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Call us for a wind report! 406-222-7130 The Stone | Spring Creeks | Snow Pack | Guide Services Local & Private Lakes | CFS @ Corwin Springs | CFS @ Carter's Yellowstone River
Dave Goff's monster brown from last Friday... What was first thought to be a snag, started heading up stream in a hurry! 4.3 Hate to be those guys that told you, "you should have been here last week" but unfortunately the streamer bite has slowed way down. Just when the fishing got red hot, a low pressure system rolled in and squashed an otherwise epic round of spring streamer fishing! The barometer is finally climbing back up, but unfortunately, so are CFS flows. As the weather warms up, expect the feeder creeks and tribs to kick quite a bit of mud into the the Yellowstone. Fishing conditions will likely change daily from now until the Mother's Day Caddis hatch begins in Late April. Give us a call for the most current conditions.
Guide Marcus McGuire with a healthy 22" Photo: Justin Bolduc (Click photos for more pics) 3.28 Usually the streamer fishing heats up over here in April, but this year late March has been incredible for chucking big streamers at unsuspecting, large brown trout. A combination of overcast days, warmer weather, and 2-3 feet of visibility has been the trick. I'm sure all of Montana is fishing well right now, but if you have the day off and want a chance at a monster, the Yellowstone is a good choice...
Outfitter Brian Sienkowski with a line ripper 3.27 Saturday was a little bright, but Sunday was overcast with no wind. It was a little cold, but by no means intolerable. There were a few runs that looked like they would nymph better than throwing streamers but we were catching enough fish not to switch over. Fish ate almost every color we threw at them including brown, tan, white, yellow but it was more fun to fish a lighter fly so we could see their attack. With the cold water, the fish we caught were frisky and acrobatic. A few had deep, almost iridescent purple cheeks.
Huh - looks like their eating pretty good over here... This little but "big attitude" brown had an 8 inch whitefish in his grill, along with two other baitfish, and he was still trying to eat a 6 inch streamer! Good lord, would I like to see what this fish looks like about four years!
3.25 Does streamer fishing get any better than this!? Mike and Nick boated 10 fish over 20 inches! Time to cash in those sick days and swing some big flies stone!
3.23 Despite the recent snow the streamer fishing on the Stone continues to be red hot. Got about 5 good tugs after work today - all browns and of course lost the big one...
Should we order the sandbags now? 3.22 Snow pack is currently 118% - which means we won't likely be fishing the Yellowstone until mid July. We should still get some good caddis dry fly fishing during the end of April / early May. Streamer fishing from now until then should also be red hot. Unless we see a drastic drop in snow pack, count salmonflies out this year, except for in the Park. Prime time Hopper fishing should push back a couple weeks as well, out guess is more towards mid to late August instead of late July - mid August. This means you'll want to book your favorite outfitters and guides soon as we'll have a pretty condensed season! Give James a buzz to book a trip. 406-222-7130.
Outfitter Hank Bechard shows the camera a toad. The fish exploded on the fly with incredible speed! Photo: Doug Mcknight 3.21 Attention all streamer fisherman - the fish you are looking for on the Yellowstone have awakened! Visibility is a solid 2-3 feet with that perfect "green ribbon" tint to it. Hopefully it will stay clear this week - the weather man is calling for overcast and temps in the mid 40's. We also heard rumors of a 16 pound 34" brown caught on a rapala this weekend! If that doesn't get you tying up some big and nasty streamers, I'm not sure what news would...
The browns are on the prowl... get out while the getting is good! 3.20 The river fished very well this weekend. We caught several fish on small baetis nymphs: the two bit hooker, Dave Student's black baetis nymph, Bully's baetis emerger to name a few. The streamer bite was on and off. Missed a couple whoppers. Had them on for a while but they cart wheeled and spit the hook. Don't worry about stripping nice and slow, these fish absolutely pounced on the streamers. Both were holding on the strong bank's riprap.
A home tied white Home Invader and a 22" hen. Photo: P.M. 3.17 Drove back from Billings today and the river looked clear from Big Timber to Twin Bridges. Checked the Greybear pullout and it was clear from any ice shelves. The river was noticeably dirtier however - probably a combination of more lower elevation snow to melt off and the fact that the Shield's river is dumping in some thick mud. The Yellowstone looked more clear again near Livingston, but not as clear as it was way down low.
Don't plan on floating under 9th street bridge for a while... 3.12 The yellowstone was off color today. Must be all that low elevation snow melt. Less than 6 inches of visibility in town, although a lot greener than brown for sure. The Shield's puking mud, although it sounds like it is clear a little above. We forgot a thermometer but the water temp was cold! Still the rises we saw and natural chases indicated the fish were happy - the challenge today was getting them to see your flies. Fishing small nymphs on the bottom in predictable currents seemed to be the most productive. Definitely one of those days you just had to be happy to be out there - and what a beautiful day it was! It was a treat to fish in such warm weather without wind for a change.
We saw some big fish, but they had no chance of seeing our flies. 3.9 Parts of the river are still covered in ice, others are ready to fish with big nasty streamers. The only deterrent - which is a major deterrent is the forecasts wind up to 60 m.p.h. You don't want get stuck in a 10 mile float battling that. You'll also want to pack a 60 foot toe rope in the boat for any ice wall takeouts.
New 9th street bridge to be completed by late April The old "Bailey Bridge" has been removed and there is now a new temporary bridge at 9th street. Plan on taking out at 9th street if you float through town (or walking your boat through the back channel) as construction will certainly make this area a danger zone until completion. They are planning to put only one piling in on the new $1.1 million permanent bridge, which should be easier for inexperienced rowers to get around. Who knows when the HWY 89 bridge project will be completed, which was supposed to be finished by January. 3.5 Things are still pretty cold to be fishing the river but if feel the urge to get out there, stick with nymphs instead of streamers. Once we get back into the 50's it will be time to swing the big bugs. Still some ice jams out there so give us a call if you are thinking about a float. 222-7130.
Livingston Spring Creeks
The trusty 9'#5 Sage Z-axis at work. Bully Photo. 3.28 The creeks continue to fish well on baetis. 10:00 - 2:00 continues to be the magic window for fishing dries and emergers. Calm days have been outstanding dry fly fishing with very few anglers throwing dries since the nymphing has been so good. Those willing to throw streamers are finding a few good fish as well...
3.20 Baetis are finally coming off now, no blanket hatches but definitely enough to fish dries for when the wind lets up. Now is a great time to fish the creeks - spring baetis are popping, the fish are fat and sassy, and not too many anglers are taking advantage of the dry fly fishing. Rod fees are $40 until April 15th, so get out there while the river warms up a little!
We fished nymphs in the morning (Dave Student's sparkle scud and new dark baetis nymph were our best flies). Starting around between 12:00 - 2:00 we saw plenty of baetis dries and happy fish eating on the surface. Sin or no sin, before we quit we tried a few streamers and that's when things really got hot. You could see their wake coming and time your strip for the perfect BANG! Most fun I've had fishing in a long time...
Jeff Evans with a fine DePuy's specimen in hand. Fishing is starting to heat up on the creeks! Photo: Charlie Eubank 3.7 By: Justin Bolduc. No Baetis Hatches yet, but we're expecting them any day now. The Rainbows are starting to come into lower DePuy's and will be spawning soon. Daryl is marking off the spawning beds so please don't fish the marked areas. Streamer fishing has been very productive and the browns have been very aggressive on overcast days. Robert and I fished both landed multiple nice browns and rainbows, things are looking up over here!
Robert's spring creek brown, both fish taped out at 19.5"
3.2 Although it has been a harsh winter in Southwest Montana, the spring thaw is finally starting to work it's magic. The creeks are definitely waking up, hopefully it stays warm the next couple weeks...
Robert Kovich putting the home invader to good use... Read George's news on Nelson's Spring Creek "Paradise Valley PMD Hatch" by George Anderson
Paul Bloch with a solid DePuy's rainbow. photo: Justin Carroll
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
Local and Private Lakes
Our lake fishing clients will be happy to know that we have picked up two new properties to fish this year. One of these lakes is stacked with big browns, the other with big rainbows. Both are only about an hour's drive from the shop. One of them you must book exclusively through the shop, the other is not well known by other outfitters yet. While many folks imagine their Montana vacation spent on a river, those who have fished lakes with us know how incredible the fishing can be. Sight fishing to 6-7 pound rainbows and browns with callibaetis dries can be some of the most stimulating fishing we'll see all year. The best time to come out and fish lakes is during late June / early July when the river is still in Spring Runoff. We'll catch some real toads even in August, but these fish are typically caught in deeper water on leeches, lake scuds, and damsel nymphs.
Justin's March Report
Guide Marcus McGuire with a Lower Maddy rainbow in hand... The Lower Madison has been fishing well and not too many anglers just yet. Fun to throw streamers while your floating along as this is a great river to find a big fish during early spring. Try a mix of crayfish droppers as well and don't forget to stop and get out to fish nymphs in the riffles. Small dark nymphs will match the baetis which should be coming off sporadically.
Justin with a nice brown from the Beaverhead. Photo: Rick Knight Fishing typically heats up in April, so we expect to see continued good fishing the rest of the month. As the weather warms, look for the opportunity to throw streamers and cast dries to pods of rising fish. If you're in Montana or can get here, go fishing!
A few of the local lakes are fishing good! Photo: Justin Bolduc Hatches aren't at a premium, but the die-hard dry fly fisherman can find excellent midge activity on the Spring Creeks, Gallatin and Madison with some good baetis (BWO's) fishing on the spring creeks later in the month.
This colorful brown ate a red midge larva. Photo: Justin Bolduc
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Related Links: Archived Fishing Reports
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