Big Lost River 7-18-2011
Flow out of Mackay Dam is just under 800 cfs. That’s a drop, but not enough for very safe wading in the river below
July 2011
Yellowstone Park 7-18-2011
Waters are finally beginning to recede. The Madison River drainage remains in the best condition. Afternoon PMDs and evening caddis activity result in action. The Firehole River is warming to levels where fish can become stressed while being played. Let’s give ’em a break until we cool off in September. If you are up the Firehole’s way, why not try the Gibbon River. It’s a smaller version, but it holds fish just as large, if not larger. That’s right: the official largest brown trout caught in Yellowstone Park is from the Gibbon in the meadow reach. Going north out of West Yellowstone, Duck Creek in the meadow is every bit as challenging as any water around. Right now beetles and ants would bring the best chances for big resident ‘bows and browns, but you had better be a “Henry’s Fork Hunchback”. Fall River Basin and Lamar River drainage streams remain high, but are dropping and clearing. The Lewis River is high, clear and suitable for fishing. Pelican Creek is open to fishing, but few fish are present. Right now some of the fastest fishing in the Park is in Beula Lake. It is all Yellowstone cutts, and they range up to near twenty inches. Riddle Lake may be a close second, but the cutts are smaller.
Small Streams 7-18-2011
Give streams draining the west slope of the Grand Teton Range another week or so, and they will join our huge variety of small streams offering great fishing. There is a perception that because a stream is small it will not hold large trout. Don’t believe it! Most of the larger creeks in the South Fork-Palisades Reservoir drainage hold cutthroat that would qualify as large in the South Fork and the reservoir. For sure there are not as many large ones present, but there are much fewer folks fishing these, no boats to intrude on your riffle, and terrific scenery. It’s the same with small streams in the Henry’s Fork drainage and the Salt river drainage. And there are many more small water that hold large trout. Want to get away from the crowds and still have a chance at some large trout in moving water? We can recommend several places where you will have chances. Come in and listen to what we can suggest.
Still Waters 7-18-2011
Currently damselfly nymphs are the best way to fish everywhere these days. Pick any reservoir, and that is what’s working. Keep an eye open for takes on the surface as some adult damsels deposit eggs there and others dive to the bottom to do so. Rises to those on the surface or to those returning to it make for fun fishing with adult patterns. Sand Creek Ponds opened to fishing from boats without motors on July 15th. Damselflies are emerging in big numbers there, but we hear that some speckled duns are beginning to show there just as from such as Chesterfield, Twenty-Four Mile, Daniels and other reservoirs. With respect to warm water species, its been a slow and strange season so far.
Henry’s Fork 7-18-2011
Looks like the upper river has caught up to the lower river with respect to fishing success. It’s about the time during a normal season that fishing on the lower river begins to slow, even though this year has been anything but normal. Caddis and PMDs (evening spinner falls) are present in good numbers on the lower river, but nymphing is becoming more important as the best way to fish. It’s a bit early for hoppers, but with warming and drier days, ants and beetles are more active and therefore important in a trout’s diet. On the upper river a big variety of mayflies, caddisflies and terrestrials are attracting fish. PMDs and afternoon flavs are the most numerous mayflies with a few evening brown drakes emerging. And as with the lower river beetles and ants are more important.
Still Waters 7-14-2011
Here’s a blanket statement: Damselfly emergences are going on everywhere. If you want action on any of our still waters, you should have patterns for them. Fish ’em in shallower waters and at depth around submerged vegetation. If you see rises, try dry damsel adults. Also best to have a few speckled dun life cycle patterns near by, they are beginning to show on many waters.
South Fork 7-14-2011
Inflow to Palisades Reservoir is dropping with a few delays from rain storms, but at around 26000 cfs today is higher than today’s outflow of 23500 cfs. It will be a while before we have the fishing that puts the South Fork on the map. For now if you must try this great river, remember that fish don’t need to spend energy coming to the surface; there is plenty of food drifting subsurface. So rubberlegs, streamers, wooly bugger types, SJ worms (tough to disguise, isn’t it!) in singles and clusters, all fished deep will get some action. Isn’t what we are use to this time of the season, but better days are ahead. We’ll keep you posted on when they arrive.
Big Lost River 7-14-2011
Flow out of Mackay Dam is dropping. but at just under 900 cfs, wading remains treacherous downstream.
Small Streams 7-14-2011
We are about where we should be with respect to good fishing on small streams. The big exception would be streams draining the west slope of the Grand Teton range. Huge amounts of snow higher up are keeping these waters high. Right now there are several areas where you can find great small stream fishing. To name a few: the Sinks drainages (Medicine Lodge, Beaver, Birch, Camas, Little Lost, Pleasant Valley,Sawmill): Salt River tribs (Jackknife, Tin Cup, Stump, Crow), South Fork (Bear, Fall, McCoy, Pine, Palisades, Big Elk): Henry’s Fork (Warm River, Robinson Creek, Buffalo River). As you can see, we don’t have room here to discuss individual waters, so get in touch or visit us for details.
Henry’s Lake 7-14-2011
Best fishing appears to be in front of creek mouths. Targhee, Hope, and Duck creeks are among these, but get to them early to beat the crowds, and expect increasing company if you are catching fish consistently. Your favorite damselfly nymph pattern as well as mity mites and bead head peacock leeches will bring action. Many Henry’s Lake veterans will use binoculars to see who is catching fish and where, and if they see your rod is bent they head for your area.