Last week’s transitional weather was very good to the Yellowstone – the cooler nights in particular are helping the transition to fall hatches.  Rain showers the past few days have for the most part not been cloud burst type rains and have not impacted clarity to a great degree. 

Below the Lake / Above the Canyon – As in years past, not great numbers of fish this year (you could easily argue very few).  If you find a pod of working fish, get on them – but pickin’s are slimmer and slimmer.  We agree with the Park’s guys when they suggest coming back on opening day 2009!

Canyons of the Yellowstone – a buddy was in this week (Black Canyon) and said without a doubt the streamer season is upon us; she had a great day, and even saw some BWOs in the afternoon (it was cloudy).  The Park’s guys are reporting a Spruce Moth or two in there, though our buddy didn’t see any.  Sunny days could make a terrestrial or attractor make sense too.  Most of the tourist hikers are long gone, this is a great day fishing. 

Near Gardiner and beyond– this section of the river had a much better week this past week compared to most of August.  BWOs have made their appearance, and there are still Caddis and Gray Drakes around.  Attractors as wells as streamers / soft hackles are still in the game, as are terrestrials on the sunnier days (Monday and Tuesday this next week). 

Amazingly declining river flows are still running well above average out of Yellowstone Lake; flows today (0515) at the Lake outlet were 1610 cfs, with today’s historical average 1350 cfs.  If you’re new to our site, please check out our How to Best Use This Site page.

Flies to have in the box

Dries:  Drakes - Paradrake, gray, green, olive, life cycle; Parachute Adams; baetis - BWO, Blue Dun, Olive Sparkle Dun, Comparadun, Para-Adams; Caddis – EHC, X Caddis, Electric Caddis, EC Caddis, Spent Caddis – tan and olive;  still carry attractors

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

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

Terrestrials:  Hoppers, ants, beetles, bees

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