Week of June 28, 2007
I did not get a fishing report off from West Yellowstone, last week. With the Green Drakes on the Wood River though was one needed?
We were busy chasing the Salmon Fly hatch on the Madison and Gallitan with some eager clients.
South Fork of the Boise
Salmon Flys and Pink Alberts. Heavy evening caddis. Flows about 1,400 cfs. A good time to break out the pontoons, drift boat or rubber raft. Wading only possible on the road side. Water temps in the 40’s so pick the soft water to get rises. The Canyon from Danskin down is a great float for those with the ability. Devil’s Hole an obstacle. Pine Bar a nice place to camp to make it a two day trip. Those fish don’t see many artificials and eat a size 8 humpy without any sauce.
Yellowstone Park
Susanne and I had a couple of great weeks on the Firehole, Madison, Nez Pierce Creek, the Gibbon, and the Gallitan River. We guided something different nearly every day. Weather condions not always optimal as there seemed to be a constant wind, which make the pmd, golden stone and caddis fishing difficult. The waters were flowing about half of normal so the fish were pretty concentrated and where you would expect them. The largest fish of the trip was a 21 1/2 inch brown on the Gallitan on a salmon Fly, the next best a 20 inch brown on the Madison on a salmon fly. Nice 15-18 inch rainbows on the Madison on caddis too.
The evening caddis hatches on the Firehole and Madison were epic. The hard part wasn’t finding fish, but finding a restaurant open in West who would serve you after 10 pm.
Water temperatures were warm due to most of the snow melt having gone in May. It would not be surprising if we have a closure on the Madison, Gibbon and Firehole July/August so as not to stress the fish.
Stoneflys are on the Yellowstone in the Black Canyon and will probably last for the next couple of weeks. If you want some solitude and are fit that is the area I would spend time on to escape the crowds at Buffalo Ford.
June is a great hatch month on the Western waters in the Park. If you are interested talk to us now as we like to book the Sleepy Hollow cabins well in advance for our headquarters.
We are back in Yellowstone in September in Silver Gate fishing the Lamar, Slough Creek and Soda Butte Creek. We have three parties booked and are still some open dates. Best time is after Labor day until the end of September. The Lamar Valley is one of the still wild places in this country.
Big Wood River
The Big Wood is flowing at 269 cfs today. Normal is 1,000 cfs. The Green Drakes have moved to the north valley. Hatching above Ketchum is still an event. The olive hackle stacker emerger in size 10-12 is a great fly for the hatch or spinner fall. There are some am caddis and mid day golden stone egg layers making the orange or yellow stimulator an effective pattern on top. There has been an emergence of the pteranarcys as well. The big stonefly is more abundant on the Big Wood than one would think. Look at all the shucks on the streamside rocks and vegetation. The orange Turks turantula is my favorite pattern for the dry. Fish the heavy water.
With temperatures predicted hot this coming week fish early and late for dry fly activity. Often, after the morning rise, the fish will just quit and wait for the evening insect activity. Even going dark with nymphs is not very effective, so don’t go away thinking you are fishing wrong if that happens. Pick another project for the heat of the day.
The Lower Big Wood below Magic is pumping a lot of water. Float tubing can be good to get to your spots. The water is still running cold. The fish are plentiful, but it took some heavily weighted nymphs to get to them on Saturday. They are big, healty and fat right now.
Big Lost River
The upper Big Lost is flowing at 294 today. Normal is 1,000 cfs. This cold water system will fish longer in the day than the Big Wood. It is a colder drainage. Green Drake spinners in the morning. Hatch and spinner fall in the afternoon and evening hours. Golden stones mid day. Green drake, golden stone nymphs and black flashback rubber leg stonefly nymphs will work underneath. Caddis, size 14-16, will mass with calm cloudy days and in the evening. The East Fork is much the same, but a warmer river than the upper Main. The hatches are more prevalent on the East Fork and the fish can be a bit more selective to what is on the water. Please release your fish on this system. It is catch and release for cutthroat, but take on rainbow and brook trout. It is still in recovery mode from whirling disease and if the Idaho Fish and Game can’t help us on this one, we need to do it ourselves.
The lower Big Lost is flowing at 470 cfs. Normal is 850 cfs. This level makes it wadeable in places. Evening caddis are out. Giant stonefly is out, golden stone mid day. Look for PMD although with the sunny, hot conditions it will probably hide. Fishing well with small and medium nymphs and 5x-6x flurocarbon tippets.
Little Wood River (Desert)
Leave it to the snakes at 100 degree air temperature. Try float tubing the Little Wood reservoir with a sink tip and a brown bugger with a Carey special trailer or Stayner Ducktail. You could take a morning upstream walk on the Upper Little Wood with a yellow humpy, or stimulator as the golden stones are on this water mid morning as well. It is not a large stream and can get warm for afternoon dry fly rises.
Silver Creek
There has been some baetis and midge activity in the morning. Evening PMD and Caddis. Bright sunny days, as are predicted for the next week don’t make dry fly promising mid day. Expect Trico spinner falls soon. A small cloud of Tricos was seen two days ago. They should start any day and the morning feed bucket will be full. If you have never experienced the Trico spinner fall you need to drag you butt out of bed early and get to the Creek before the air temperature reaches 68 degrees. That is the magic number for the tiny little bug to get busy.
Ask Paddy, at the shop about the midnight Rodent hatches.
Closing Notes
Rod of the week: Winston 9 foot 5 wt. BIIX
Fish of the week: A 266 inch brown by Jay Sevy on Silver Creek.
Fly of the week: Riverborn Size 8 Orange Turks Turantula.
Fish far and fine,
Scott Schnebly
Lost River Outfitters