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Call us for a wind report! 406-222-7130 Last Updated: 3/24/2010 by James Anderson The Stone | Spring Creeks | Yellowstone Park | Guide Services Local & Private Lakes | CFS @ Corwin Springs | CFS @ Carter's Yellowstone River
"A different Perspective on Streamer Fishing" 3.15 Nymphing deep slow runs seems the way to pick up your numbers, although who could resist throwing streamers this time of year... Baetis have not yet show up but should be thick again in april. If you're looking for dry fly action you might consider the spring creeks where the baetis have already started and it is still $40 until April 15th. You could even make a two day trip out of it, maybe even throw in a soak at Chico...
3.10 Looks like 60% chance of snow and rain today with some more 30% chance of precipitation later this weekend. Your guess is as good as mine when it comes to barometric pressure and fronts, but the cloudy skies could be a blessing for streamer fisherman. Last week was bright and sunny with little to know wind. Shield's is dumping in some mud, but nothing too vicious. Quite a few anglers have been out and about lately... get out there and have some fun!
3.2 March is a great month to fish the Yellowstone, however you'll want to pick your days. Weather plays a big role in you're day. You can either be fight 40 m.p.h. winds all day with out a bite or pulling over to net one of the biggest trout you've ever caught. Keep a close eye on the wind conditions because you definitely don't want to waste a kitchen pass just to push into the wind all day long. Give us a buzz and we can tell you what the conditions are like at the shop, although keep in mind the mornings are usually more calm. If the coast looks clear, nymphing has been the quite good. The water is still pretty clear right now, so you don't have to oversize like you would after runoff. These fish are excited to see anything right now, but give them a chance to eat it and make sure you're getting a nice slow, drag-free drift. A small rubber leg and a prince nymph would be a good combo. That or perhaps a dark olive sculpin. Pretty soon the water temperature will heat up a few degrees and the big browns will start chasing streamers!
RECOMMENDED FLIESWhite 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
As the spring starts getting closer we will begin to see more and more rainbows coming up to spawn. Right now is still a good time to catch browns however, especially on streamers. The 52 degree water won't slow them down much, so you can use a fairly aggressive retrieve. Yesterday was very bright and easy to sight fish, yet the browns were still attacking small streamers. Be sure to get your streamer in tight close to the shade, there were a lot of big fish chilling in the shade. Bow river bugger, black bead head bugger, multi colored bugger all did the trick.
I saw quite a few baetis in the air yesterday, but not many fish were rising. Most likely the bright sun was keeping them looking for nymphs and forage fish below. Still, good to know that the baetis game is definitely on from now until May. I also saw quite a few midges flying around, but once the fish key in on baetis they will prefer to feed on them.
If you want to try nymph fishing, try a combination of midge larva, scuds, leeches, crane fly larva, stonefly nymphs, and a dead sculpin pattern. It was quite obvious these fish hadn't been fished over in a while - so get out there and while it's still cherry! Saw a couple redds so watch out where you're stepping...
Rates are $40 from now until April 15th. I can't think of a better time to get out there and enjoy a day on the creeks, especially if the wind is behaving. Give us a buzz or stop by the shop for more info... ADDITIONAL REFERENCESRead George's news on Nelson's Spring Creek "Paradise Valley PMD Hatch" by George Anderson HATCHESLook 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 go home, you never know... RECOMMENDED FLIESHarrop's Baetis Sparkle Dun #18-20 Stalcups Cellophane wing baetis cripple #18-20 Wollum's Baetis nymph #18-20 Barr's Meat Whistle (brown) #4
THE BIGHORN
The Bighorn fished good, not great. There were some baetis nymphs crawling around, but nothing yet in terms of dries. The midges on the other hand were ridiculous. Still you didn't see many guys fishing dries out there to rising fish. Everyone was throwing scuds, midge larva, baetis nymphs, and pink soft hackles. We pumped a stomach or two early in the morning to find that most of these fish were filled with olive midge larva, not the classic black and red you often see on the Horn. Rick's larva lace pattern was the perfect match for these, size 20.
The water levels were very normal and the water was gin clear. Soap creek was kicking in a trickle of mud, but nothing to worry about. There was some moss, but all and all the water conditions were very easy to fish. Most spots you wouldn't need a split shot, just a long dead drift. For 4 feet of water a size 6 split shot was working well, 5-6 feet of water a B or even BB. It won't be long until the baetis is going on over here, and that's when things will get more crowded. We hit the river on Saturday and saw about about 40 boats, rafts, and kick boats.
We probably landed about 30 fish or so, none being over 18. We had a 5 weight mini shoot out going on, comparing a Sage Z-Axis, Winston IM6, Loomis Stream Dance GLX, and a St. Croix Imperial. Everyone had their own opinions, but I liked the Z-Axis better for nymphing and the Loomis better for dries. The open loop fling with two nymphs and an indicator was perfect on the Z, the lighter and seemingly faster GLX was more accurate and through tighter loops for dries. The IM6 was a jewel to cast and reminiscent of better days with less people and bigger fish. (Hank informed me if I broke it he'd kill me). I know as technology continues rods keep improving, but I really wish Winston would come out with an anniversary rod IM6. It might be one of the smoothest rods I've ever cast. I was equally impressed with the St. Croix Imperial. For a rod that only cost $190 (9'#5 4pc) it certainly delivered the goods!
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