GUIDE'S CHOICE: Lower Madison

The river is still in excellent shape as far as clarity is concerned. Lots of caddis are out and the fish are eating the pupa subsurface more consistently than they are rising to adults. Small green/olive caddis pupa have been working well along with the standard Lower Madison fair. Drop the pupa below a crayfish like usual and you may catch fish on either. If you're set on fishing dry hit the river early and late. Along with the caddis, PMD's have been present along with Yellow Sallies in the evening. The PMD's have been a 16, the Sallies #14.

Gallatin

CFS: 2,160

Visibility has really improved on the Gallatin, and fishing is improving as the river is dropping. Salmonflies and Goldenstones have begun to hatch up in the canyon. Fish have started to eat some of the dries. There is still enough water to make wading dangerous for a while still, so if you fish here then be extra careful! Stonefly nymphs are working well in the soft water where fish congregate. Caddis Pupa and mayfly nymph droppers like a lighting bug are beginning to work well here too. The best dry fly fishing of the year is just about to start on the Gallatin!

Upper Madison

CFS: 1,590 Kirby Ranch

Salmonflies have arrived on the Upper Madison! They are all the way up to Lyons bridge as of Friday. The river is running high, but the water is clear. Goldenstones, large brown caddis, yellow sallies, and pmd's are also hatching. If you cannot get them on dries then large stonefly nymphs with smaller bead head droppers have been working well throughout the river. We have had some reports of good streamer fishing around $3.

Lower Madison

CFS: 2,390

See Guide's Choice

Yellowstone

CFS: 12,600 Livingston

The Yellowstone seems to be leveling off, and visibility is beginning to improve. Prediction... Rick guesses the river will be fishable July 08 Toby guesses July 10.

Upper Missouri

CFS: 7,800 Wolf Creek

Flows have jumped back up but fishing is still good subsurface. Pink scuds, worms, and little green machines in olive and grey should catch lots of fish, especially near the damn. These flows will make the wade fishing tough but if you have a boat you should be able to find fish stacked up in eddies.

Bighorn

CFS: 12,500 St. Xavier

The Bighorn is running at its highest level since 1995. Fishing remains good, but deep nymphing is the game at this level. Side channels and behind islands can be good places to fish at this level. Fish worms, scuds, sowbugs and soft hackles with enough weight to get down deep.

Spring Creeks

CFS:

The spring creeks are a good choice while other rivers are high and dirty. The Livingston spring creeks are now having some good PMD hatches. It is a good idea to have a variety of PMD dries, emergers and nymphs, so that way you can catch fish throughout the day. Try a #18 PMD sparkle dun with a #18 Sawyers PT dropper. Leech patterns such as a brown Hale Bop leech swung across the holes is another way to catch fish here. The MZ Ranch spring creeks are getting good PMD hatches now. Evenings seem to be best for this, and also you will find fish eating midges in the early morning. The fish are starting to get smart, and mid-day fishing can be tough. Fish small nymphs with light tippet when the dry fly action isn't happening.

Yellowstone National Park

As usual, the Firehole is producing excellent dry fly fishing this spring. The river above the falls had been fishing great with PMD's (#16)along with caddis especially in the evenings. Flows have come down and the river is no longer experiencing the big daily swings in cfs it was earlier this spring. The river is perfectly clear and easy to wade. Also fishing well on that side of the park is the Madison. While not as consistant as the Firehole, the Madison can also produce excellent dry fly fishing. You may see the same PMD's and caddis you do on the Firehole and searching with Salmonfly patterns even after the hatch is through can be productive. Most of the water in the Lamar Valley is still dirty and will stay that way for awhile.

The Dillon Area

CFS:

The Big Hole has come down under 300 cubic feet. Salmonflies have been hatching and the river is plenty clear for fishing. Fishing big stonefly nymphs has been the most reliable method. Streamer fishing has also been hot as of late. Caddis hatches will be getting good soon. The river is still on the high side, so be careful boating here. The Beaverhead is now open from the dam to Pipe Organ, and is fishing well. It's busy, but fish are eating San Juans and little pink stuff like pink soft hackles and Ray Charles. Fishing little midge pupa imitaitons wil also produce. Below Pipe Organ has seen some great nymph fishing with caddis pupa and small mayfly nymphs. Fishing caddis dries has been pretty good in the evening hours. Clarity can be an issue below some of the feeder creeks, so call a shop in Dillon before making the drive. It's up a little at Barret's, and off color in the middle stretches, but it's cleaner below the dam, and actully downstream near town the water clarity improves. The Jefferson is getting big and dirty, but there is still enough clarity higher up for working big streamers. The Jefferson is tough for novice fisherman at these levels.

The Missoula Area

CFS:

The Blackfoot, Rock Creek, Clark Fork and Bitterroot are coming into shape and fishing is starting to get good. Salmonflies are hatching on Rock Creek and the Blackfoot, and fish are starting to eat them on the surface. Streamers and large stonefly nymphs have fished well. Caddis, PMD's, Green Drake, Yellow Sallies, and Salmonflies can make for great fishing here when runoff it subsiding.

The Henry's Fork

CFS:

The river is now open with the exception of Harriman State Park which opens June 15. The lower river is crawling with Salmonfly nymphs, so the big bugs should be hatching soon. Caddis dries and pupa have been working some in the late day hours. Big stonefly nymphs have been the best producers, especially on the lower river. The middle river stretch from Warm river to Ashton is seeing some mud, but still fishable with big, flashy nymphs. The upper stretch is fishing with Buggers, Rubberlegs and small nymphs. The South fork is fishing well with streamers, big stonefly nymphs and worms.

Area Lakes and Reservoirs

CFS:

Lakes are some of our best options right now with all the high water. Hebgen is one of our favorites this time of year, and has been fishing very good. Fish are close to the shore and feeding subsurface on chrionomid and leech patterns. The chironomid hatch has been strong,so you may see some dry action during calm conditions in mornings and late afternoons. Often fish are easier to catch on pupa right below the surface that actual dries. Clark Canyon is another place to try with leeches and Chironomids. The lower elevation mountain lakes have mostly opened up. Hyalite is now open and fishing near the inlet has been good. The mid elevation lakes are just starting to ice off. We will keep you posted as we get more reports.