It was another beautiful day in Paradise Valley, just South of Livingston, Montana. It seems spring would like to change its tune from 2011 and try and make a very early appearance. However, as most long time Montana residents will tell you – well you never can tell.
This gave us another opportunity to do some more winter fly fishing. Highs were in the mid-40′s and with light winds and warm sunshine it was quite pleasant.
There was a steady hatch of midges on the Yellowstone River from about noon till 3pm. We fooled a few Rainbows with a Harrop CDC Midge and a few Whitefish fooled us as well. Overall, for fishing the Yellowstone River in February it was a great day.
That sunset certainly warmed the soul as well.
OK, it’s 45 degrees in Livingston, Montana and feels more like spring than January. So as we are sitting here working on a few bookings for next season we keep looking out the window and thinking about, what else, fishing of course. Every year we spend the spring time hunting heads on the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers. It’s still a couple months away from good dry fly fishing, but here’s a great video from our friends at 406 productions and a few of our local friends up on the Missouri. For those of you looking to improve your dry fly technique check out the great down stream drifts these anglers are getting.
There’s nothing that will get you stoked for the upcoming fishing season like some good fish porn!
Montana is getting pounded with snow – FINALLY! Well it’s taken a while, but I guess the weather guys are right la Nina is starting to show it self. Good news for all Montana fly fishing anglers and those nay-sayers talking about the potential lack of water in many of Montana’s drainages. We’ll keep you posted to what this system does to the snow pack, but current predictions are for several feet in the mountains.
Snow means water and water levels equate to summer fishing quality so here go:
After the past several seasons our this Montana winter is evening out. With record setting levels last year this season is looking a bit more “normal” even by Montana standards. Huge snow packs can be good for keeping the rivers cool and the trout happy, but it does tend to spread them out which can make it more challenging to fish. In lower water years the fishing can be quite good as the fish are condensed, but water temperatures can be an issue. So at this point our experience level tells us that this looks to be a quality 2012 water season, but we’ll have to just keep following it as the season progresses to know for sure.
Current snow pack levels by drainage:
Upper Yellowstone: 79% of average
Lower Yellowstone: 91% of average
Madison: 64% of average
Missouri: 70% of average
Smith: 77% of average
Bighorn: 92% of average
Stay tuned and we’ll keep you posted as a huge weather system is currently moving into western Montana.
“Where the Yellowstone Goes” is a documentary film scheduled for release in the spring of 2012. This will be a truly unique look at our homewaters of the Yellowstone River. The guides and film crew for this project floated 680 miles – the entire length of the river from Gardiner, Montana to it’s confluence with the Missouri River in North Dakota. Fellow guides Robert Hawkins and Shannon Ongaro along with the film crew not only show the uniqueness of this one of a kind river, but also share their experiences with local ranchers and anglers in this special journey.
We can’t wait to see the full version this coming spring, but for now the trailer will have to suffice – this is why we do what we do…
If you’re like us and enjoy Montana fly fishing duh?!, this will be the best 10 minutes you spend all day. We guarrantee it!
This video is a first hand look at the water and trout in their natural setting and was first brought to our attention by the boys at Sweaty Waders. Along with some insight into some major threats to the Yellowstone Cutthroat’s survival.
Make sure to hang in there until Mike Kasic starts swimming with the Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout in the Yellowstone River and throughout Yellowstone National Park.
No wonder so many of us guides, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts live right here – simply AWESOME.
It was another beautiful day in Paradise Valley, just South of Livingston, Montana. It seems spring would like to change its tune from 2011 and try and make a very early appearance. However, as most long time Montana residents will tell you – well you never can tell.
