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

Last Updated: 11/30/2009 by James Anderson

The Stone | Spring Creeks | Yellowstone Park | Guide Services

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

Yellowstone River

No surprise, the wind has been the biggest deterrent for getting out and enjoying a day on the river. The best way to beat the wind is to get up early and fish before the shingles start blowing off through town. Looks like plenty of gusts up to 45 mph this week. Look for midges in the early in morning, this will likely be your only shot at dry fly fishing for the day. The cloud cover looks good for streamer fishing, but it's going to be tough fishing and rowing for those who gear up.

If you're looking for fish up on midges, you better plan on getting up early or fishing late. The wind tends to be a little less during these times and unless you have a cloudy day, these are the few hours that you'll see bugs. This also happens to be the same time the streamer bite has been on. During the day the midges have been hiding under the rocks, so while the wind is blowing and the sun is high you might try mixing some smaller rubberlegs and beadheads under an indicator. I'd stick closer to town if you want to find a hatch, seems like there has been bugs here than up in the Valley or down low...

Give us a call before you head over to see what the wind is doing, it was brutal this morning! 406-222-7130.

The river is exceptionally clear right now. No anchor ice as of yet, plus it looks as though things are getting warmer as the week goes on. A red serendipity this time of year can be killer, and if the "w" cooperates, you can have some decent midge fishing as well. Last year's winter midge fishing was terrible - most likely a result from the scouring 22,000 CFS of spring runoff. This year shouldn't be nearly as bad, although I didn't see any bugs in the surface film at Mallard's Rest today...

The "W" looks like it might ease up, but still we have some 18-22 mph gusts through Wednesday. Must be a front coming in because Thursday through Saturday looks like 20-60% chance of snow. If you are after that big brown, I'd brave the weather and strip some streamers this weekend. Otherwise things look pretty bright over here, so it's probably back to the beadhead game, 6 feet under an indicator. You might explore fishing two small nymphs instead of the usual dead drifted bugger and beadhead. The river is so clear right now they can see your flies coming from a long way away.

30 % Chance of rain on Friday, which might be nice for baetis and streamers. We still have the wind to contend with but that seems to be par for the course around here. The Valley has been slightly less windy and a good option if you like nymphing in the fall with smaller rigs. I think I'd give it to town or slightly below for the best streamer fishing.

Yellow and Brown flies work well in the fall. Photo: Rick Wollum

If you like to wade rather than row, swinging flies with switch or spey rod is a great way to spend the afternoon. It's easier to punch a big fly into the wind and you can get some great dead drifts with nymphs. When swinging streamers try to resist striking on those little tugs, even though you know it must be a fat brown smacking your fly. Let 'em keep gnawing on it until you feel a good hook set, then you can raise your rod and pressure the fish towards the bank. If you have any questions about getting into spey fishing and want to learn more about the casting, the flies, the materials, or the terminal tackle, stop by the shop and ask for Rick. He'll get you set up right, but you better catch him quick before the BBC starts spitting snow on the Bridgers...

Jody Marler with a nice tailout brown through town

Ouch, that wind has been ripping! The kind where you just point the sticks and brace yourself. Knock on wood, the next couple days look good (for a livingston local that means between 10-15). More clouds coming this weekend, probably even snow up high which means the rivers may be a little less crowded.

Small beadhead are still your fish-finders. Size 16-18 Copper Johns, Flashback PT's, Princes, Dirty Birds, Tungsten Bead Micro Mayflies, ect. Huck some meat if you're looking to cover a lot of water (especially the tailouts). Take the time to get your weight right, some of the deeper holes have been holding fish but you need to get down there quick in places. 300 grain and a heavy lead eye should do the trick. For the tailouts try fishing lighter streamers and even a floating line.

Look for midges and baetis but don't be too hopeful for good dry fly this week, things look pretty bright until Saturday...

RECOMMENDED FLIES

White Home Invader #2

Bow River Buggers #4-8

Black leadeye Bugger #4-8

Rubberlegs (all colors) #6-10

George's Brown stone #4-8

Strom's Stone #8-10

Epoxy Back Goldenstones #10-12

Copper Johns (all colors) #14-18

Rubber Leg prince #14-16

Beadhead Prince #14-18

Beadhead Pheasant tails #14-18

JJ Special #2-6

Parachute Adams #12-18

Harrop Sparkle Dun #16-20

Harrop Baetis Emerger #16-20

Hi Vis Elk Hair Caddis #12-16

October Caddis #10-12

Lime Trude#16-18

Rag Sculpin #2-4

Egg Sucking Rag Sculpin #2-4

Whitlock Sculpin (black/white) #4

Articulated Streamers #2-4

Spring Creeks

The baetis have been consistent, but not thick on the creeks - just enough to keep fish looking up for your dry floating by.

If you get to the creek early or stay late you'll want to bring some midges with you. If you are hitting it around 11:00 (no need to rush this time of year) then be ready for baetis. Nymphs, emergers, CDC duns, Compara duns, no hackles, the usual suspects... Best part about fishing the creeks now is you can get away with 4 and 5X.

If nothing seems to be hatching or the wind is blowing the bugs off the water your best bet is to nymph with scuds. In flipping a few rocks yesterday, there were more scuds than any other food source. Saw some sculpin too, if you don't mind throwing a streamer on the creeks.

Rates are $40 right now, and with virtually no other angling pressure this is one of my favorite times to fish the creek. In certain spots, fish will still be spawning so be easy on the redds. You'd think the browns would be moving up into the creeks to spawn, but strangely enough it is mostly rainbows. Scuds, eggs, midge larva, sculpin and buggers should do the trick. No need for 6X anymore, 4 should suffice if you fish fluoro, or perhaps a softer 5X mono.

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

HATCHES

Look for midges in the morning, with possible baetis from 10:00 until 2:00. For nymphs look a scuds, midge larva patterns, sawyer pt's, spring creek leeches, and smaller buggers. Sight fishing can be great with nymphs on brighter days, when fish are less likely to snap at a dry. You might as well chuck something nasty before you leave because you never know where the 28 incher is sitting - go big before you go home.

RECOMMENDED FLIES

Harrop's Baetis Sparkle Dun #18-20
Harrop's Baetis short wing emerger #18-20

Stalcups Cellophane wing baetis cripple #18-20
HD Baetis Emerger #16-20
Baetis Captive Dun#16-20
CDC Baetis Transitional Dun #16-20
Baetis Biot Thorax #16-20
Angle Case Baetis emerger #18

Wollum's Baetis nymph #18-20
Various Dave Student PMD nymphs #16-20
Black Zebra midges #18
Olive midge larva #18
Tan (grey) Sparkle scuds #18
Olive Sparkle scuds #18
Bighorn sow bugs #18
Black leadeye buggers #8
Rag Sculpins #4-6

Barr's Meat Whistle (brown) #4

Local & Private Lakes

John Bubnikovich with a line burning rainbow. Photo: Robert K.

This is the time of year where you want to watch for building ice and slush. The fishing can be good, especially along the edge of the ice, however you do want to be careful to leave before things get ugly. Rowing through ice sucks, especially when you faced with 40 mph gusts of wind. Pretty soon it's going to be jigging time through a hole in the ice...