Snow Gone, Rain Coming

A SEASONAL THING

June Is The Wet Month

sporadic fishing = sporadic catching

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.. The west side rivers are now at their average seasonal discharge rates. They are cool and clearing. There will be afternoon thundershowers all week. How usual - for June.
.. A bit of rain never hurt the catching. A bit of lightning can grab that $700.00 whip in your hand and blow holes in your socks. Be bear aware and be lightning aware.
.. Although the sage advice from the experts blames the spotty nature of catching on the current water conditions, it's as much due to the avoidance of inclement weather by fishers as it is the water.

.. Some notes to get you started:
- Firehole River = PMD's in the morning, Caddis after the thunder storms in the sunny afternoons: BWO's starting and Stoneflies in the canyon.
- Madison River = Woolly Buggers under the banks, stonefly nymphs in the riffles,
- Nez Perce Creek = walk the Mary Mountain Trail and enjoy the scenery. Nymphs in the tail-outs, surface attractors in the smooth glides and pillows, carry bear spray,
- Gibbon River, (small  meadows,) = any thing that floats in a size 14 - 18. Any thing that sinks in a size 10 - 16. Below the falls = small stoneflies and big nymphs.
- Specimen Creek = Elk Hair Caddis on top, Shop Vac down below.
.. There are still some fine fish to be caught in Solfaterra Creek. It's worth the walk and the kids in campers.
.. By the way: the sinuous waters of the Madison River, around Bakers Hole, that weave into and out of the park are providing serious catching opportunities. Be sure that you have both a Montana fishing license and a Yellowstone Park permit in this productive water. Try something big and wiggly too.

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More Perfection

YES IT'S WHITE

The Fish Don't Care

the trees are loving it

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.. The perfect storm continues. The rivers have risen a bit. The waters have cooled a bit. The catching is hotter than the weather.
.. The nitrogen-rich white precipitation is a boon to the trees and other green growing things in Yellowstone National Park.
.. It's slowed the visitation rate to a trickle. The neighbors are back to the abandoned honey holes on the Firehole River.
.. The short-term forecast calls for a bit more perfection in the upcoming week and we anticipate some vacancies in the workforce as our standard wet June continues.
.. The little bugs that fishers and fish love so dearly are on the water and providing just the punch needed for success in the surface fishing department.
.. Right now may just be the time to exercise your floating nymph skills. Or it may be time to develop the film nymph drift. Or it may be time to sink a couple and see just how many fish it takes to exhaust your reel hand. Whatever the case may be it's surely time to be on the water.
.. We're getting a late start - sigh, the exigencies of neighborhood duties and such.

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Précis

THE PERFECT STORM

The Perfect Weekend

the absolutely perfect place

THE VISITOR'S ITCH

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.. Every year of the fisher's existence there occurs an exceptional fishing experience. We are always prepared for it - BUT - our preparations have little influence on weather, bug-rise, water temperature, water condition, parking, access, and elbows.
.. Starting now we predict that the conditions are right for  an exceptional fishing experience. Mind you; elbows, parking, and access depend on your arrival time.
FOR INSTANCE:
- Madison River,
-- Flow = 200 cfs below seasonal average, cold, clear, fish everywhere, white miller caddis, BWO's, PMD's, Big and little stoneflies, red ants, black beetles, brown beetles, and, (not too surprisingly in this early year,) first molt grasshopper nymphs.

BILL'S PISSER

- Gibbon River,
-- Flow = at or below seasonal average, warmer than expected, (thank Poseidon,) fish healthy and active, caddis, many small stoneflies, a few large stoneflies below the falls, big meadows fishing perfectly, upper reaches and small meadows on fire, a few ants, any small nymph works, walk a bit and entertain many fish.
- Grebe Lake,

NEIGHBORHOOD LEECH

-- Avoid nesting birds, don't be put off by mud or bears, or scare stories of no fishing access, the little canyon below the lakes is full of surprisingly large fish, bushwhack a bit and be amply rewarded. Any fly properly presented takes fish.
- Hebgen Lake,
--  Absolutely as full as it can get, discharge = inflow, weeds keeping up with water depth, leeches around the edge of weed beds, gulpers on still mornings, more than just calibaetis hatching in coves and minor estuary's, take broad spectrum, (A & B,) SPF 30 or better.
- Firehole River,

FORGOTTEN WONDER

-- Flow below seasonal average, temperature back to where it should be, famous assortment of bugs now hitting their stride, morning = good, afternoon = spectacular, (especially after the thunderstorms,) Baetis, etc., etc., etc., Buy the latest and greatest from the local fly shops or use the right size and present it properly.
- Nez Perce Creek,
-- Be bear aware, water clear, cold and absolutely beautiful, textbook conditions, nice fish come willingly to the fly - above or below the surface, sneak 'em!
- Duck Creek,

ONE OF MANY

-- Read the regulations, be bear aware, fish with an armed guard (Cutter's, SPF 30, Triple-sized magnum bear spray,) sing and shout as loud as you can, take turns catching and watching.
- Grayling Creek,
-- Flows slowing, (until next rain,) friendly little fish at all our favorite culverts and cut banks. No anxiety fishing, simple flies, be sneaky and stealthy, play hopscotch from parking area to parking area, go slow by the new bridge.
- Bacon Rind Creek,

THE PLACE

-- Flows slowing, spawners retreating from riffle and run section below the willow meadows, resident fish in the meadows taking all attractors ever invented, dapping works wonders, treat them gently, leave after the fifty-first fish.
-Way-Up-Gallatin,
-- Temperature = ameliorating, elbows = few to none, bears = many and frequent, fish = all the big ones that will be in the confluence meadows next month are here, sneak and use ground fodder.
- Unmentionable Fork,
-- If you know it - - You know it!
- Gallatin River,
-- Water = perfect and cold, meadow at fan creek = sparse, Fan Creek = bears and beavers before the second meadow is encountered, confluence with Specimen Creek = likely spot, north boundary runs = very good and devoid of fishers.

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SEE THE PRETTY WATER?  FISH HERE !

High 'n' Cold

SNOW LAST NIGHT

But Not Much

the dance of discharge

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.. A brief foray into the nether regions of  30°F weather has cooled down the neighborhood rivers. The big news is that the Firehole River is now very high and very cold, (down 25°F from yesterday.) Morning fog and itsy-bitsy flies are clinging to the water like Velcro to a poodle's fur.
.. We post this brief note to remind visitors that the spinner fall - and fish gobbling scraps of nutrition - will be over by the time they have their second cup of coffee. So be it: don't catch 'em all!
.. High discharge rates are in our near future and selection of water will be very important for the next few days. A bit of river savvy will go a long way toward catching success.

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Psyched Out

THEY'RE HERE

They'll Be Back

multiple hatches abound

THE "SUMMER FLY BOX - CADDIS"

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.. It's a bit early to talk about the mainstay of our fishing bugs - but everything is early this year. The caddis are on the water now: in droves, (or flocks, or herds, or flights, or whatever the collective noun form is.)

.. Use your Latin, (whateverpschye sp.) if you must. The brown ones, the gray ones, the big ones, the little ones, the other ones, are all here. Drag out the Summer fly box and have at it.
.. The Madison River is wonderfully devoid of fisher folk and just "Chucky-Jammed-Full" of caddis. Some are even hatching before noon.
.. The sun is out. The thunder storms punctuate the day. The neighbors are heading to the "secret" spots.
.. Duck Creek has been found - again! The Unmentionable Fork is even being graced with kids.
.. Get here now. Everybody else is already here. Your type of fishing is available. There are even easy targets in the big and little meadows of the Gibbon River. Brave souls have sent us a report that Grayling are begging to be caught in Grebe Lake - mud and bears be damned!
.. Don't say you heard it here - but - use your favorite stonefly nymph on the Firehole River below the falls. Use some Yellowstone Sally flies on the Gibbon River below the falls. You may get a "Change-Your-Underwear-Moment."
.. Hell's Bell's, fish are even being taken on size 8 Royal Wulff flies. Don't miss out on the fun. Come and enjoy the gawker blocks, bear jams, and the social hour before the hatch on the Firehole River. It's all good. It won't last!

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High 'n' Hot

WHO LOVES YA ?

Avoid Hot Water

wise fishers know the tribs

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.. Just like a virgin bridegroom the Firehole River temperature curve is early this year. Current mid-day temps are hovering in the high 60's and a 70+ is possible at any time.
.. Although there have been little bugs on the surface during the cloudy days they have been sporadic and widely dispersed. The caddis on the other hand have been everywhere but not too thick yet.

.. The few neighbors that bother to brave the social disaster that reigns along the river have reported that the bigger fish have already retreated to deep and dark water. There are also pods of fish near the mouth of various tributaries and seep springs. Should you decide to enter the fray and rub elbows with the devout; pick your water and time carefully.
.. The big water of Nez Perce Creek has already started to drop from the weekend showers and is holding some good fish. Even the skinny water around the picnic area has eager fish and lots of friendly park visitors.
.. We've been threatened with heinous acts of violence if we divulge the current fishy spots on the Madison River. We can say, however, that the waters around the park boundary have local pickumups nearby.

.. Soft hackle flies are the ticket for any west-side river right now. The energetic penitents, on the other hand, are sure to find a few fish taking on the surface. Have at it if you like - a small flymph with heavy flotant will do as well as the arcane and mysterious latest creations and the commercial  offerings.
.. Small, (down to size 16 - 18,) caddis are nearly everywhere on both the Madison River and the Firehole River. Some are a dark dusky gray, (almost black,) others are tan and light gray. A double-slipper will bring more fish to hand than a single small bit of fluff.
.. If you haven't had the pleasure of "HIGH SEASON" on the Firehole River, you should be here now, (and for the next couple of weeks.) It's way better than Disney World. And, be sure to bring your PMD & BWO collection: show and tell is a great way to spend the mid-day doldrums.

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Go Big or Go Home

MADISON RIVER SURPRISES

Monster Flies Taking Monster Fish

pick your poison

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.. A few of the neighbors, (in a desperate attempt to find casting room,) have abandoned the Firehole River and moved to the Madison River. They have been rewarded!
.. Rumors of surface action are as sparse as the hatches are - but - LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. There are a few places where the BWO's are on top and there definitely are some small caddis during sunny periods in the early evening.

.. The big flies, on the other hand, are the ticket right now. Deep riffles, convergent currents below islands, and undercut banks are full of larger fish. They are stacked in these locations and gobbling large, subsurface offerings like naked men in Florida.
.. The bear closure signs have been removed from Nez Perce Creek. Read the regulations. Walk the banks, fish safe. Carry bear spray and catch a few fish - 300 to 400 yards upstream from the road.
.. If you don't mind the crowds join the fun on the Firehole River before it gets too hot and low. It's already hit 70°F once this year and is currently running at about 61°F. The conventional wisdom says that the current hatches are a couple of weeks early. Might be: but there they are!

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