News from Blue Ribbon Flies

Fishing Report
Weekly Conditions and Tips

As the seasons change, we will continue to do our best to provide a journal entry from some of our latest tying and fishing. We invite you to call and ask us what we've been up to if you get to wondering. We always have plenty of stories to tell.

Colin Cho sent us an interesting series of photos he took on Silver Creek of a brown drake emerging from its shuck on his friend's finger. It's great to see up close what goes on in the insect world, and why we tie and fish the flies we do. Thank you Colin!

June 23, 2010 Fishing Report Craig Mathews

Good dry fly fishing is coming at us quickly now and within the next week we can expect salmon flies and caddis to be in full swing on the Madison River from Earthquake Lake to Ennis, Montana. The Madison's flow has been lowered to 960 cfs from Hebgen Dam and the air temps are finally reaching into the 70's and forecasts call for low 80's this week. This is all great news for anglers, wild trout and wildlife. The tiny elk calves and pronghorn fawns in the Madison Valley will get a chance to warm up and enjoy some new grass for the first time in their young lives. Residents in Yellowstone can quit their complaining, me included, about lack of sun and warm temperatures. And, wild trout will enjoy rising to insects in clear water for the first time in a month too! Nearly every wildflower known to man is blooming now so it is a great time to come fish, explore, and enjoy Yellowstone country.

The long awaited Green Drake activity is beginning to show on the Henry's Fork and PMDs are coming off on several of our area's rivers and streams. I get excited thinking about all the fishing opportunities this area offers this time of year. I wish I had a twin so we could take advantage of even more fly fishing opportunities. Let's get to the report.

The Firehole River in the park continues to offer up strong PMD and caddis emergences. The trout rise daily, both in the morning and evening, to spinner falls, hatches, and egg laying periods. The river fishes best above the first iron bridge and upstream to Biscuit Basin now as the waters warm from Fountain Flats Drive downstream. The river's larger resident trout begin to move upstream to escape the warming waters so it's best to explore upstream areas like Midway, 2nd Iron Bridge, Muleshoe, White Cliffs, and Biscuit. Pale morning dun spinner falls come early this time of the season, 9-11am. PMD emergences might coincide with the spinner falls so you must be willing to change flies from a spinner to sparkle dun when coming upon larger fish keying on the duns and emergers. A PMD Foam Nymph or emerger and a PMD split case nymph are especially effective. Caddis flies are numerous on most afternoon and eves with several different species present. Look for black, white and tan caddis to be present and present the fish an Iris, X or X2 and spent sparkle pattern for success. Damsel flies are active now as are dragon flies and fishing an imitation of an adult an/or nymph is especially effective.

The Madison River in the park has been very good during PMD and caddis times. Early morning spinner falls are the rule, 9-11am. If the weather is overcast look for Baetis and PMD duns to emerge around 10am and last an hour or two. Evening caddis emergences can be fun to fish on the upper reaches from 9 Mile Hole upstream to the junction. White Millers are still heavy on this stretch and fishing a soft hackle emerger, Iris or spent pattern is deadly. Little Yellow Stones are very active in the rough and tumble water areas around the junction and downstream so have a #14 pattern along when encountering fish rising to these small stones too.

The Gibbon River has been fishing surprisingly well this season. Caddis, PMDs, Baetis, and stones in the lower canyon have all brought up good fish. If the brown drakes come off this year it will be in the next week and on the upper meadows

The Gardner River is beginning to fish. Look for salmon flies and golden stones. Give Walt a call at Park's Fly Shop in Gardiner, Montana for current information on this river. We have received several calls asking about the Lamar River lately. Do not even think about this one for another week, or better, two. Slough Creek is nearly ready to fish so check in with us for current information. If you fish this one when it initially clears it can be awesome!

The Madison River below the dam is slowing down now. Most post-spawning fish are back downstream in Earthquake Lake and the river below.

The Madison River near Ennis is just beginning to see some salmon fly activity. Yesterday the first good reports came in with guided float trips taking a few fish on the surface with Sunken Stones. This weekend we will see the big bugs jump upstream of Ennis to Varney Bridge. It looks like a strong salmon fly hatch is ahead for the next 2 weeks on this river. Caddis flies are beginning to bring trout to the surface all along the river, in selected spots. The river has been lowered and is clear to depths of 3 feet, and the trout are looking up. When guides and clients complain about trout taking their strike indicators while nymph fishing you know the fish are looking up! We have more and more reports of this occurring daily so be ready to fish dries on the river this coming week! Rubber leg stones, SJ Worms, big PT Flashbacks, #4-6 Prince Nymphs and $3.00 Dips are all working. Big Royal Wulff, Cripple Wulffs, and Stimies can be counted on now too to bring the fish up When caddis come off and the fish rise try Iris and #14 X and X2. Check out our new beaded caddis emergers Bucky brought in this week. Initial reports from guides, (usually the most skeptical), tell of wonderful results with these pretty bugs all along the Reynolds-$3.00 Bridge section of river.

The Gallatin River has fished fair this past week, upstream of the Taylor Fork Jct. Large stone nymphs and Royal Stimulators along with white sculpin streamers can be counted on. The river below Taylor Fork will remain high and turbid for the following 10-14 days after which we can expect a very strong salmon fly hatch. Stay tuned!

Take a look at stream flows, weather, and past fishing reports...