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Last Updated: 4/1/2009 by James Anderson

The Yellowstone | Spring Creeks | Waters we fish | Guide Services

Bighorn & Missouri | CFS @ Corwin Springs | CFS @ Carter's

Yellowstone River

D. Holiway with a down low Loch Leven. Photo: James Anderson

Midges, baetis, and March browns scattered the surface of the Yellowstone yesterday. Although it was cold and windy, it was overcast and the fishing was worth the frozen fingers. The trout were definitely keyed in on the larger March brown mayflies, but dread drifted streamers, stonefly nymphs, beadheads, emergers, and various worm patterns were all popular items on the menu. As usual when floating down low, we didn't catch many fish, but fish that made it into the net were nice.

Looks like the next couple days will be overcast, with the sun finally breaking through on Sunday. Good chances of snow, so don't forget a warm hat. As temperatures increase over the next two weeks, keep an eye out for the cloudy days. If you are throwing a sinking line, keep your flies in the zone by stripping slow and purposely ticking the bottom now and then. If you are fishing a floating line, pick a heavy fly as your lead bug and add a split shot if you have to. Aside from the few short windows of rising fish, they are bunkered down and hugging the bottom.

Click here for more recent Yellowstone River photos...

If you catch one of these suckers, you'll know you are getting

your flies down deep where the monster browns lurk...

HATCHES

There are more midges than anything on the water, but the fish aren't really feeding heavily on them. Instead they are keeping an eye out for the newly arrived may flies, both baetis and March browns. The baetis are small, about a size 18-20. One of Harrop's baetis no hackles or sparkle duns would be the perfect match. The March Browns are quite a bit larger, about a 15-16. We have a few March Brown patterns at the shop that match this bug perfectly, but a Parachute Hare's Ear or even a Parachute Adam's will do the trick. There are also hordes of caddis hibernating in the shucks, just waiting for the water temperature to rise. Also under the rocks are plenty of goldenstones, sculpin, and a few salmonfly nymphs.

RECOMMENDED FLIES

Red serendipity #14-16

René Harrop's baetis no hackle #18-20

René Harrop's baetis sparkle dun #18-20

Dave Student's thin olive baetis #16-18

Parachute March Brown #14-16

Parachute Hare's Ear #14-16

Parachute Adams #14-18

Brown Pat's Rubberlegs #8-12

Strom's Stone #10-12

Beadheads (whatever) #12-14

Otter's Soft Milk Eggs #12

Black leadeye buggers #2-4

Bow River Buggers #4-6

Black Woolhead sculpin #2

Black Sculpzilla #4

Black Circus Peanut #2

Double Bunnies #2-4

White Home Invader #2

White Zonkers #2-4

JJ Specials #4

Spring Creeks

Although the baetis are here, the scuds have been even thicker. Get some in both olive and tan. Photo: George Anderson

If a road trip to the Bighorn or Missouri just aren't in the cards for you, a quick trip to the creeks is a great option. The rainbows have moved in and are spawning now, so it is important that we all try to avoid stomping on the redds (spawning beds). That can be easier said than done when you see a 25 inch Yellowstone rainbow sitting there with just inches of waters over her back in Betty's riffle. To help you resist the urge, Daryl Smith has hi-vised off some sensitive spawning areas with cones, so please respect these areas and either fish above or below the marked areas.

There's nothing wrong with catching fish on egg patterns below the redds though. These fish will be looking for midge larva and baetis nymphs as well, but always keep an eye out for little pink and orange protein pills. It's not only rainbows and cutthroat that enjoy picking off these easy meals either, sometimes you can catch a BIG brown hanging below the redds, especially wherever you find a deep drop off with waist deep water.

Be sure to play with your weight and get your flies in the feeding line. The fish are still sluggish and are not going out of their way to get a meal. Get it right in front of the face however, and they will eat just about anything size #18-20.

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

Armstrong's Spring Creek

DePuy's Spring Creek

Nelson's Spring Creek

Thoughts on fishing redds

What do redds look like?

HATCHES

The baetis have finally been stating to come off, but not in huge numbers. If you get a nice non-windy cloudy day (keep those fingers crossed with Livingston) the possibility for an epic day is certainly there. Otherwise you'll probably get as much action on your midge dropper as your baetis dry if not more. Flip over some rocks and see what's under them. You'll see how many baetis nymphs are around, plus a bunch of olive/grey scuds, leeches, stoneflies, and cranefly larva. Don't forget to bring some eggs as your ace up the sleeve.

RECOMMENDED FLIES

Black Zebra midges #18

Olive midge larva #18

Dave Student midge emergers #18-20

René Harrop Light Grey CDC Midge Emerger #20

René Harrop Grey CDC Adult Midge #20

René Harrop Grey CDC Hanging Midge #20

René Harrop's baetis no hackle #18-20

René Harrop's baetis sparkle dun #18-20

Dave Student's thin olive baetis #16-18

Tan (grey) Sparkle scuds #18

Olive Sparkle scuds #18

Pink Sparkle scuds #18

Red Mini San Juan Worm #16-18

Otter's Soft Milk Eggs #14

Orange Ray Charles #18

Bighorn sow bugs #18

Black leadeye buggers #6

Bow River Buggers #6-8

Rag Sculpins #4

Pig Pen Leeches #8

Brown Home Invader #6

Bighorn and Missouri

If you have the time for a road trip, the Bighorn and Missouri are two of your best options this time of year. The fish counts are impressive and the average fish size is relatively large. The Bighorn is fishing better than the MO these days, but you also have to deal with the crowds. A few of our friends counted 70 boats from the Dam to 12 mile last weekend. They also saw several jet boats down low and (I cringe to mention) anglers fishing on jet skis! The MO has been tough due to wind, colder water temps, and the fact that the rainbows head up the creeks to spawn where the Bighorn is predominantly a brown trout fishery. Get a couple friends together to split food, gas, and lodging and hit the road! You should catch enough fish in those two days to last you weeks back at the office...

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

Bighorn Trout Shop

Missouri Trout Shop

Tailwaters Near and Far

Book a guide

HATCHES

Although you can expect to see plenty of baetis and midges, this time of year most anglers do best by deep nymphing with extremely long drifts. Try a variety of pink scuds, Bighorn sowbugs, zebra midges, various worm patterns, green scuds, and who could resist - streamers. If you're not into fish on the Horn, check your weight and add a split shot or two. If you're not into fish on the MO you might have to start learning your big runs and buckets better because it is a much bigger (and tougher to learn) tailwater. If you are not that familiar the MO, you should probably stop in the Trout Shop for some flies and advice.