Weekly Conditions and Tips

Report By Craig Mathews

The Madison River is fishing well below Earthquake Lake. Evening spinner falls mixed with caddis emergences continue and daytime emergences of Epeorus and Baetis mayflies can be counted on during afternoon thunderstorms. Terrestrials are becoming a larger factor in afternoon fishing if conditions are bright and sunny. Spruce moths are in number along the stretch from Sundance to Standard Creek. Hoppers are showing along the banks from Windy Point to Varney and flying ants are getting ready to swarm all along the river. Evening caddis will continue to emerge so be ready for them nightly from 6-9:30p.m.

The Gallatin River remains good through the Park stretch and all the way to the mouth of Gallatin Canyon. Spruce moths are strong in the canyon in several areas and mayflies like pink ladies and Rhitros are emerging along with their spinner falls in the late afternoon and eves. Ants, bees and beetles are bringing up some fine brown trout on the upper river above Big Sky.

The Henry's Fork is still high but fishing in places with large foam hopper and beetle patterns.

The Yellowstone has fished well near Gardiner when it runs clear. Check before making the trip as there have been times the river is muddy due to the influence of the Lamar and Gardner Rivers. Recent thunderstorms have caused mud slides which render the main river unfishable for a day or more.

The Gardner when clear has been great with crickets and hoppers and Royal Wulff Cripples.

The Lamar has been good when PMD's emerge. Cream colored Baetis are emerging now too so it pays to have #20-22 sparkle duns. Huge Slough Creek Crickets and Yellowstone Bees are fishing well and bringing up some big fish below Rose Creek and the big meadow.

Slough Creek's first and second meadows have fished well for those willing to make the hike and fishing PMD spinners in the morning and Longhorn Beetle, small hoppers and cricket patterns in the afternoon. Remember that flying ant times are coming this week and for the following 3 weeks so be ready. Midges and caddis can be counted on in the late afternoon and evening hours.

Soda Butte Creek has fished well when clear. Have our #14 Heptagenia Sparkle Dun when fishing lower Soda as well as a Tiger Beetle and Yellowstone Bee. Hoppers are beginning to bring some good fish to the surface too and they can't resist a Chaos Hopper in #10-12. Hiking anglers appreciate small streams like Straight, Daly Cascade, Blacktail Deer, Lava, Elk, Little Firehole, Nez Perce, Grayling, and a host of other fine waters. There is no place on earth offering more trout streams offering up great angling opportunities with on other anglers to be seen than Yellowstone country. (I wish you could see the lightening and hear the thunder as I type this now!)

Check with us and we will steer you to some incredible fishing in the area. I always get a kick out of those anglers fishing this area for so many years, and yet totally unaware of all the waters I refer to as "underfished and overlooked"!

Hebgen Lake's Callibaetis mayflies are showing on the Madison and Grayling Arms. Some days better than others but August means great C Baetis times with lots of big gulpers rising to them so get here quick.

If you'd like to hike into some great lakes in Yellowstone stop in and we can draw you a map to dozens of lakes to explore.

In the meantime give us a call. All of us at BRF look forward to seeing you soon!