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.

Robert Young emailed last weekend to say they had a great time on Trout Lake. Turns out his daughter cast, hooked and reeled in this "sofa pillow" on her own on the second cast of the day! Sounds like they had yet another epic trip to Yellowstone with their favorite pattern. Once again, the Japanese beetle was the ticket; we'll keep its family name a secret between us. Robert, thank you. You guys made our season. Thanks for the excitement and the smiling faces.

September 23, 2010
Blue Ribbon Flies Weekly Report

Craig Mathews

The Amur Maple, Quaking Aspen, Snow-Goose-Service and Huckleberry as well as our River Willow leaves are colored up in their fall finery. The same with Yellowstone's fall run rainbow, brown and brook trout. The bull elk are in the peak of rut with their bugling echoing off the canyon walls and across the meadows in most river valleys. Indian summer weather is returning this week with forecast high temperatures reaching into the low to mid-70's during the day and 20's over night. What a time to come and see all that Yellowstone country offers!

Last night coming home from Bozeman I stopped near Wolf Creek to check for rising trout and was not surprised to see several good fish rising to a late day Baetis hatch. Heads and tails broke the surface as the fish fed on ascending nymphs and impaired duns in the drift. I quickly drove home and unloaded my supplies and headed back to the river. I made it in time to catch 2 fine trout before the activity ended at 6pm. This morning Jackie and I are heading into the Park to fish the Madison for a couple hours and then to the Firehole to catch some late morning Baetis and caddis activity. What a wonderful time of the year. I hope you can be here soon and take advantage of some incredible fishing, before the park closes to fishing for the year.

The Madison River below Hebgen Dam continues to puzzle most anglers with these changing weather conditions. One day will be clear and warm with the following day presenting cool, overcast conditions. As always, Baetis will be strong on the overcast days with midges and terrestrials bringing up the fish on bright, warm days. Float trips can be fun this time of year fishing streamers along the banks or large attractors and hopper patterns in the middle of the river. The Baetis fishing had been great too in the float stretch, from Lyon to Pal. Nymphing using tiny flies that imitate midge larvae and Baetis nymphs is a great way to take many nice trout too. The browns are coloring up nicely as they prepare to begin spawning next month. Remember too that the larger trout may key on emerging Baetis during emergences so have not only Baetis nymphs but also a Baetis Foam Emerger, Soft Hackle Emerger and Knocked Down Dun pattern for success. Beetles and ants continue to work well in the wade stretch.

The Madison in the Park fishes in the early morning hours when we are having bright, warm weather. Get to the river by 7am and strip one of our olive, pearl and copper Zonker streamer patterns or fall soft hackles and you can expect a few very nice rainbow and brown trout in the 16-22" range - maybe one bigger!

The Firehole River has been fun this past week and should get better in the following weeks ahead. Expect midges and Baetis during the morning with caddis in the afternoon and evenings. There is no better time than the fall to swing soft hackles like partridge and peacock, starling and herl, and others for instant success. Our soft hackle tyers have loaded us up with some very beautiful patterns this fall so stop by and check them out; they will catch fish! If fall browns are in your plans and you want to try some interesting fishing, give the Firehole Canyon stretch a try with streamers and stone nymphs for browns up from the lake.

The Gibbon River below the falls continues to surprise anglers with the number of run up fish present. These larger trout up from Hebgen Lake can be taken on streamers and stone nymphs from Madison Junction to Gibbon Falls. I like a copper, olive and pearl zonker or rubber leg stone pattern in brown or black.

I like the Gardner River this time of year. The cotton woods are turning color and the fall brown trout are coming up from the Yellowstone River. Our friends at Park's Fly Shop are reporting some very good fishing on this river now. While in their neck of Yellowstone why not check out the Yellowstone River too. I'll make a few days' trek to this fine river and try spots from Pray, Mt downstream to Livingston fishing streamers in the long runs and glides.

The Lamar River has been awesome, same with Slough and Soda Butte Creeks when Fall Green Drakes and Baetis mayflies come off. During non-hatch times one of our ants and beetle patterns are killing. For the drakes have floating nymphs ( yes, the fish are getting tougher every day now!), along with sparkle duns and para-drakes. Do not foget a Baetis Foam Emerger and Sparkle Dun too.

It is too early to make the hike into the Lewis Channel, give this one another couple weeks for the lake fish to move into this fine piece of water. It is not too early however to try the Snake River near the junction of the Lewis River.

Hebgen Lake is going to give us another week of tremendous dry fly fishing as the daytime temps reach into the 70's this weekend. Callibaetis and midges will bring the fish to the surface so get here quick before the end of dry fly times on the lake.

The Henry's Fork continues to provide good dry fly action during Mahogany Dun and Baetis times. Now is the time to try the river below Ashton, Idaho too.

Give us a call and stop by for free coffee and advice! I look forward to seeing you soon.