up, UP & AWAAAY !

DISCHARGE:
FINALLY GOING BALLISTIC

Pick Your Spots Carefully

think deep

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.. We knew it would happen. It has! Rivers on the west side of Yellowstone National Park are entering their bank-full, gloriously-brown, and cranky phase. Fishers are a mite cranky too.
.. Even the Firehole River has gained some color and the discharge is way up. This promises to continue for a couple of weeks. The hatches of Baetis are still strong, and the fish are still on top. You just have to pick your area carefully.
.. Right now it's possible to fish some double fly rigs that will still take fish. A high floating emerger pattern followed by a small nymph will bring the best success in the flats and smooth water.
.. Many fish are holding tight to the bank. Stealth is a good tactic right now, and wading is great for pictures and kicking the fish out of their feeding lanes. Foam lines and back-eddy's are unusually productive right now. It takes a sharp eye and ungodly patience to prick fish during this river stage.
.. For riffles a pair of nymphs or a Woolly Bugger followed by a nymph will be a useful combination.

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