What's New
 What's Happening in Yellowstone Country

Craig Just came in from a few days on area river(s)! He said, while the weather was cold and unsettled, the fishing was great! Our Mayfly Tours are having some fun touring around southwestern Montana and fishing rivers like the Beaverhead, Madison, Yellowstone and Boulder too.

Thanks to all of you who came to Craig's program last Saturday at Rich Romersa's East Rosebud Anglers in Billings. And a special thanks to Rich, his wife and father all who made the day special for Craig and those who attended. They had a great time tying flies and watching a power point Craig does on "Under-Fished and Overlooked Waters of Yellowstone Country". Craig's next stop is Michigan next month, stay tuned.

As usual in the rest of this newsletter, you'll find fishing news from Yellowstone Country in the weekly Fishing Report. You can see what's hot off the vise in the Fly of the Week, get a sneak peek at some of the best materials on our tying bench in the Fly Tying Material of the Week, and stay up to date with the guide staff and their trips in the Guide Trip of the Week.

You'll be seeing a new email newsletter most every week throughout the winter to keep you tuned in to all things fly fishing and fly tying in the greater Yellowstone area and beyond. Throughout the seasons, we'll keep sending you news of hatches and fishing holes around West Yellowstone. So without further delay, go ahead and jump right into the newsletter. And as always, don't hesitate to give us a call or shoot us an email if you have any questions, or if you just want a little fish talk.

 

 Fishing Report
 Weekly Conditions and Tips

By Craig Mathews

Let's look at some waters in and around southwestern Montana. The Madison will continue to fish well. Baetis mayflies and midges will bring up a rise of trout from McAtte Bridge to Ennis, Mt. I have had good success searching the water with a #12 Royal Stimulator or PMX. These down wing patterns represent the Skwala sp stones you may see running along the rocks. And, even if you don't see the naturals the trout are keyed into looking for them on the water. Yesterday I took 3 big rainbows on these flies merely casting into likely holding spots when nothing was rising. The river below Varney Bridge has been great and should get even better with the forecasted warm-up in afternoon temps. Baetis and March Browns can be counted on this coming week. Have sparkle duns of both species as well as midge patterns like Zebras and Zelons and you are good to go. Rick's Red Blood Larva have "saved the day" for many lately it seems. Trail one behind a rubber leg stone and you can count on some very good trout. Streamers are working now too, on the Madison and the Missouri. If pitching weighted streamers is you game you cannot go wrong using McGune's Sculpins in olive and tan, Cheec's double hooked streamers in olive, and the Sculpizilla is one you can't miss with in olive too. On both the Madison and Missouri you will want a few Kora's Crayflish along too. This fine pattern has scored some very big browns lately in the Bear Trap section of the Madison and on the Missouri near Craig.

The Gallatin River is fishing well above Big Sky and to the park line. Baetis are emerging all along the river and some midging is happening too. Nymphing anglers have been having great afternoon fishing around Porcupine, 320 Ranch and up to Snowflake with our GM and original $3 Dips.

The Yellowstone River continues to fish, when the winds stay under 30mph! Baetis and March Browns as well as stones can bring up some good rises of trout.

The spring creeks are hot. Tom Morgan emailed yesterday telling of friends having banner Baetis times on Armstrongs and Nelson's both. Our guides have had wonderful fishing on these and DePuy's. Baetis will continue into the near future.

We haven't heard much about the Henry's Fork but you all know now is Baetis time below Vernon Bridge. John will check it out this week. Bucky may be on the fork today having taken off a few days to fish there and on the Beaverhead and Ruby which both have fished well. The Beaverhead is very high and you will need a boat to fish it now with these flows; Baetis is your game!

A late entry here is the Madison between the lakes which is on fire using red Copper Johns and Rick's Reds as well as PT's and Baetis nymph patterns like the split case and trigger nymphs.

I've had some calls regarding the ice on Hebgen and Earthquake Lakes. The ice is still white on both lakes. Last night was 13 degrees and still making ice on both. These lakes will not be fishable, at least not by fishing through the ice, for another 3 weeks minimum.

Now Jackie and Cam are telling me I have to dye some feathers. I hope you will call, email or stop in to talk with us and see us soon!

 

 Fly of the Week
 Hot off the Vise!!

March Brown Sparkle Dun

Other than Baetis, the March Browns or Rithrogena are the first large Mayflies to appear in our region during the spring. If you have ever fished a March Brown hatch then you know how exciting it can be. Freshly emerged duns range in size from #14 to #16 and have a pale olive body, light gray wings with strong, dark venation, and two tails.

We have already seen quite a few of these on the Stillwater and Boulder rivers, and they should be popping up on the Madison any day. No video this week for the March Brown but take a look at our website in the how to section under fly tying and you can refer to the PMD Sparkle Dun. Just substitute March Brown Zelon Dubbing for the body and your all set.

Check Out All Of Our Fly Tying Videos!! 

 Fly Tying Material of the Week
 Unique Materials for Effective Patterns

Introductory Saddle Hackle

After our day on the river Craig and Al went to Craigs place and tied flies until late in the evening with our new Whiting Saddle packs. Where can you find such a great deal as these packs offer; sandy dun, brown, medium dun and black saddle hackles come in this awesome selection. We are lucky to have some of these introductory saddle packs in stock and if you might need saddle hackles this tying season make sure you check these out.

Hackle sure has started to become an issue the past few months and many of you have expressed your concerns and frustrations on getting quality hackle. We have only a limited supply and are not sure when the next shipment will be, so don't miss this opportunity.

Look here for this and many hard to find fly tying materials. 

 Hook-em up!
 Tiemco Hooks on Sale?????

Tiemco 531 Dry Fly Hooks

We are having a bit of a hook sale. Our Tiemco 531's, sizes #10-20 are on sale for $8.99, regular price of $16.99, while supplies last. Craig uses this hook for tying some midge and mayfly patterns. These beautiful hooks offer Micro barbs, black finished and fine wire. Craig likes this hook for several of his dry fly patterns. The hook should only be used by anglers experienced with fishing fine tippets and fine wire hooks to big trout. Some anglers have problems straightening these hooks but, if you have done much midge fishing you will come to love this hook!

For all of your hook needs check here! 

 Guide Trip of the Week
 Nobody does it better!!

Here's a photo of a nice brown taken below Varney!

The guides are back at it again today starting off their third week of spring trips. We finally got a few reports back from them after a bit of nagging. The spring tours have been going extremely well. Geoff and Cam had a very good week with the "Cadman" crew and even though Chuck himself could not make the trip he kept in touch with a few disapproving phone calls. Thanks Chuck!

The crew had a good week and even got in a little dry fly fishing! They fished Clark Canyon, Beaverhead, one of the spring creeks and the Madison. The Madison ended up being good enough to do for two days. They caught numerous fish in the 17 to 19 inch range. A brown rubber legs seemed to be the fly of choice.

While these guys stuck mainly with southwestern Montana. Scott, Brian and Patrick ended up on the Missouri for a couple days and had good fishing. Not much in the way of dry flies but the nymph bite was good.

Moving on over to the east Tommy and Dan kept busy on the Stillwater and Boulder rivers and had a great time with Jay Amberson, Charlie Woods and crew.

Thanks guys for letting us know that your still out there and keep us up to date.

 

 Have YOUR flies ever gotten wet?
 Here's the answer

Blue Ribbon Flies Water Proof Fly Box

Craig was on the Madison the past couple days and had some good midge and Baetis fishing. The March Browns should show next week. Craig was able to try out his new fly box, one that holds nearly 200 flies in its foam micro-slits. He loves the fact that it is waterproof as well as being nearly bombproof!