The Yellowstone River has been fishing well, both in and out of the Park.  The Yellowstone is maintaining excellent flows this year; well above average still, and the fishing is the best in many years.

In the Park, the Cutthroats have just finished spawning and will likely not give much of a fight (those that do probably did not spawn this year.)  The Cutts are beautifully colored and healthy – so beautiful!  The Cutthroat population is healthy and a bit more widespread this year, it seems – there seem to be a few fish in places that have been relatively bare until this year, such as the LeHardy rapid area.  (The fire is mostly contained, and fishing is undisturbed!)  The theory is that these fish have entered the river from Yellowstone Lake to spawn, and are hanging around waiting for hatches.  Fortunately, your fly will look like a big tasty meal to these guys and the fishing is better than it has been in some time!  Try PMDs, Green Drakes, or Golden Stones for daytime fishing.  In the evenings, Rusty Spinners and Caddis are the way to go.

The Yellowstone near Gardiner is also fishing incredibly well.  So well, in fact, that several of the managers at the shop I work at decided midday yesterday to take off and hit the Yellowstone.  (It’s amazing how fast attitudes change when fishing is on the docket!)  Hoppers and Attractors are active and popular, in the evenings Caddis are still around and productive.  Other Terrestrials, like Ants and Crickets, are starting to get some good action as well.  There are some big fish on the Yellowstone, ready and willing, so get out there right this minute!

Flows today (0600) are 2970 cfs, with today’s average 2010 cfs, measured on the Yellowstone Lake Outlet gage.

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Flies to Have in the Box

Dries:  PMDs - parachute, sparkle dun, sprout, cripple, CDC Emerger, PMX - yellow, peacock, royal; Drakes - Paradrake, gray, green, olive, life cycle; Parachute Adams; Caddis – EHC, X Caddis, Electric Caddis, EC Caddis, Spent Caddis – tan and olive; Golden Stone; Attractor arsenal

Nymphs:  Bubbleback PMD; BH & FB PT; Copper John, green, red, chartreuse; Shop Vac; Flashback soft hackle, yellow; Stonefly, various; HE & BHHE, big

Streamers / Others:  Woolly Buggers, brown, black, olive, blue; Sparkle Buggers, same - note overall they should be on the smaller side

Terrestrials:  Hoppers, ants, beetles

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