BUGS ON TIME
pmd's abound
elbows plentiful
pmd's abound
elbows plentiful
.. After the snows, the weather has settled down into an unsettled gray pattern - just perfect for the fly fisher.

.. The bugs and the trout on the west side of Yellowstone National Park have returned to a "gentleman's schedule." Things begin to 'pop' about mid morning and persist until about 2:00, then a pause until just after dinner. This is right out of the textbooks. Evening brings caddis and a spinner fall.
.. The campground at Campfire Lodge is filling up, but there are still places at Cabin Creek and Beaver Creek camp grounds.Both creeks are still producing fish but the evening is best. Caddis of both the surface and submerged variety are the flies of choice, and they're getting down to normal size, (12 - 14.) The upper end of Quake Lake is producing some cruising giants in the 18" - 20" range. Fish a small Yellowstone Badger, (14 - 16,) below a bushy Elk hair Caddis, (size 8 - 10,) to cruisers. The areas around the boat launch and Beaver Creek are hot right now - busy too.
.. There are still a few fish in the lower stretch of the South Fork of the Madison River. There have been reports, (trusted,) of 20" dark fish taken on Yellowstone Spruce Flies, and Micky Finn's.
.. Word has spread rapidly, and the early fisher folks have arrived to take advantage of this year's Spring fishing in Yellowstone.

.. There is still some streamer action for the "walker/ stalker" fishers. Fish the slow water and undercut banks around Riverside Drive and the Barns Holes for leftover lunkers to 20" (dead drift a black or dark purple Woolly Bugger right into their nose: sizes 6 - 12 should do.) Evening has been good to the caddis fisher folks. Start with a Bead Head Prince around 4:30 or 5:00 and when the bugs start to fly switch to an Elk Hair Caddis and fish until dark - or 10:00, whichever comes first.
.. The Firehole River is drawing crowds of fishers. It's also producing multiple hatches. The fish are less confused than the fishers. From mid-morning through early afternoon you can expect PMD's, Baetis, and Caddis to hatch, (particularly in the area around Biscuit Basin and below.)

.. There are still many of the neighbors that can get up early enough to fish the still waters of early morning. Large fish will be gently taking spinners and are easy to spot in the spume lines.

.. The Soft Hackle and the Stiff Hackle fishers are having a sweet time of it right now. Pick a size and body configuration that matches the pre-emergent bugs and have at it. These flies are the "fake de jour" at this time.


.. The thin water and riffles are a mid-day nymphing proposition. Hatches are sparse but present. Your favorite Caddis, PMD, and Baetis in a size 12 - 16 will do if a hatch is on. The Yellowstone Coachman is a good attractor around the Norris Campground and Solfaterra Creek. The fish in the vicinity of Virginia Cascade are awake and hungry. This is prime Grayling water, but we've yet to catch one.
.. Obsidian Creek is flowing below the seasonal expectation, cold and very clear. The Brookies in this little creek are always a satisfying proposition and they don't get visited by many fly fishers. May people view this stretch of water as a kids fishery. The Park suggests it, and it works for that purpose. There are, however some deep pools that will provide fish in 12" - 14" range. These are places where you can sometimes see the large fish. A bit of patience and a single perfect cast will inflate your ego to gigantic proportions in this "Kids Creek."

.. It is spreading rapidly along the major fly fishing corridors and waters through the simple method of hitching a ride on or in your wading boots. DON'T LET IT.
.. There are some of the neighbors that doubt that fly fishers have had anything to do with the spread of this snail.
..It is certainly not a much heard stream-side conversational topic. We're saddened to report that the necessary

.. The map at the bottom of this post shows the distribution of the snail in and around Yellowstone National Park. We don't doubt for a second that fishers are spreading this trout killing snail.
.. There are many things that fishers can do and don't do. For an excellent overview about the measures that can be employed, go to the West Denver TU site. Seldom do we see the neighbors or the visitors taking the necessary precautions. We suggest that you ask your guide if they carry a brush and some undiluted Formula 409, or a copper sulfate solution with them. Ask your host fly shop if they provide free sanitizing of your waders and boots - (Golden River Sports in Colorado is a pioneer in offering this service free.)
.. SNAIL LINKS:
FFF Mud Snails
TU Mud Snails
Yellowstone Invasive Species Page - New Guidelines
Stop Hitchhikers Mud Snail Page