|
 Nothing
like a good dose of moisture to lift the spirits
and the promise of a great fishing season. March and April are
usually cool and snowy while snow pack is predictably above normal. Yellowstone Park's famous rivers
and streams like the Yellowstone,
Lamar, Slough Creek, Firehole, Madison and Gibbon had good water
supplies from spring runoff, near normal stream flows and plenty of trout.
After quite a few drought years, any spring moisture was a welcome occurrence even though fishing activity started
a bit later. The outlook is generally bright for Montana
angling. You won't want to miss a minute of it!
If you're
planning a trip, don't miss the action on the
Stillwater, Boulder and Madison as you work your way from Billings
to Bozeman. South toward West Yellowstone, the Gallatin offers beautiful surroundings and plenty of
smaller trout, plus the benefit of being able to drive along the
riverbank and pull out at will.
Best bugs for Montana Fishing include Olive
Stimulator (12-16), Caddis (Elk hair & dark 10-18), Royal Wulff
(10-16), Adams (brown and gray sizes 12-20). Wet action can be fast
and furious with a Montana Nymph (10-14), Stone Fly (various colors
8-12), Bead-Head Hare's Ear Nymph (olive, tan, dark brown, 12-18),
Black Buggers and dark streamers. There are,
of course, numerous other patterns that are very productive, but these
are my favorites.
See you in Montana!
Bighorn
River, Hardin to Ft. Smith, MT Wading
or drifting, the Bighorn is still one of the world's finest trout
fisheries. Because the Bighorn is a tail-water fishery, there
is no spring runoff and water levels are controlled at the
dam. The Bighorn can be, and is, successfully fished
year-round. You'll need to learn more about the right flies to
use to entice a strike on "the horn". Patterns are a
little different here, with Sow Bugs, CDC Caddis, Scuds, Pheasant
Tails, & small Adams being some of the most popular. Many
anglers prefer fishing a dropper rig with a dry fly on top trailing
a smaller nymph. Drift boats abound in the spring and summer
months as the best way to cover the maximum amount of river.
Bighorn,
Stillwater & Yellowstone River Reports Compliments of
Bighorn
Fly & Tackle, BIllings, Hardin, Ft.
Smith, MT
Stillwater
River, Columbus to Nye, MT
The
Stillwater is anything but "still". Wade carefully
and fish the pockets and seams for Rainbow and Brown trout.
Fish size can be up to several pounds on the lower river and
8-16" above Absarokee. Fish hide in the seams where fast
water meets slower current. The fish here are fighters,
especially the Rainbows. Three public accesses lie between
Columbus and Absarokee with several pull-outs between Nye and the
Stillwater Mine just below Woodbine Campground. Hike the three
miles up river from Woodbine trailhead to Sioux Charlie Lake for
breathtaking views and good pan fishing.
 Boulder
River, south of Big Timber, MT
One of my favorite
places in the state for supreme scenery and a really authentic
mountain trout fishing experience is the upper Boulder. The river is generally fast
with an occasional slower run, pool, or riffle. Caddis abound
here most of the season with prolific hatches morning and evening
(lots of days they're on the water all day long). Stop for a
camera shot at Natural Bridge on the way up. Campsites are
usually on the river and are fairly abundant. Tenting and fishing
the Boulder makes wonderful memories.
Yellowstone Park Info
Yellowstone River
Fishing begins on the
Yellowstone with the opening of the regular fishing season on June
15 except
for a select 12-mile stretch of the river that is closed until July
15 each year. It's a day that's eagerly awaited
by most dedicated Yellowstone Park flyfishers. The fish are
allowed to spawn without interruption, and the river becomes much
more fishable by mid-summer. Watch for big cruisers along the
banks and at the tail-end of riffles. You'll see these big
guys slurping mayflies, caddis, and stones in a variety of colors
and sizes. The water is generally clear, so you'll have to be
a careful caster and be sure to get that perfect dead drift over the
fish. Cutthroats predominate with an occasional Rainbow.
Most fish are in the 16-22" range. See you on opening
day!
Firehole
River HOT, hot, and
even hotter! Drive by and try your luck at Muleshoe Bend if you
like, but don't plan on the action being outrageous. Thermal
activity quickly warms the Firehole as soon as summer weather sets
in. Still, there is always the possibility of finding some trout in cooler feeder streams
and inlets. Fish it early in the spring while the water is colder for
best results. Good luck!
Madison
River Even though Rainbow
populations have suffered in the Madison because of whirling
disease, this river continues to be productive. Outside Yellowstone
Park, guided floats on the Madison seem
to produce the best results, allowing the fly fisher an opportunity
to reach all the likely spots and fish tight to the undercut banks
where the big fish cruise. Stone flies and attractors are good on
top, as well as the usual array of caddis and Mayflies. Watch for
snakes in the Beartrap area, and be very careful with fire and
cigarettes. Fire danger is usually high! Inside the boundaries
of Yellowstone Park rainbow populations are virtually non-existent
in the Madison and this river is usually one of the last to "turn
on". You can normally expect fishing to be very good from
mid-July to the end of August and beyond.
Gibbon
The Gibbon has two distinctive
sections, above and below Gibbon Fall. In the upper stretches it
ranges from a slow meander at Norris Campground, to a brisk, but
manageable flow into the valley above the falls. Bigger fish inhabit the lower
stretches and anglers should try, if water levels permit, fishing
the large pool at the base of Gibbon Fall, then downstream, where
spectacular vistas and the chance at cutts ranging up to 16"
awaits. There's thermal activity along some reaches of the river,
and a picnic break is always enjoyable here.
Trout
Lake Just a mile or so west
of the Pebble Creek Campground is the pullout and trailhead to Trout
Lake. It's a short, but steep, climb of six tenths of a mile to the
southeast shore. Walk along the east shore to the inlet and you'll
experience one of the most awesome sights (for fisherman) in the
park. There'll be spawning Rainbow-Cutthroat hybrids with their
backs out of the water in a feeder stream that can't be more than
three or four feet across. You'll also see large cutts (100's of
them) cruising near the inlet in shallow water. This phenomenon
continues through mid to late July. Remember, you can't fish between
the two signs marking the perimeter of the inlet! Don't do it!
You'll get caught, and it'll be expensive! Best dry flies
include Caddis, Mayflies, Stone fly adults, & Cluster Midges on
top. Sink a Hare's Ear, Olive or Orange Scud, or Midge Pupa
imitation, and slowly strip retrieve for best nymph action. After
July, the algae bloom is significant on Trout Lake so hit it around
the first part of July.
Slough
Creek For almost
two decades
my wife and I have made our annual pilgrimage to camp on the banks
of Slough Creek and fish it's famous reaches until our arms are
chocolate brown from the summer sun, and our hearts are truly at
peace. It's hard not to wax sentimental about a place with such fond
memories and great fishing opportunity. If you're lucky enough to find a
campsite (there are only 29), fishing adventures are at your
doorstep. There are pullouts below the campground that offer a
variety of water, and the chance at big fish. A few years ago, a
study of Slough Creek trout estimated that the average cutthroat
would be caught (and released) nine times in it's lifetime. This is
a blessing and a curse, because these bruisers see a lot of hooks
are are therefore extremely wary and can be exasperatingly
selective. The lower stretches, including VIP pool can be
reached by parking at the Lamar Bridge on the northeast entrance
road, then hiking about a mile northwest to the meadow above the
canyon. Big lunkers cruise here. They're difficult to hook...but
you've got to try, that's for sure!
Ever popular are the upper meadows accessed from the trailhead (1/2
mile below the campground), and
active ranch trail to Silvertip Ranch, high in the Beartooths.
Two miles and 45 minutes will put you in the first meadow,
where meandering Slough Creek can produce spectacular morning Green
Drake hatches. Fish the coiled ribbons of stream as you watch
cruising fish in gin-clear water (and feel the ever-present attack
of the killer mosquitoes). At the five mile point (about two hours
from the trailhead if you're in reasonable shape) you have ascended
from first meadow, skirted the short canyon, and arrived at S2, or
second meadow. Camping here is by permit only, and visitors are
strongly advised to carry industrial bear spray, and be extremely careful with food as Grizzlies frequent the area. Pools are
connected by a variety of riffles, and big dumb cutts abound. The
further up the river you go, the more plentiful are the fish. Be
sure that you're acclimated to the altitude, take your time, and
bring lots of water...and a camera!
Follow this link for
Grebe
Lake Drive to
the trailhead a few miles west of Canyon to begin a three mile hike
through some of the 1988 burn area. The forests have recovered
remarkably and provide perfect habitat for moose and buffalo. Grizzly
Bears are quite common in this area
so be sure to bring industrial-strength bear spray and be extremely
wary on the trail. At the lake, you'll see Osprey cruising for Rainbows feeding near
the surface. I saw a float-tuber hook a fish, only to have an
Osprey swoop down and grab it while the fish was still on his
line. Tie on a few feet of 4-6x tippet, a split shot or two
about a foot from your 12-16 Damsel Fly Nymph, and you're ready for
action. Make a straight-line cast, count to 5 and start slowly
stripping line a foot at a time. Pause between strips to let
your fly sink each time. Rainbows here will range from
8-18", with Arctic Grayling abundant up to 12".
Good Fishing
and "Tight Lines"...bj
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