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Yellowstone Park

Jimmy's All Seasons Angler / Yellowstone Park (Page 22)

Yellowstone Park 7-9-13

Watching Fall River flow gauges and regional weather reports convinced me that it was time to head to Fall River Basin yesterday for some dry fly fishing.  I could not have timed it better as the river in Bechler Meadows was in perfect shape for such fishing, with a sky filled with cumulus clouds, higher than normal relative humidity, and only a slight breeze. PMDs began emerging (only a few green drakes, however) about lunch time and kept going until high winds put them down just after 4PM.  Before that fish responded with gusto.  I was a bit  “out of style” by using a #14 blond humpy, but the fish did not care.  More proof that it is not so much the particular fly used, but how it is presented.  Good dry fly fishing should remain in all Fall River Basin streams for several days now, given partly cloudy and relatively humid conditions prevailing.  Look for the same on similar Park waters including Slough Creek, Lamar River, meadow reaches of the Lewis and Gibbon Rivers, Pelican Creek, and Duck Creek. But avoid the bright, cloudless, and dry days for best fishing success on such waters.

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Yellowstone Park 7-2-13

It is time to consider the evening brown drake hatches on Duck Creek and the upper Gibbon River.   Best time for either is late evening to twilight.  Duck Creek holds the larger fish, and will be the least crowded of the two.  This warm weather signals a decline in salmonid activity on the Firehole River. Many of the fish will seek out cooler water where tribs enter or go into the tribs fo relief.

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Yellowstone Park 6-29-13

I promised a report on fishing Bechler Meadows, so here goes. We walked in as planned last Wednesday. There had been about an inch of rain in the area in the last few days, so the Cave Falls road was dust free.  Too bad the mosquitoes (bad!) had not been drowned by that rain! We arrived at the river about mid morning to see that it was still low for the time of year, but had gained water (a long term blessing this year!)because of the recent rain. Not much happened on top until around 3PM when water temp warmed enough to begin the PMD emergence.   With that, those big hybrids began reacting, but not with usual gusto because of earthworms, etc. washed into stream by rain-induced flow increase.  We caught some fish up to around four pounds, then left to find a “grizzly bear calling card” smack in mid-trail on the way out.  Considering trying the river or Boundary Creek this low water year? Better hurry!  Elsewhere the Madison River inside the Park features great afternoon action from fish responding to PMD and caddisfly hatches. Lewis River streamer fishing is holding up, and northeast corner streams are losing run-off . Shoshone Lake remains good fishing for those anglers using boats or ‘tubes to get out to submerged weed beds where black leech and scud patterns are producing.  Heart Lake Basin opens to fishing Monday, July 1st. Likely because of low, warm water best fishing by wading will be the river just below the lake where those big cutts will be looking for giant stoneflies flying  from the canyon below.

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Yellowstone Park 6-25-13

Fishing is holding up well with PMDs and caddisflies making the Madison River a destination.  Firehole River is beginning to warm, but fishing is holding up.   Some of the best current streamer fishing in the Park is on the Lewis River.  Be ready to fish around boats and canoes heading into Shoshone Lake.   Best  way to avoid this traffic is to fish in the late afternoon and evening.  Green drakes should be hatching on the river below Lewis Lake.   We are heading into Bechler Meadows tomorrow where river and Boundary Creek should be in good shape for dry fly fishing.   Sallys and PMDs should bring fish to the top to feed.  Expect a report later this week.

 

 

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Yellowstone Park 6-22-13

We fished the river in Bechler Meadows Thursday.  Purple camas bloom is at its peak.  Fishing was tough considering the effort we put in.  Water is quite low for this time of year, but some fish responded to wet flies.  Good dry fly fishing should begin soon beginning with isoperla and PMD activity.  Hopefully green drakes and brown drakes will appear next.  And yes, mosquitoes are out in the usual good numbers making DEET a valuable commodity.  Bring  a raincoat because t-showers are common this time of year. We were hit by one that dropped air temps about 25 deg. F and made rain go sideways.   So glad I was wearing a pair of Simms Goretex Pac-Lite pants to ward off wind and rain.  What a terrific product for when weather acts up!   Come in and look these over.

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Yellowstone Park 6-18-13

We will be in Bechler Meadows tomorrow, so expect a report on the results of fishing the river. Right now run-off is leaving all Fall River Basin streams, so we will be looking for the emergence  sequence beginning with isoperla stoneflies, PMDs, green drakes and on to brown drakes.  The Ashton Forest Service Office tells us the Flagg Ranch Road is open at least to the Targhee, Bridger-Teton National Forest border at the far end of Grassy Lake.  Now it is possible to walk into Beula Lake to enjoy cutts responding to damselflies.

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Yellowstone Park 6-15-13

We packed float tubes down DeLacey Creek trail to Shoshone Lake two days ago and were met by eager juvenile lake trout trout that would not quit hitting.  A few good sized (up to 15″) brookies joined in, but the browns did not.  If you are looking for back country fly-fishing that is sure to produce  a great experience, and this  big lake offers it, here is what you need: good enough physical shape to back-pack a float tube, fins, INSULATED waders, fly-fishing gear, raincoat, etc., six miles round trip.  Here’s what works: get out in the lake and present small leech (black in size 10 is best) or scud patterns (orange in size 14 is best) on top of weed beds through using a full sink line. The lake trout average 17-21″ and in the cold (47 Deg. F.) water put up a credible fight.   The Park Service encourages keeping these fish, but carrying out five fish this size makes the walk out  tougher.  So  take out the results of using that filet knife, and put the rest back in the lake.  Elsewhere in the Park, fishing on the Firehole River is holding up very well (see our last report on fishing Yellowstone Park waters).  PMDs are making great PM fishing on the Madison River, and a few golden stones are showing up there. Run-off is beginning to leave Fall River Basin streams.  Streams in the northeast corner of the Park are high but beginning to drop in flow.

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Yellowstone Park 6-11-13

Warm weather is melting snow on Pitchstone and Madison Plateaus. This means flow into Fall River Basin streams is increasing.  Ice has been off Shoshone and Lewis Lakes for weeks. We will be packing float tubes down the DeLacey Trail to Shoshone Lake in a few days (hoping for some of those gorgeous browns, but sure to get into juvenile macks), so look for a report on fishing there afterwards.   Lewis River between Shoshone and Lewis Lakes is a great choice now for fishing streamers.  Firehole River is warming up, but fishing remains good as related in our June 8th report.  Same with Duck and Cougar Creeks.  U.S. Forest Service Ashton Office recommends only four-wheel drive vehicles from bottom of Calf Creek Hill east on the Flagg Ranch Road.

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Yellowstone Park 6-8-13

Firehole River is still producing  with BWO, Caddis and White Miller patterns presented, but lots’a of fly-fishers are present. Duck Creek remains good, challenging fishing with small leech patterns and any thing resembling a worm cluster.  Tough-to-fish, little Cougar Creek offers some good fishing if you do not mind bushwhacking.  Fall River Basin streams will have added run-off with this warming weather, but when run-off is over look for some great fishing.

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Yellowstone Park 6-1-13

Fish responding to BWO, caddisfly, and white miller hatches make the Firehole River the star of the show here. Water is lower than normal meaning that the river will warm up quickly as we pass through June. So go enjoy the action on this beautiful river ASAP.   Duck Creek is producing big rainbows,  a few big browns and some brookies.  But this great small stream will challenge the heck out of you.  If you do not like presenting  streamer patterns, try a dragonfly nymph pattern or your favorite nymph pattern under an indicator.  Bring all the stealth you possess!

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