Fishing Report

Welcome to this week edition of the  Yellowstone Fly Shops fishing report. Mother nature has decided to settle down and give us a few sunny days to get out on the water and get some fishing done. The water levels have come up along with the warmer weather as well. We are ready to get runoff over with and get on with our summer hatches.  Stay tuned as we report each week on  the hatches, flows and more.

Madison River – Flows have increased and the water has clouded up. Nymphing is the name of the game. Switching to larger nymphs like a #4 or #6 Black Rubber legs or San Juan worm in Red, Wine or Hot Pink followed by a size #14 or #16 Zebra, Copper John, Crystal Dip or other variations will get the job done. The time to throw streamers is now. Stick to darker colors like black or purple. Stripping Zonkers, Sculpins or just a plain black woolly bugger will produce fish. Don’t forget that with these higher flows, you shouldn’t launch your boats at Lyon’s bridge or Windy due to the low clearance at Wolf Creek bridge.

Henry’s Fork – The big bugs have made it all the way to Box canyon. The flows have increased this past week to compensate for inflows. Nymphing the heaver water up high using a #6 or #8 Rubber Legs followed by a #14 or #16 Zebra midge in red, brown or black will work. As you get down toward Last chance look for Mother’s day Caddis, March Brown’s or Beatis on top. The lower river still has a few Salmon flies around and we should see some Golden stones here in the near future. I would have both on hand. The Caddis hatch has been good in the evenings. Your favorite Caddis or Caddis emerger patterns in a size #16 will get the job done.

Yellowstone National Park – The Firehole, Madison and Gibbon rivers continue to be the best bet for catching fish. Water clarity has remained very fishable. We have seen Salmonflies in the canyon as well as PMD’s, Beatis and Caddis on the others. Swinging the standard colors of softhackles like orange, pheasant or white miller will produce if there are any bugs on the surface. Flies we would have in our box for these waters. Salmonflies in #6 or #8, PMD’s in #16 or #14, Baetis (BWO) in #18, Caddis in #14 or #16 and Softhackes in #12 or #14. We are keeping an eye on other waters and will give you a heads up as they become fishable.

Henry’s Lake – Fishing still remains good. We have been out and there are still fish cruising the shallower water but the best success has been in 10 to 12 feet of water off the shoreline. Seal buggers in black, olive and brown with black/red colors are catching the most fish. 

Hebgen Lake – Hebgen continues to fish well. Suspending a pair of Chironomid nymphs under an indicator will produce well along the shorelines and bays.
We look forward to seeing you all out there this week. If your looking for the friendliest, most knowledgeable guides in the area give us a call at 208-604-6968. Live long and Fish Hard!