Hot Weather = Hot Fish
find the cold water
.. The mandatory closures for streams in Yellowstone went into effect last Saturday afternoon: the Firehole River, Madison River, Gibbon River below Gibbon Falls, Gardner River below Osprey Falls, Slough Creek, Lamar River below Cache Creek, Soda Butte Creek below Ice Box Canyon), Yellowstone River below Seven Mile Hole, Lava Creek below Undine Falls, and some of the Bechler waters including Boundary Creek and the Bechler River, are closed from 2:00PM until 5:00AM. (Yellowstone Park Press Release, Closure Map PDF.)
Effective Saturday afternoon, July 21, the following rivers and creeks within the park will be closed to fishing between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.:
Northern Yellowstone: Gardner River below Osprey Falls, Lava Creek below Undine Falls, Lamar River below Cache Creek, all of Slough Creek, Soda Butte Creek below Amphitheater Creek, and the Yellowstone River below Seven Mile Hole.
West side of the park: Madison River, Firehole River below Keppler Cascades, and the Gibbon River below Gibbon Falls.
Southern portion of Yellowstone: Bechler River below Ouzel Creek, Falls River below Rainbow Falls, Mountain Ash Creek below Union Falls, Proposition Creek, Boundary Creek below Dunanda Falls, Robinson Creek, and the Snake River below Six Mile Ford.
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.. Check the following reports for details on the fishing results for the last few days: Madison River Outfitters, Parks' Fly Shop, Bud Lilly's, Blue Ribbon Flies. All concur that most of the fish need a rest... Hebgen Lake is fishing very well in the mornings and - for that matter - through the heat of the day. Evening streamer fishing is also picking up.
Gulper fishing is exceptional on these dog-day mornings with the lake like glass and the mosquitoes still asleep. Dawn is not too early to arrive, but the gulping hits high gear between 7:30 and 8:30 AM... There is an abundance of flies on the water and the hatches are strong and consistent. Callibaetis & Trico spinners and emergers are the key here - keep it small, about 16 or thereabouts is close. When the wind comes up go to nymphs and keep fishing. The windward shores are producing good fish in the afternoon and evening on small streamers and Montana Dusters.
.. The Madison River below the Hebgen Dam is crowded and fishing well despite the pressure. Some evening caddis are working in this tailwater stretch. Deep drift Prince Nymphs and Montana Dusters between hatches. Be on the lookout for Hoppers and fish 'em if you got 'em.
.. The Gallatin River is fishing very well. Caddis is the strong suite here along with a few hatches of PMD's and some Yellow Stones keep the action in this coldwater going. Hopper action is in full swing and a hopper-dropper combination with an Hare's Ear or Feather Duster will reward you. Watch where you park and be careful with your turns and slowings - the increased fire traffic make the road a bit busier than usual.
.. A gentle walk up the Fan Creek trail to the narrow sections and the meadows is worth it. Small attractors and nymphs will produce some sterling action and occasionally a bragging fish of 10" - 12". Be very sneaky in the open areas.
.. Some of the best advice for fishing the Soda Butte Creek [early and often,] Lamar River [take a walk,] and Slough Creek [good as the terrestrials are - leave it alone,] in the northeast corner of the park comes from Bud Lilly's:"So get up early and head NE - take a siesta after 2 PM or head to the upper Gardner at Sheepeaters Cliff and catch a mess of Brookies."
.. There are fish to be had in the Yellowstone River. Skill, Stealth, Luck, and Guile will reward you with a large Cutthroat or two. The fishing is hard and there is plenty of water.------------
.. "Turns Out You Really Can Get Crabs From A Toilet Seat.".. Tired of tame fishing and wily trout? Tired of elbows and egregious fishers? Tired of cars and diesel buses and the other accouterments of our advanced civilization? Walk into the Bob Marshall Wilderness and catch willing fish on a string - from the Bozeman Chronicle.
.. Want to see some exquisite photos of the molting process of the Black Quill? Go to Troutnut.com - spectacular! There's a lesson here for fly tiers.
photo Courtesy Jason Neuswanger - Troutnut.com