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Call us for an ice / wind report! 406-222-7130 The Stone | Spring Creeks | Yellowstone Park | Guide Services Local & Private Lakes | CFS @ Corwin Springs | CFS @ Carter's Yellowstone River
2.27 Although the temperature was nearly 40 it actually fished much colder. The wind picked up and ice was building up on the guides - not too mention it was bright and sunny. Looks like a few more boat ramps are now "iced in" after the recent cold spell. Also, sections that almost always remain open (like through town and below) were covered in ice from bank to bank. Unless you're as skilled and brave as Shackleton, better stay warm in the tying cave until things thaw out a bit...
2.20 Any plans to mop them up this weekend on the Stone were intelligently cancelled. Looks like more cold and snow next week. Probably better to get some skiing in while the powder is deep or tie up some big streamers in anticipation for a turn in the weather...
Looks like the stream bite is back... (at least for a day or two)! 2.14 Fishing didn't qualify has "hot" by any stretch of the word but I managed to catch 3 nice ones on streamers. The first two fish I caught in slow, deep water. A combination of swinging and slow stripping was enough to catch their interest. I was fishing with my 590 Z-Axis, which actually turned out to be a pretty good streamer rod, as was able to handle two big streamers that I normally throw on my Cross Current 8 weight. Distance suffered in certain places, but over all I was pleasantly surprised how well it did, even in the notorious Livingston wind.
This cutbow went for a Black Whitlock Hare Sculpin, slowly stripped and "ticking" rocks along the bottom... While the obvious winter water over here is slow and deep, the last brown of the day came out of typical summer water and was lying in a rock garden next to a rip rap bank. I was actually reeling in when the little guy actively swiped my streamer close to the surface. I through my flies back in there and again he chomped the lead streamer but I missed since I was standing over him and had a bad angle to set the hook. I tossed it a couple more times and he took one for the team under the chin. Anyway, the surprising part about it all was how fast he was moving to attack it. The chase was definitely on!
The cold didn't seem to slow this guy down a bit. Only in February can you get a fish to come back to your flies 4 times in a row! Looks like the weather for the next couple days will be sticking above 50. With that, of course is some wind - 28 m.p.h. on average. The problem with the Yellowstone, is that if you wait for a warm, calm day to fish, you won't be doing any fishing at all. After that it looks like another cold spell is upon us with more snow by Wednesday or Thursday. If you decide to put a boat in, b careful and be sure to check out the pull outs, grey bear is still covered with ice, which means the valley will have even more.
Sunset just above the Grey Bear bridge. Still lots of ice down low, making it impossible or extremely difficult to pull a boat out...
2.10 As you can see the river is no longer completely frozen over near town. But fishing has still been slow as the water temperatures hover around freezing. Any fish we've caught has been on a dead drift sculpin pattern fished deep. As afternoon temperatures soar into the low 40's we've been seeing a few sporadic midges on the surface. We'd guess within the next few weeks temperatures will warm and we'll have the chance to float the river and slow strip streamers. Most of the fish in the system haven't seen a fly in quite some time so catching can be quite easy if the weather will cooperate.
2.05 Everyone we've talked to and seen fishing has been hitting the spring creeks lately. With temperatures down to -25 the other day on my way to work fishing is obviously not feasible. Hold tight and tie a few flies. Livingston Spring Creeks
Paul Bloch with a solid DePuy's rainbow. photo: Justin Carroll 2.20 Nothing new to report in terms of hatches, although it seems that anglers are already starting to see some early "river fish" arrivals. Soon Daryl will be marking off the main spawning areas. Please respect these "off limits" sections and let the fish do their thing.
Still a lot more midges than baetis, also a few leeches! 2.10 (by Justin Bolduc) The spring creeks continue to fish well despite the cold temperatures. We've had a chance to fish a few afternoons in the past few weeks and the fish are still active enough to chase streamers. The Mini Home Invader continues to be a favorite along with Barr's bouface tied small and sparse. Midges have been hatching but we haven't seen a hatch yet worth tying on a dry. I was fishing the spring creek the other afternoon and a fish was rising and instead of changing over to a dry I dead drifted a black leech and he fell for it. Any day is a great day on the Spring Creeks!
If the wind is blowing away the hatch, winter time streamer fishing is always a good way to go. Photos: Justin Bolduc
Read George's news on Nelson's Spring Creek "Paradise Valley PMD Hatch" by George Anderson
Recommended Spring CreekFly PatternsHarrop Baetis short wing emerger #18-20 Harrop Baetis sparkle dun #18-20 Harrop Baetis No Hackle #18-20 Gray WD 40 midge emergers #18-22 Gray WD 50 midge emerger #18-20
Sawyer PT nymphs #18-20 Bead Head Thorax PMD nymph #18 Barr's Slump Buster Black or Olive #8-10 Olive and Grizzly Invader #6
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