Local Getaway

We have another system coming through tomorrow which promises some afternoon gusts of up to 40 mph. I won't be going to Yellowstone...that's for sure anyway. I like trying to get out of the wind by fishing down in the valleys amongst the cottonwoods. You can always find enough protected places to keep the day worthwhile.

The bite has been pretty solid just about everywhere and water conditions look like they usually do around late July. I don't really know what to make of it other than fishing has been really good.

Most of the fish I've seen and heard about on the Yellowstone this summer have been skinnier than usual. I think something might be said for our long and significant runoff adversely impacting fish health. That said, they're still spunky and health looking...I just haven't seen many real fatties since the runoff. The Madison and Gallatin, on the other hand, are both showing some chunky little bastards as of late.

I lost my net yesterday at the car wash in Belgrade. I took it out of the boat while I gave it a quick spray. Some prick stole it within an hour. It was a wooden brodin boat net with a reddish/clear rubber basket. That was number 2 this year! I left he other one on an island on the stone this spring. Cheap aluminum ones break and good ones are expensive and get lost...kind of like sunglasses I guess.

Post Front

Things were much cooler in SW Montana today, but really pleasant overall. The Yellowstone was really windy this morning and I guess the fish just were off a bit which is not really a surprise given the front that just came through I headed up to the Upper Madison this am as the least wind was fore casted that way. Lyon's was an absolute circus.

One would think that all those West and Idaho guides would get up a little earlier, they never get to the river until 9:30 or so and it's only a half hour drive for them. Lazy Asses. I usually leave early to get up there around 8 or so but not today.

The fishing was good on midnight stones and small mayfly nymphs in the am, switching to caddis midday behind the stone. We didn't try dries as the breeze was enough to give my guy some issues. He still hooked a good number of decent fish on nymphs throughout the day. The water was chilly this am, enough so that my toes were pretty cold while putting the boat in.

One thing I've noticed this year is that I haven't got fish on the sculpin patterns like I normally do. My thinking is that sculpin fishing usually gets good in late July/early Aug. So, if everything holds like it has so far this year...then we should start getting some fish on dead-drifted bait in the next week-10 days. 

Tricos on the lower Yellowstone...hmm...interesting.

The Wind is Your Friend

Whatever man! The wind sucks! We had a great day today until about 2 this afternoon when the wind really picked up. The bite was really really good today on midnight stones and lightning bugs. I headed for an out of the way spot as the froecast was for 30+ mph winds in the afternoon. The forecast was right and I'm glad we weren't up in Pvalley.

I actually had to get out and walk my boat down the river a few times because I couldn't go down river! I made Steve get out about 1/2 mile from the boatramp so that it would be easier to get the boat moving. 

Oh well, like I said, the bite was great...almost as good as it gets today. Great water temps and plenty of water still. I'm not saying where I was today either.

Fishing is Good

The Yellowstone just keeps fishing really wellwith hoppers. We had a great day yesterday down low with lots of hook ups all afternoon long. Better yet, we had the river to ourselves. Nothing huge, but lots of good fish 14-18". 

My client for the las 2 days is learning quickly and I bet things will just get better with him the next two day. If you've fished with me before...just think...ok cast again, mend, strip in some linem hithithit, strip strip, let him go let go let go of the line, get your rod up...extend your arms...he's not goign to swim into the net! I've said that a few times the last 2 days. 

We hit the lower Madison today and had surprisingly good action on nymphs, they were also eating hoppers pretty well but we didn't mess with the dries today. Picking weeds off lightn

ing bugs is way more fun anyway.

A big front is coming through tonight so we'll see what happens in the morning.

Back At it

Had a day off today and ended up having to go into the shop this am as I was scheduled to open...but forgot to show up. I lectured myself for a few minutes and promised not to do it again. Spent the rest of the day with my youngest son and had lunch with my older one. 

The 

Big Horn was very good and crowded as expected. Got a few fish to eat hoppers and they were just starting to get going on Black Caddis. That black caddis thing can be very good over there as the pattern just needs to be right and they gobble them up. I like a CDC Black Caddis in a 16 the best. The fish are also getting on Black Fly pupae as well, these can be pretty trick as they really get keyed into these at different times of the day. But when they are on them, they eat the crap out of them. A black and white zebra midge or a black tailwater tiny in a size 20 always seems to get it done. It's a confusing hatch and pretty much impossible to detect unless you pump a fish. They should be getting on them on the Missouri as well. When they are on the black flies, you can have a good day fishing regular stuff, but if you get the bug right, you can hammer them on the black flies.

Hopper fishing is still great on the lower Yellowstone, I'm going to check out som

e stuff above town this week as I haven't been up that way this year and it sounds like it has been fishing just as well. That old tan foam hopper seems to keep finding plenty of lookers. There have been lots of boats out though, so you need to leave early or go where I go which I won't tell you.

No complaints this year about FWP...yet. I am surprised they haven't imposed the Hoot Owl restrcitions on the lower Madison as it has been plenty warm for awhile now. The Madison changes seems to at least brought more enforcement activity.

Clouds??

What a weird day today was. It was more cloudy than not...haven't seen that in awhile. Things started off with 3 fish on hoppers in the first 2oo yards or so. After that, we had lots of eats and lots of misses. Hooked a nive brown on a lightning bug but lost it at the boat. All in all, things ended up pretty good with the best action being on hoppers. A big fat size 6 tan foam hopper seems to be doing it pretty good. I wonder how long this can last?

I like a bright sunny day the best for hopper fishing as I think they can just see the bugs better, especially in deep and fast water. The old wives tale abut cloudy days is true in the spring and fall for BWO hatches, but I'd take a gentle breeze and bright sun all summer long. Maybe my fondness for the bright light is based on my experiences in NZ where bright days usually bring the best fishing (because the fish are easier to spot). Anyway, a cloudy day is better than a rainy day for hoppers but the glare can make it tough to see even the biggest hopper.

I'm fishing down low again tomorrow and then head to the Horn for a couple days and then back to the lower stone. I'm going to milk this hopper hing as long as it lasts as this is the best I've seen in many moons.

Lower Stone

Fished the lower Yellowstone today as it was clearing from rains over the weekend. It nymphed really well in the morning and then the fish got on the hoppers in the afternoon. Nothing huge but 30 + fish to the net. The water level and temperature is perfect..I can't believe it's August as the fishing is abotu as good as it gets on the Yellowstone.

My client fished my Helios 965 tip flex for the nymphs today. The rod is awesome for heavy nymphing, lots of power, extra length for mending, and it's still lightweight. Today I also learned that the Helios really are durable as hell. Pete left the nymphs hanging off the front as we slid over a gravel bar (one of my pet peaves), the flies hooked the bottom and the rod nearly doubled over under the boat and no snappage!

Looking forward to the rest of the season and the end which should be in mid October on the Big Horn. In case you're wondering, I'm doing some trips to the Horn in October that start out around 1200 per person for a 4 night/ 3 day package. Plan on around 1400-1700 for some good accommodations and food.

Mo Hopper

The Yellowstone got dirty over the weekend with some rain in the park, but started to come around again today. Fishing up high in Paradise Valley was tougher today than it has been but we still probably landed 15 fish and missed another 10 or so. Not so bad for a tough day of fishing dries. The rain also cleared out the haze from some fires in the Park making for some spectacular scenery today.

The river had about 3-4 feet of vis toady and was improving, tomorrow should be very good. Flesh colored BLT was the best bug today. Heading down low tomorrow to see if we can find some big dumb ones.

Catch Up

It's been a whirlwind of a summer and not enough time in the day to do everything on my list, including keeping up with the blog. The essential thing is that fishing has been great all summer so far. Hopper fishing on the Yellowstone and Upper Madison has been going for about a week now and looks to keep on getting better. 

The Yellowstone is about a month behind schedule, so the water conditions right now are comparable to the last several early Julys. Big browns are up on the skinny flats looking for hoppers on the lower river. The cutties are eating just about everything that floats over them on the upper river. Things have really been good and recent afternoon showers are just making everything even better. This is undoubtably the best August I've seen in over 16 years of fishing in SW Montana.

The Spruce Moths are back in force this year. We've seen some ridiculous fishing on the Gallatin as it seems like every fish in the river is looking up. I've also had some really good dry fly fishing on the Upper Madison in the mornings on moth patterns and then switching to hoppers late morning.

I had a few days off a couple weeks ago and headed up to fish the Blackfoot and Clark's Fork. Beautiful water, crappy fishing. One of those places that fished really well late in the runoff...everything fishes great then! Needless to say, I think our rivers are much better!

Hopper Times

Things have been busy here in SW Montana the last few weeks so sorry for the lack of updates and info. July ended up being fantastic and if you made it out with us you probably would agree. 

Just a quick note tonight that the hopper fishing is getting crazy good on the Yellowstone and Upper Madison. CRAZY GOOD.