Terrestrial patterns should take a “front seat” in your fly box if you intend to fish any stream. With our bright, clear weather fish them as close as possible to overhead cover, especially on low gradient streams such as Boundary, Duck, and Slough creeks and the meadow reaches of such as Bechler, Gibbon, and Lamar meadows.
Personnel are monitoring water temperatures throughout the Park to detect any waters where a closure may be necessary to protect hosted trout . Because we are a Park fishing license vender we receive up front information on any closures. If we hear of any, (hopefully we will not) we will surely post them in this report. For now, best days to fish almost all streams will be when thundershowers threaten, and your best bet should be placed on terrestrial patterns.
Beginning August 1 the Park closes The Madison River within the Park, the Gibbon River below Gibbon Falls and the Firehole River below Kepler Cascades to fishing. Water temps on each are approaching 80 deg. F. Look for these streams to be re-opened to fishing when water temps cool to more hospitable levels for trout. High water temperatures on other streams could result in more fishing limitations within the Park.
Consider that the higher one goes in elevation the less likely water temperatures will reach dangerously high levels for trout. Within the Park the waters at highest elevation are in the Yellowstone River drainage above the Upper and Lower falls, the Lewis River drainage above the canyon, the Fall River drainage from Beula Lake and above, and Bechler River in the upper canyon. All of these are over 7000 feet in elevation. Including these with the Gibbon River drainage above Gibbon Falls and the Firehole River above Kepler Cascades makes for plenty of water for concentrating fishing efforts with less impact on trout survival.
On any of the Park’s meadow streams, ie Lamar, Bechler, Madison, Fall, Lewis, Gibbon rivers, Boundary, Duck, Slough, Obsidian, Soda Butte creeks, its time to be the “Henry’s Fork Hunchback”. It’s a great time of the season to be on this type of water. But low, clear slow flowing water offers less overhead cover in mid summer, so fish are more skittish. Keep out of sight as much as possible and do everything you can to present those terrestrial patterns with a natural drift. Also best times for success are early and late in the day.
Time to think terrestrial patterns on streams and shorelines of lakes. That thought applies to almost all Park waters. One exception is the big stoneflies moving up through the Yellowstone River canyon above Gardner. A good way to enjoy fish responding to them is to take a four-mile walk to the river down Blacktail Deer Creek. It’s a big river here, nearly the size of the South Fork reach of the Snake River, and you will have to commit to either side.
Not much change since our 7-17 report. Look for best fishing to happen during days when thundershowers start to build.
Currently best time for fishing success on many streams here are days when thundershowers threaten. Bright, cloudless days hinder insect activity and also provide reduced cover in the clearer, slower flowing streams. This is particularly true for meadow reaches of such as Slough Creek, Lamar River, Madison River, Gibbon River, and Fall River Basin streams. For best chances of fishing success, observe weather reports for the day you intend to fish. Look for increased chances for cloud cover and showers, and go prepared for these. Where’s the fastest fishing in the Park right now? For still waters my bet is on such as Beula Lake and Riddle Lake. For streams I would suggest Boundary Creek and the timbered reaches of Slough Creek, Bechler River, and Fall River. Get in touch with us for particulars on fishing these.
Cloudy wind free days like today bring out mayflies big time. Now is the time to be on Fall River Basin streams, Slough Creek, Lamar River, Yellowstone River below the lake, and Lewis River Channel. Beula Lake is producing well with damselflies and speckled duns continuing to hatch and bring action. Pelican Creek opens for fishing tomorrow, but don’t expect the number of cutts we had returning downstream back in the 1990s.
All waters are in or nearing top shape. Exceptions are the Firehole and Madison rivers and Trout Lake. Leave the Firehole alone until September, Trout Lake until late October, and visit the Madison early in the AM (spinner falls) or in the evening (caddis activity). Fall River Basin streams are in ideal shape for dry fly fishing with PMD and sally activity beginning in early afternoon hours. Brown drakes take over in the evening and one or two green drakes appear when water temps get to the low 50s in degrees F. Beula Lake offers the fastest still water fishing in the Park with its damselfly and speckled dun populations hatching. Add PM caddis coming down the inlet and fish there are responding mightily. Slough Creek brown drakes are coming on, so an evening visit there is a good idea. Grebe and Cascade lakes (both host grayling) offer similar fishing to Beula Lake. Fishing in Shoshone Lake will slow as waters warm.
Good reports are coming in from Beula Lake where small beadhead and damselfly nymphs are producing. The Firehole River is done for good fishing until September. Some PMDs and lots’a caddis remain on the Madison River for evening fishing. Some evening brown drakes remain on Duck Creek and meadow reaches of the Gibbon River. Fall River Basin streams are shaping up with run-off about finished. Look for their green and brown drakes to begin emerging. Right now PMDs and sallies are just beginning to bring surface feeders on all Basin streams. The Gallatin river is also free of run-off and giving good PM fishing with active caddis and some golden stones.