News from Blue Ribbon Flies

Fishing Report
Weekly Conditions and Tips

2 August 2012
Blue Ribbon Flies Weekly Fishing Report
Craig Mathews

Last evening my friend Tim and I arrived on the Madison near Big Bend at 6:30pm. No one was on the water. It was clear and calm and we saw no rises. We both rigged up nymphing rigs and for the next 2 hours we had good fishing, no, we had great fishing. Tim used some type of PT and I used a tandem setup with a Macro Madison Mayfly Nymph trailing a Micro Madison Midge Nymph. The first fish I hooked jumped and sped off downstream. It was a brown about 16" and because I'd hooked it in heavy water at the end of my cast it came unbuckled quickly. I saw Tim do the same with a huge trout he'd hooked upstream of me. We each landed some very nice trout last night, mostly rainbows up to 16". The last fish I took was on a skittering Iris Caddis at 9:30. We saw but one other angler. We fished our Tenkara rods exclusively and laughed like little kids each time we'd hook up and have to run after the trout as they bolted up or downstream. I threw my rod once as a fat rainbow took off downstream towards the West Fork and I had run out of line. I caught up to the floating rod about 10 feet downstream after the fish quit its run as the tension came off and it no longer felt pressure. I did land this one and all the while wished my camera was with me and not in the pickup truck. We had a wonderful time, needless to say, and I'll be tying up flies today to fill some open slots in my nymph box. The fish came mostly to the nymphs last night but we did have some dry fly action from 8:45 to 9:30pm when Epeorus mayfly spinners fell. Then we took a few on the spinner and Iris.

The greatest part of the evening for me wasn't the fish, or even the full moon coming up over the Henry's Lake Mountains to the east. The best part was watching Tim, all 6 foot 4 inches and 230 pounds, running after his hooked trout giggling and laughing all the way. Tenkara fishing can do that to a guy. It has for me for a few years now. It is new to us here, it is simple and fun and sometimes too effective! Drag free presentations on short lines result in many more hooked fish. Plus, it is the best way we know of to get beginners into fly fishing.

Today Jackie and I will take our Tenkara rods and head to Standard Creek and up the West Fork of the Madison. Or we might walk up Indian Creek or Papoose Creek or Elk River. There are so many places to fish in and out of Yellowstone Park with Tenkara that we haven't tried yet. Places like Panther, Obsidian, Glenn, Lava, Lost and Elk Creeks. So many spots on our "to fish" list for summer 2012 that I know now we may not get to all of them this year - but will in 2013! Tenkara does this to me. It makes me want to explore those little streams that are full of wild trout that no other anglers fish. We are so blessed to have hundreds of these waters nearby and someday I'd like to tell you all about each one of them but I know there are too many to fish, even in a long lifetime. I remember Charlie Brooks telling me during one of our visits "kid, you can't fish them all in a lifetime so don't even try, get to know a few well." I know Charlie was right in his feeling that you could never fish all the waters in Yellowstone, even in a lifetime. But, I will keep trying! And I promise to keep you posted on our journeys to fish them all. Too, I will report from time-to-time on our Tenkara excursions and the fun we have fishing this simple and effective method of fly fishing! Next time you are around let's talk Tenkara!

This is attractor dry fly time in Yellowstone country. I like to present Royal Trude and Wulff Cripples in all likely spots on rivers and streams like the Gallatin and Gardner, Madison and Warm Rivers or smaller streams like I mentioned above. It too is hopper and ant, beetle and cricket time here. During the heat of the day a hopper like an M's or Grand is killing on all our waters. Sometimes our trout, especially the big ones, will rise and merely nose your hopper imitation. Should this occur do not show the hopper to this trout again. Instead take the time to knot on a Foam Flying Ant or our Jiminy Cricket and the fish should take on your next cast. A hopper is a great searching fly if only to locate a trout which will come to another terrestrial pattern like the ant or cricket or Yellowstone Bee.

We want to remind anglers that in Yellowstone Park rivers like the Madison and Firehole as well as the Gibbon below the falls are closed to fishing due to warm water temperatures. On years like this we see these closures and support this move to protect the fish from stresses associated with warming water temps. As we usually see, the water temps will cool sometime this month and the rivers will open to angling again. In the meantime explore some of the other rivers and streams we will discuss below! You can't fish them all in a lifetime of angling, I guarantee!

The Madison and Gallatin both continue to fish well. Spruce moths are active on the lower Gallatin below Big Sky and on the Madison around Lyon Bridge and upstream to the West Fork. During the day try small Royal Trude and Wulff Cripples along the banks and in the pockets and pools from the slide to Lyon. Both these great patterns are taken for flying ants or the tiny Skipper Butterflies we see trout rise to this time of the year during the heat of the day. Nymphing anglers can do very well with small Duck Collars, Red Headed Step Childs (Children?) both in #18's as well as Micro and Macro Madison Beadheads, Rick's Reds and un-beaded Krystal Dips in #16's. Hoppers, small ants and beetles and bees work now too. Evening anglers should be prepared to fish Epeorus Spinner falls from 8 to 10pm as well as midge activity. Our Hi-Viz Rusty Spinner pattern will be all you need when trout rise to the evening spinner falls. But too, keep in mind that many of the rises you will see at dark will be to midges and the same holds true for anglers ambitious enough to get to the rivers early, say at 7am when our Morning Midge activity begins this time of the year. Be there! Make sure when you are near West Fork that you stop in at the cabin office and sample one of their cinnamon rolls in the morning or on a hot day stop in for some ice cream and a visit with the folks there.

The Yellowstone River near Tower and in the Black Canyon continues to fish well for those making the short hike. Some anglers have done very well taking the Rescue Creek Trail as well as Blacktail Deer and Hellroaring. The cutts are still rising well to big foam flies like BLTs and M's Hoppers along with our famous Indicator Fly. The river downstream of Gardiner, Mt has fished well too. Blacktail Deer Creek will fish well for plenty of nice brookies too. Same with the upper Gardner and small streams like Lava and Straight Creeks.

The Bechler, Warm and Fall Rivers will treat you well should you decide to explore them. Make sure you check in before making the trip and bring bug spray. While there try small waters too like Boundary and Mountain Ash Creeks.

Soda Butte is fishing fine now as are Slough Creek and the Lamar River. Try a nice hike up the Lamar to the junction with Cache Creek for some fine cutthroat trout. You will need hoppers and crickets and beetles and bees for mid-day action. Mayflies like Heptagenia sp and PMDs and Pink Ladies as well as gray drakes will be on now too so be prepared! During evening hours when there are lots of caddis around you might think trout are rising exclusively to them when in fact they are on mayfly spinners, Have our Hi Viz Rusty Spinner and a couple Zelon Midges and you will be surprised how may nice trout you can fool in the evening!

Hebgen Lake has had some Callibaetis action but to date it has seen only scattered activity as Tricos seem to bring up the better rises in early morning on the Madison Arm. Earthquake Lake has been the better bet for dry fly fishing as spruce moths and Callibaetis bring the fish up daily. Oh, and I should mention that the huge Traveling Sedge on Hebgen's south side around Rumbaugh Bay, Moonlight, and Cherry Creek will bring fish up. Even a few are on the water motor-boating around. See us for more on this as it is a day-to-day phenomena. Lakes like Hidden and Elk, Grizzly and Joffe, Trout and Ennis should be on your list now too.

Stop in and let's visit about some off the beaten path spots for you to try next time you are in Yellowstone country. Some of our best fishing will be in the next month if you enjoy wild trout, wild places with no company while you fish, terrestrials, and exploring spots you dreamed of! See you soon.

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