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Last Updated: 8/29/2010 by James Anderson

The Stone | Spring Creeks | Yellowstone Park | Guide Services

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

Yellowstone River

8.30 - Through town is between 2-3 feet of vis. Mid Valley or below Big Timber would be the best best for a float today. Looks like another spike on the Lamar, so we may have another plug on the way tomorrow up high. The shield's also spiked and is kicking in some mud below 89...

8.29 We have a plug of mud coming through the valley right now. Tomorrow we should be able to beat it up high, (things are already looking green up there). Down low past Big Timber should also be clear. Go high if you are looking for cutthroat, go low if you are more after rainbows and a chance at a bigger brown...

Garth Amos and Travis Volk representin' Livingston MT! more pics

8.22 For those brave enough to battle the elements the payoff was big. The wind was rippin' and it was hard to cast and hard to row. There were some decent windows through the day however. As the weather switched back and forth between clouds and sun, we switched from streamer rods to hopper rods. Nymphing a single rubberleg to the bank was good for a couple chunky cutbows. At least the wind doesn't look as bad for the next few days...

Joe Ransome with Mr. two footer! Photo: Guide Jeff Blatter

8.20 The River's been hot this week! The best hopper window has been 1 - 4 but you can expect hopper eats all day long. If you like to sleep in a little on your day off, the early bite has been only marginal. We must have had 30 eats or looks during that afternoon window of "hoppertunity." There's a lot of moss in the Valley right now - especially mid bird, although certainly mild by Bighorn or Missouri standards. We just got in toad loads of your favorite 10's although the biggest fish are still taking the 8's. Get out there and getcha some hopper action this weekend!

Dan Hutjens and Brian Sienkowski

8.18 There was a tiny plug up high yesterday but it was one of those short lived "pea green" plugs. While you'll likely get more action fishing smaller hoppers, the big fish have been eating larger ones - makes sense since the hoppers are getting big and juicy towards the end of August. Don't count nymphs out either - there have been some big ole' hogs caught recently on small beadheads.

Paul Fingersh large and in charge! Photo: Eric Paulson

8.16 The river is back in shape and fishing well. We had mixed reports from Sunday - down low was pretty tough for most boats, but a couple did well with hoppers in the late afternoon. The fish are starting to get gun shy so be sure you're fishing 4X. Any smaller than that and you have a real fair fight on your hands, especially if a big brown smokes your hopper. Try dropper a little hopper, ant, or even a parachute adams to keep your fish numbers up. The big boys are still looking for the hopper...

Jon Frame with a nice Yellowstone brownie. Photo: Eric Paulson

Livingston Spring Creeks

Peter Dam and Guide Bob Bergquist with a nice brown

The hatches on the Spring Creeks have been getting a little thinner lately. Still, we'll be fishing PMD's in the mornings and sulphurs in the afternoons. Smaller is better this time of year, so be sure to pick up some size 18-22 sparsely tied flies.

As may fly hatches thin, terrestrial fishing will become more important, especially after lunch. Try a mix of small hoppers, ants, beetles. If you are out on the creek towards dark you might try a streamer or two as well...

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

Yellowstone National Park

The Park has been BUSY lately. Try to do your best to hike away from the road to get away from people and into fish that have seen less fishing pressure.

Hoppers, ants, and cicadas have been the ticket for us up in the Park right now. Bring your bug spray and bear spray...

Chubby Chernobyl #10-12

Rogue Salmonfly #8-10

Yellow Stimi #12-16

Chernobyl and #8-10

Mini Chernobyl ant #14

Green Drake Parachute #12-14

Green Drake Dun #12-14

Gray Drake Parachute #12-14

Gray Drake Dun #12-14

Copper Drake nymphs #16-18

House of Harrop PMD sparkle dun 18-20

House of Harrop PMD compara dun 18 20

Local and Private Lakes

Alain Bouchard with a monster 8 pound cutthroat...

Early July is a great time to fish private lakes in South Western Montana. The fish are enormous, the hatches are thick, the site fishing feels like saltwater flats fishing, and the solitude is relaxing.

We have access to many different private lakes that charge access fees of $75-$100 a day but access is usually limited to just your party so you'll have the lake to yourselves. Browns and rainbows right up to 7 and 8 pounds are not uncommon.