News from Blue Ribbon Flies

Fishing Report
Weekly Conditions and Tips

By Craig Mathews
5 October 2011
Another Photo by Tim and Ursula Anderson

Finally some Baetis weather in our forecast! Warm sunny weather has prevailed in Yellowstone country for the past several weeks and Fall Baetis emergences so far have been stalled out. This is changing with the cool weather coming in and we are setting up for several days of fine dry fly fishing. I've had great evening midge fishing and a couple mid-afternoon Baetis activity periods bringing on some good dry fly action on the Madison. The Firehole has seen some strong caddis fishing and we all anticipate fine blue-winged olives emerging and bringing up good trout over the next several days with the weather arriving. Caddis times will be diminished as they prefer warm weather but look for wave after wave of Baetis to emerge on cool-damp afternoons. The first emergence might come off as early as noon with another around 1pm followed by another at 2 and maybe one more as late as 4pm. Baetis always prefer cool-wet weather; rain is good but snow is always better to bring on prolonged hatches so be ready. It always amazes us at the shop how many anglers will hang out around the coffee machine on perfect Baetis days while we all scheme to get on the river during these ideal Baetis days. Be there is our advice!

Spawner fishing should pick up with a shot of cold rain or snow. There are loads of big trout waiting in the lake off stream mouths like the Madison, South Fork of the Madison, Duck and Grayling Creeks for a fresh charge of cold water to bring them upstream. All-in-all it has been a good fall season of spawner fishing so far, just ask our most senior guide, Nick Nicklas who has had more than a few productive days on the park's stretch of the Madison with clients. Nick prefers swinging his famous fall soft hackle patterns like the Full Dressed Red and Shakey Beeley.

October is the month anglers in the know look to rivers like the upper Gardner and lakes like Henry's to catch brook trout in their fall colors. Tylor and Aaron made the trip to the upper Gardner River last week and took many beautiful male brookies dressed up in their spawning finery.

The Firehole River will come alive during Fall Baetis emergences this week as wave after wave of these tiny, #22, olive duns come off. Favorite stretches to explore during Baetis times are the meadows downstream of Midway Geyser Basin, Fountain Flats, Muleshoe Bend and the Firehole Picnic Area. Try to be on the river around noon. If air temperatures are below 50 degrees the hatch might not come off until as late as 2pm so plan accordingly. If it is raining do not leave the river after the first emergence. Hang around and you will be treated to one or two more emergences with more and more larger trout working with each hatch of the tiny duns. Firehole Canyon has some very nice run-up fish in its lower stretches now and they will come to your #4-6 Prince Nymph of Sparrow Nymphs.

The Gibbon River has given up some surprises lately, especially in the lower meadow just above Madison Junction. Normally this fine little river fishes best for big run up trout after mid-month but this fall, since mid-September, we have seen some very large brown trout coming to stone nymphs and soft hackle streamers.

The Madison in the park must be fished now if big trout are in your plans! The run up browns and rainbows are along the river's entire length from Bakers Hole upstream to Madison Junction. The deep pools and runs from Barns Pools to Bakers are loaded with trout. From the Barns upstream to the head of Riverside Drive this great river has limited holding water for big fish so unless you know the few runs deep enough to hold the run up fish you will want to spend your time from 9 Mile Hole upstream to the junction of downstream of the Barns Pools. Remember too that the old timers you might run into fishing the Barns mostly have a hard time getting to some of the runs you might be able to fish. Give these old anglers a break, you'll be there one day. Best flies to fish include Copper and Pearl Zonkers dead drifted or on the swing. Try an Olive Woolhead Sculpin presented upstream like a stone nymph on a tight line and be prepared to set quick and hard when you see a fish come to your pattern, and you will see them coming! Early mornings are best with Gartside Soft Hackle Streamers fished on a floating line and using a long sloooow strip. I like using bright patterns now; yellows, whites and brown and yellow mixed. Remember too, when Baetis mayflies emerge heavily during cool-wet weather these huge run up trout will feed on them. I like to sit on the bank along Grasshopper Bend or in the upper meadow stretches and watch for heads as the big trout feed on emerging duns when the weather is right, from noon to 4pm some days. Be ready-be patient-offer up pin-point accurate presentations with a drag-free float and you will catch a few 18-22" trout on #20 Baetis Sparkle Duns, cripples and ICU's.

The Gardner River is fishing well. There are some fine run up browns now below the Mammoth-Tower Bridge and all the way downstream to the junction of this little river with the Yellowstone near Gardiner, Mt. The river near Sheepeater Cliff is fishing well for the most gorgeous brook trout on the planet. Here skate a Royal Trude Cripple and you will be amazed at how may 7-9" brookies as well as a few beautiful rainbows you will score. While in the area you might want to fish Straight Creek if you'd like to take more fall brook trout for the camera.

I've got one for those anglers demanding huge rainbow trout sipping emerging Baetis and midges along with a Mahogany Dun for good measure. You have to send me a photo should you take one of these monsters. Simple drive to the Henry's Fork downstream of Osborn Bridge, you know the spot, by the gravel pit. Now walk to the river and sit on the bank and witness some of the largest stream rainbows in the country as they rise to take the above insects along with the odd ant and beetle. Knot on a fresh 9' 4x leader and tie on a foot to 18" of 5x. Next comes the 6x, a good pull of 3-4' of ityou'll need it to defeat drag. Next clinch on a #22 Baetis Knocked Down Dun, or Baetis Soft Hackle Emerger. Now here I make no guarantee other than you will, at the very least, get a look from one of these monsters if you present you offering drag free.

The Gallatin has fished well below Big Sky and all the way to the mouth of the canyon near Spanish Creek. Attractors like Royal Trude and Wulff Cripples as well as Chaos Hoppers have brought up some nice rainbows and the occasional brown. Look for good Baetis activity if the weather sets in. Best spots are just downstream of Big Sky and near Portal Creek at 53-57 mile marker.

The Madison below the dam is fishing well with nymphs and streamers. Some fine Baetis fishing can be had on this stretch when conditions are right. The areas near the entrance to Earthquake Lake and, on the lake at Beaver Creek are both local favorites in the fall. The river below Earthquake and all the way to Ennis should fish well if the weather gods are correct. Baetis will emerge and so will midges, and the river should be alive with rising fish from noon to 4pm. You must search for those shallow-calm runs; the fish find rising to these tiny insects worthy of their efforts. I like water around knee deep adjacent to heavy runs. The fish will move into the calmer-shallower water to feed during emergence times. Big brown trout will prefer nymphs and emergers while rainbows, as a rule, will rise to impaired duns like our sparkle dun and cripple patterns. Micro Madison Mayfly Nymphs, Micro Madison Midge Nymphs and Split Case Baetis Nymphs are great patterns this time of the season when fish are working the nymphs and larvae/pupae prior to their emergences. An angler preferring nymph fishing this time of the year need carry only the above nymphs and they will score many fine trout daily. I've had great late evening fishing on the river from 6-7:30pm when warm/calm conditions prevail. Darkness comes early this time of the year and by 7:30 you can't tie on a fresh fly without aid of a lamp and by then the fish are down for the day. How about those elk bugling from the sage brush benches above $3 Bridge in the late day? They are moving north and west now but for a few nights it was great to hear them carrying on, and see their great racks as they sauntered through the low sagebrush near $3.

Henry's Lake has been great the past week with an olive woohead sculpin. I never thought I'd type a woolhead sculpin pattern could be effective on this lake but it has - just ask Patrick and Scott who have been fishing Henry's when they're not guiding. Another killing pattern on this lake for larger fish has been our red beaded soft hackle we still have not named. This fly has been very effective for big brookies.

Now let's all go fishing! Until next week, have some great fishing and enjoy Yellowstone country and all it has to offer this time of the year!

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