ONCE & FUTURE GREATNESS
Still Some Nice Big Cutts
it's a bank fisher's dream
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.. There was a time, in the not too distant past, that the Yellowstone River 
drew fly fishers from around the world. They came by the bucket-load to experience the amazing cutthroat fishery... Fewer come now for there are fewer fish and the scourge of the Lake Trout has made a considerable impact on the cutthroat population.
.. There are still fish to be had, some of legendary proportions, but it's not the "stand still in the puddle" type of fishing anymore... The fish are just as selective as they have always been. The technical fisher will do well on the river. Cruising the banks and targeting individual fish is the current name of the game.
.. Local flies from our neighborhood feather merchants will usually do better than generic sorts. Check the sidebar for places that know the river... Guides are currently scouting the river and noting the conditions and hatches. There are fish rising as you read this.
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.. Yellowstone Lake is very full and discharge through the outlet is on the high side. This will affect strategy and location for the successful fisher. Wading will, at present, be difficult and maybe dangerous... Hatches
for the river include: Stoneflies, Golden Stoneflies, PMD's, BWO's, a couple of caddis and sedges. And, if luck smiles on you, ==> Flavs & Gray Drakes... Most of these bugs will be present from the get-go. The local shops have time tested patterns and tactics for your edification. Give them a call for the absolute latest and greatest flies.
They also know where it's happening... Yellowstone National Park is continuing the effort to slow the Lake Trout population growth in Yellowstone Lake. In time, (we should live so long,) eradication is the goal.
.. Perhaps, in time, the cutts will return. After all the river is a nutrient rich environment. We'll see?
.. We're headed that way in a couple of weeks and will keep you posted.
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