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.

Teri and Richard Gibson were here a few weeks ago and left us with an assortment of wonderful photos from their trip. Thanks as always, and we look forward to seeing you next year! Beware the rubber chicken you guys.

7 September 2010
Blue Ribbon Flies Weekly Report

Craig Mathews

Jackie and I were at Old Faithful again for lunch today. We'd made the trip not only to fish the Firehole River and lunch at the inn, but to check out the new Old Faithful Visitors' Center again. We were at the evening donors' recognition celebration a few days ago and had a chance to see all the exhibits in the center but we had to return to check out the new structure and marvel again at all the wonderful exhibits. You all helped make this awesome building with its incredible exhibits happen. Your patronage and support of Blue Ribbon Flies went towards our 1% for the Planet donations to this educational structure. When you visit the center make sure you check out the "Donor Recognition Wall". Oh yes, I am blowing BRF's horn and yours too, because we made this $30million structure a reality, one all citizens can be proud of to showcase to visitors from around the world. BRF stands as the only fly shop and local business along with donors like Coca Cola, Toyota, Unilever, Canon and other giants. We can all be proud of this fine addition to Yellowstone National Park.

You are probably asking yourself now, "I wonder how the fishing was on the Firehole?" I can say it was pretty darn good along with the lunch and visit to the new center. Let's get to our report.

The Firehole River is fishing now during caddis and midge times. You will need #20-22 Zelon and Skittering Midges as well as our Cripple Caddis, X2 and Iris Caddis. The weather forecast calls for cold-wet weather conditions to move in later this week so the Fall Baetis will come off in huge numbers and the fish will rise to them then. When the duns are on, have Knocked-Down Baetis Duns #20-22 as well as a Baetis Sparkle Dun. The lower river below the falls is seeing some of the first fall run-up fish of the season. A few browns are in the river now with more arriving daily as well as on the lower Gibbon River below its falls too. The run will increase in intensity over the next 7 weeks of the season. Swinging soft hackle patterns designed to take fall run fish, flies like our Shakey Bealey, September Song and or a large Snipe and Purple have been the best for the large trout on both rivers.

The Madison River in the Park is filling quickly with run-up trout! Not only are the browns running up strong from Hebgen Lake; so are the fall-run rainbows. These fish average 18" and are a real challenge to fool, hook, and land. During strong Fall Baetis emergences you will see these large trout rise freely to #20-22 Baetis duns. The best weather is, of course, the most inclement so be prepared with proper rain-snow gear and the right flies. Fly patterns should include Baetis Cripples and Sparkle Duns, as well as the run-up soft hackles we discussed above.

Slough, Lamar, and Soda Butte all continue to fish well. The Drake Mackeral emergence is in full swing as are Fall Baetis. Terrestrials like bees, ants, beetles, crickets and hoppers work best on bright, warm-windy afternoons. Before making the long drive stop by or give us a call to check not only water conditions but also best flies to have, etc. A couple patterns you can't be without include the Drake Mack Sparkle Dun and emerger as well as a Yellowstone Bee and our favorite cricket pattern. The best hopper continues to be a #10-12 Chaos.

The lower Gardner River downstream of the Boiling River Trail is seeing some run-up fish arriving from the Yellowstone River. These fish will rise to a huge Grand Hopper or Slough Creek Cricket during sunny days; otherwise give them a white woolhead sculpin or rubber legged stone nymph and you will be in business.

The Gallatin River in the Park fishes well during Baetis times when overcast-rainy, or on warm-windy sunny afternoons when hoppers and ants are active. Check in with Bucky on this one as he is now our resident expert having fished it so much this past month!

If fall brookies are in your plans now is the time to fish the upper Gibbon and Gardner Rivers as well as Straight and Obsidian Creeks as these fish are in their fall colors. Joffe Lake is another spot you might want to fish for brookies too.

Hebgen and Earthquake Lakes are both still fishing when Callibaetis mayflies are on. When weather conditions are sunny, warm and calm you can expect great dry fly action. Henry's Lake has turned on-big time! Not only big hybrids are coming to patterns like our dragon fly nymphs, (yes, dragon fly) but the same with some very nice brook trout. I like not only the dragon nymph but also the Halbop Leech.

The Henry's Fork has fished well, mostly in the Box Canyon as well as near Ashton, Idaho. September has always been a great time to pitch a large white Soft Hackle Streamer and sculpin pattern for very large rainbows. On the lower river near Ashton expect a good rise of fish to Fall Baetis with the forecasted upcoming cold front.

Anglers check daily for a report on the Lewis Channel. Believe us when we tell of the best fishing still a month away; this one is a long hike in and the fish just are not there until sometime in October! Small stream fishing begins to fade this time of year as water temps cool but Nez Perce, Lava and Blacktail Deer Creeks are still fishing well in the park with hoppers, beetles and attractor flies like H&L's and Royal Truce Cripples. And, in Idaho check out the Warm River with the same flies we listed above.

The Yellowstone River is fishing very well below Livingston, Mt. Large hopper patterns on bright, windy days and Baetis mayflies during overcast conditions. You can expect great fishing all the way downstream to Big Timber, Mt this time of year. While you will not take many fish, the ones you will bring to net will all be large - that's all we will say!
Make sure you stop in to check out our sale items as we bring more out daily, and the coffee is always hot and is the best in town. And it is FREE!!! Hope to see you soon.