PostHeaderIcon Seasons

Early Season: April 1st - June 15th

Early season water conditions vary tremendously due to spring runoff, which usually occurs from May 1st through June 20th. For this reason, we concentrate our efforts on the dam-released waters of the Madison and Missouri Rivers, where nymph patterns and streamers produce exceptional catches of browns and rainbows.

Warm spring days are an invitation to the challenge of fishing our area's abundant midge hatches. Casting 6x and 7x tippets, along with size 18 and 20 dry patterns, and landing these surface-feeding trout is a fly fisherman's dream.

Mid Season: June 15th - July 31st


The waters have cleared and warmed, and major hatches of aquatic insects characterize this period. The amazing salmonfly hatch occurs on most of the rivers in our area between June 20th and July 10th. A large and colorful insect, this hatch works its way upstream, providing great opportunities for the dry fly fisherman to catch large and numerous trout. During this hatch, a nymph fisherman will experience success using stonefly nymphs and Montana nymphs sizes 4, 6 and 8. Book a trip early, as this is a very popular time on all the local rivers.

This period's next major hatch is the caddis. Though lesser stoneflies are still productive, the caddis is the major aquatic insect. Hatches occur daily until late August, with Elk Hair Caddis, Goddard Caddis and Poly Caddis in sizes 14, 16 and 18 being very productive.

 

Late Season: August 1st - October 31st


The water conditions in the greater Yellowstone area are low and clear, and hopper season is upon us. This time of year trout are eager for terrestrials - beetles, ants and hopper patterns drifted along the banks bring out their predatory instincts, and the action can be fierce.

Backcountry fishing is now very good, and improves as the weather cools. By late september, frosty mornings and the possibility of snow have thinned crowds considerably. The fishing is still great, and the possibility of trophy browns on streamer patterns along with autumn colors make this our favorite time of the year. Float fishing any of the local rivers well into October is truly taking advantage of the best we have to offer.

Winter: February - April


Yes, we fish during the winter. Experience the solitude and beauty of a mountain stream in winter. Temperatures will reach 40 degrees and above starting in February. With the warmer days, the fish become active. We fish a variety of nymph and streamer patterns for rainbows, browns and whitefish. Midge fishing has begun, and this is an excellent time to sample the famous spring creeks of the Paradise Valley. These trips are booked on short notice, with a watchful eye on the weather.


Last Updated (Friday, 09 October 2009 13:40)

 
Regional Conditions

Don't forget to book your fishing trips soon!!!


-Jimmy "loosewraps" Armijo
 

Gallatin River 771 c.f.s., July 30th 2010 Summer is finally here to stay and fishing on the Gallatin River is living up to its Blue-Ribbon reputation.  Though the Gallatin had a disappointing year for Salmon Fly, Golden stones can still be seen hatching intermittently from Greek Creek all the way to the Taylor's Fork.  Yellow Sallies have followed the Goldens up river and are hatching in good numbers throughout the canyon and above.  PMD, Caddis, and Green Drake activity have supplemented the early season stonefly hatches, only giving fish more reason to look up.  With all of the various flying adults hatching on the Gallatin's stretches, dry fly fishing has considerably picked up and it seems as though the days of the indicator may be over.
 

Lower Madison 1480 c.f.s. 71 degrees, July 30th, 2010. The water flows have leveled off and fishing conditions have become far more consistent than the early season. Weekly if not daily bikini hatches have begun to riddle rivers floatable sections, and as a consequence week day excursions are recommended.  If you go out there with small Clauser Crayfish, Soft Hackle Lightning Bugs, Iron Sallies , small Near Nuff Sculpin, and King Princes you should be able to scare up a few fish.
 

Upper Madison 1080 c.f.s. 59 degrees, July 30th 2010. The days of epic Madison River dry fly fishing are upon us. Yellow Sallies, PMD's, Epeorus, and several varieties of Caddis have followed the emergence of the Salmons and Goldens - further encouraging fish to rise up and feed on imitations of the like.  The nightly Madison Caddis falls - those heralded in the shadows of angling lore - are here in full force below Lyons and beginning to take off between Reynolds and Three Dollar.  Coupled with the night-time Epeorus spinner fall, fishing the Madison during the evening and twilight hours is not only a great time to get into fish, but also an easy way to avoid the crowds.
 

Yellowstone River 4140 c.f.s. 63 degrees, July 30th, 2010 With steadily dropping flows and increasing clarity, the river should now provide fisherman with some excellent nymph and streamer fishing. Lots of good hopper action between Carbella and Point of Rocks.  Dry fly action has taken off, and with the recent emergence of the Yellow Sallies that have followed the big bugs up river, fishing will only increase in productivity as the summer continues.
 

Missouri River 4140 c.f.s., 63 deg. July 30th 2010 The nymphing has been phenomenal over the past few weeks with small crayfish patterns, Pat's Rubber Legs, scud patterns, Flashback Pheasant Tails, Caddis pupa, and a variety of other flies.  Dry fly fishing is still sporadic, but a few fish are definitely looking up to caddis adults and spent patterns, as well as PMD spinners and cripples.
 
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