pat's Rubberlegs (#12-14)

White Zonker (#2-6)

Black Leadeye (#2-6)

Pink Morish Hopper (good luck)

Cinnamon or Black ants (#12-16)

Parchute Madam X (#12-16)

Lower Madison

Guide Ashby Bell with a nice brown from the lower.

The CFS on the Lower has finally dropped back to somewhat normal flows. Overcast days have been fishing best over here, both with streamers, nymphs, and the occasional hatch of blue wings or pseudos. If the sun comes back out and stays for a while you could still get a big fish on a hopper. Otherwise better plan on nymphing with crayfish patterns, sculpin, small technical beadheads, or a dead drifted streamer. If you're looking to pad your numbers you can usually find a pod of smaller fish feeding on midges close to dark...

Doug with a nice rainbow caught on a streamer

Recommended Fly Patterns

Purple Haze (#12-18)

Parachute Adams (#12-18)

Hanging midge (#20-24)

Baetis Sparkle Dun (#18-20)

Chubby Chernobyl (#10-12)

Red Copper John (#16-20)

Gold Lightning bug (#16-20)

Pearl Lightning bug (#16-20)

Green Pat's Rubberlegs (#12-14)

White Zonker (#2-6)

Black Leadeye (#2-6)

JJ Special (#4-6)

Grand Hopper (#10-14)

Cinnamon or Black ants (#12-16)

Grey Parchute Madam X (#12-16)

Livingston Spring Creeks

River fish that ran up the creeks? Ya think!? Doug Mcknight shows a up a lit up two footer to the lens. Photos: Dave Bryan

PMD's and sulphurs are starting to slow down, but still it's necessary to be prepared for them. Plus a size #18 PMD comparadun makes for a good indicator fly anyway. Midges have taken over as the main course, but look for Baetis, pseduos, and flavs on cloudy days. Don't forget about your terrestrials - ants, beetles, and small hoppers have been fooling some nice fish. You could also try a mix of scuds, cranefly larva, midge larva, sculpin, or streamers. 6X has been the standard, (unless you're Doug, then it's nothing less than 2X and a Homer Invader)!

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

Armstrong's Spring Creek

DePuy's Spring Creek

Nelson's Spring Creek

Read George's news on Nelson's Spring Creek

"Paradise Valley PMD Hatch" by George Anderson

Recommended Spring Creek

Fly Patterns

Olive Drake PMD nymphs #16-18

Copper Drake PMD nymphs #16-18

House of Harrop PMD sparkle dun 18-20

House of Harrop PMD compara dun 18 20

Zebra and Olive Juju midge emergers #18-22
Harrop Gray CDC Biot Midge emerger #20-24

Harrop LTV. Gray and Duke. Gray CDC midge emergers #18-22

Gray WD 40 midge emergers #18-22
Harrop CDC Transitional midge with trailing shuck #20-22
Silver or Black Bead Head Zebra midges #20-22
Olive midge larva #18-20
Tan (grey) Sparkle scuds #16-18
Olive Sparkle scuds #16-18
Gray sow bugs #18-20

Sawyer PT nymphs #18-20

Bead Head Thorax PMD nymph #18
Black wooly buggers #8-10

Pine Squirrel mini-leech #12

Barr Bouface leech black #8

Barr's Slump Buster Black or Olive #8-10
Rag Sculpins #4-6

Local and Private Lakes

Jeff Carder with a nice brown from one of the private lakes we fish.

Fall is one of the best times to catch a hog! check out more pics...

September is the time when many of the private ponds and lakes we fish start to heat up again. The weeds recede, the water gets colder, and the big cruisers are looking for food during the middle of the day again. Hoppers are a good attractor dry - drop any of your favorite lake bugs for the dropper: Traveling sedge, spruce moth, ant or beetle, damsel, mayfly or even a hanging midge. Give us a call if you are looking to book a day on one of these lakes. We work with some of the best stillwater guides in the business...