FIREHOLE RIVER IN GOOD SHAPE

YELLOWSTONE FISHING GETTING BETTER
Madison River Clearing Too
gibbon by the weekend



<-- Deer Hair Caddis

photo courtesy of
Jason Neuswanger:
The Trout Nut


-- The evening hatches along the Firehole River produce a constant, sometimes sparse, hatch of caddis. These flies are frequently small dark flies with gray to charcoal colored wings. The normal caddis flies work fine for this evening festival, however the fly shown here is an exceptionally good rendition.
-- Rather than the standard Elk Hair Caddis, use Deer Hair, and a dark body with dark hackle. Visit The Trout Nut for details about this pattern.
-- During mid-day, (about 11:00 AM if the sun is shining,) the regular Baetis hatch is underway. These are on the smallish side, (about sizes 18 - 20 - 22,) and occur in the smoother pools. Often times a PMD hatch happens at the same time and the fish can be selective - watch carefully. The PMD's are just a bit larger, (about sizes 12 -14 -16,) and found in the heads and tails of swifter pools. When both are happening, the fish will sometimes take nymphs that are floated instead of sunken. This is a good time to use your cripple imitations.
-- The Madison River has a substantial number of Whitefish this year, and they are fairly large. They are rising freely right now, and are very entertaining in the quick high water. The Madison River has slowed down to a stately 900 cfs, or so in the park, and is clearing rapidly - thanks to the recent cooling trend. The river purging below Hebgan Dam brought discharge to above 2,000 cfs for a short time, but will be slowing today or tomorrow.
-- The fish in the upper meadow section of the Gibbon River have had to abandon their grazing in the grass, as the river there has returned to it's channel. Negotiation of the wet meadows can be tricky because of their soft nature, and the two grizzly bears near the Norris campground. The Elk meadows stretch looked fishable, but hard work. The canyon sections of the Gibbon are down to the banks, but still a bit off color. These should shape up by the middle to end of next week.