Yellowstone River Brown Trout
Summary: We received reports from two guides today, both floated in close proximity to town (Livingston). Both reports were good but less than spectacular, which was surprising due to the great water temps and perfect spring weather. Maybe such great conditions just freaked the trout out today as they’ve seen massive extremes in weather over the past couple weeks.
Best Technique: Both boats caught a good number of fish (about 15/boat), using a variety of techniques, but shallow water nymphing (about three feet) in the foam holes was definitely the most productive.
Weather & Water Conditions: 65 degrees, light downstream wind with water temps between 48 and 52.
Hatches: Light midge and baetis in the afternoon.
Best Bugs: King Prince, Tungsten Pheasant Tail sz 16 & zebra midge or black copper john sz 16-18.
Tax day can’t be all bad if you get to go fly fishing! Today was a beautiful, sunny day. We started late in the afternoon and because of the bright sun didn’t see too many baetis or midges flying. We did however have good luck with size 14-16 pheasant tails and black copper John’s. We caught a number of good looking rainbows and one nice healthy brown. The weather is supposed to get a bit nasty this weekend so fishing should get better with the cloud cover.
We’ll keep you posted.
http://www.montanaflyfishingguides.com/Movies/04-01-2010.flvNo April Fools here, unless you got used to the warm weather. That’s right after about two weeks of 50 degrees and beautiful it turned to a high of 36 today and snowy. In fact the upper elevations have been getting pounded with snow – upwards of 20 inches of wet stuff in the past two days. Hurray for summer moisture!
Anyway, back to the fishing. Today was fantastic! The midges and Baetis poured off the Yellowstone River starting at about two this afternoon. Trout were eager to take brassie midge pupae before the major emergence and then ate both Griffith’s Gnats and Hairwinged Beatis dries starting around 3pm. Granted it was cold and snowy, but the fishing was ridiculous!
In the video you’ll see Robert hook a rainbow on the far side of the channel and then Jordan ‘double’ with another rainbow taken on a Baetis dry.
