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Author: Bruce_Staples

Fly Fish Food Jimmy's / Articles posted by Bruce_Staples (Page 258)

South Fork 7-13-09

Big bugs are up as high as Irwin, and with flow out of Palisades down to 13000 cfs the river in Swan Valley is in great shape for fishing.  Bring your favorite dry giant and golden stonefly patterns!  The river is slightly discolored but this does not impact fishing.   Give a bit more time, and it will clear.  PMDs are out along the upper river, and with flows dropping more gravel bars are becoming available.  Big news for the lower river is that it is very tough to take out from the Twin Bridges site because the south channel is small and difficult to see as well as shallow enough to require pulling a drift boat through.  The river has formed a berm near the top of that channel.  But enough water comes up below this berm to allow launching from the Twin Bridges.  On the lower river try such such as rubberlegs and super-x’s.  The best action here can be had in and around springs that enter the river. Try midge pupa under an indicator or PMD life cycle patterns.

A rod inside a rod case has been found on the South Fork.  To identify & claim it, call 589-0385

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Still Waters 7-10-09

Big news here is the damselfly emergence. It’s going on from all our reservoirs, late as it is.   Chesterfield, Daniels, Hawkins, Springfield, Twin Lakes and Twenty-four Mile reservoirs all feature this event that makes for a great chance for a fish of the year.   Look to fish the coves, submerged weed beds and shallows. Your favorite pattern on an intermediate line will do nicely.  Midging is still effective on some of these including Springfield, but when fish begin sipping dry damselflies, most everyone changes over to fishing the surface.

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South Western Montana 7-10-09

Big event here is the giant/golden stonefly event on the Madison River.  They are into the “wade only” section and moving upstream.  Yellow Sallies, PMDs and caddis also provide action up and down the river.  We also hear that there are a few flavs coming out.  If you want crowded fishing try the river between Hebgen and Quake lakes. The stonefly adults will be flying there soon and will bring in even more anglers.  Midging continues to be the best tehnique for taking fish on Hebgen Lake.  All you need to do is find the taking depth.  Some of the smaller streams are really shaping up. This includes Grayling Creek north of West Yellowstone where the fish run to surprising sizes.  Any dry attractor pattern will do the trick there.

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Yellowstone Park 7-10-09

Except for some streams in the northeast corner, waters have really shaped up. The Firehole is beginning to warm up, so the days of action there are numbered.  Elsewhere, the Gallatin River in the Park is clearing, and golden stones are making an appearance.  Caddisflies are always there.  Don’t forget dry attractor patterns if you try it.  Fall River Basin streams are a bit high, but clear. They have dropped very quickly, so fishing while good will improve with time.   Major mayfly emergences there are getting started including brown and green drakes and PMDs. The gray drake emergence is about done there.  Beula Lake offers the fastest fishing in the basin and perhaps in the entire Park.  Riddle Lake would also be a good choice with fishing off the northwest shore being a good option.  All you need is waders to get out a bit with a floating or intermediate line and dry damsel patterns or small leech patterns.  Action can still be had around submerged Shoshone Lake and Lewis Lake weed beds.  All you need is a float tube, full sink line and small scud and leach patterns.  If you don’t have insulated waders you will not last long out on those lakes.

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Small Streams 7-10-09

Just about all are in good shape now.  The choice is almost endless, so contact us for best recommendations.   But to be sure, caddis, yellow sally, and attractor patterns in small and medium sizes will produce on almost all.  There are some exceptions with which we can help.    So get in touch!

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Big Lost River 7-10-09

Flow out of Mackay Dam is just under 600 cfs. If you are a strong wader, there is some fishing in the river here. Try wooly bugger and San Juan worm patterns.

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South Fork 7-10-09

Flow out of Palisades Dam continues to decrease. It was stepped down to 15600 cfs this AM, and it looks like further decreases may be in the works.  Although the river remains a bit colored, fish are responding quite well.  The big stonefly event is in the canyon, so the best way to encounter it is to float from Conant Valley downstream.  Try big nymphs as well as dry patterns, and remember presentation is more important than having a particular dry or wet pattern.  Yellow sally patterns continue to produce good responses from trout up & down the river.   PMD’s are now coming out big time.  With the river still higher than normal the best strategy for fishing PMDs is try life cycle patterns close to banks and at the shallower areas such as below islands or over visible gravel bars.

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Henry’s Fork 7-10-09

Big event on the upper river remains the  evening brown drake emergence. You will find them almost anywhere on the river within the State Park, but some areas are better than others. The river at the end of Wood Road 16 is a prime location.  It can get crowded near, but there is room to spread out, especially upstream.  Flavs are coming on, too.  On the lower river gray drakes remain in good supply, particularly below Chester Dam.   Above the Dam they are there but decreasing. Flavs, PMDs and caddis are also present and afternoons are best for fishing their imitations.  Look for PMD spinner falls in the morning.  Anywhere on the river don’t overlook presenting beetle and ant patterns especially near shorelines.   As our mayfly  and stonefly hatches decrease terrestrial insects will become increasingly important food items for trout.

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Yellowstone Park 7-07-09

Really shaping up here! Streams in the northeast corner have a way to go, though. Slough Creek is high and clearing and offers the best fishing in that corner of the Park. Look for evening brown drakes to offer its best fishing.  The Lewis River drainage still features great fishing on Lewis and Shoshone lakes if you can get out to submerged weed beds and offer small scud and leech patterns. Use a full sink line to do it.  And be sure to have insulated waders or plenty of fleece under those breathables or light weights.  Madison River drainage streams are fishing well with several different mayfly species emerging along with caddisflies, yellow sallys and a remnant of golden stones. Look for damselfly nymphs patterns to bring action on slower reaches of all these streams.  Fall River Basin streams are a week or so away from great dry fly fishing, and Beula Lake still offers some of the fastest fishing in the entire Park.  Pack a float tube into it for the best fishing with damselfly nymph, scud and small leech patterns.  Don’t know how to get there? get in touch with us.

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