Jelly-Stone Park
Jelly-Stone Park
Hey boo, boo… what do you got in da pick-a-nick basket? This August I had the privilege of helping the outgoing outfitter of Spanish Peaks Resort, Matt Henningsen, and the new outfitter (formally of Paws Up Resort), John Way, on backcountry pack trips in Yellowstone Park. This summer, we went up Specimen Creek twice, to fish Sportsman’s Lake and up Slough Creek to fish the big Yellowstone Cutthroats. The trips were full of great fishing. Basically, at Sportsman’s Lake you just had to throw your fly out there and ask yourself “How many fish do I want to catch today?” Sportsman’s is beautiful and a sight to see. It sits at the bottom of Electric Peak and is full of 12” to 14” Yellowstone Cutthroats. We also saw several bears. If you look closely at the picture, you can see the bear in the background that Matt Henningsen and I had to chase from camp. I used pots and pans to make noise, while Matt used his horse and the pack of mules to run the bear off. Meanwhile, Miles Edwards stood his ground, unfazed, for the picture. Nice job Miles!
Yes, there are big fish in Slough Creek, and lots of them! Slough Creek is full of big Cutthroats that aren’t as easy to catch as you might think. If you are on your “A” game, with a nice long cast, perfect mend and a gentle set, you may be rewarded with a 16” to 18” Cutty. I did get one fish a little above average, 22”, using 6x and a size 20 Betis Emerger. All and all, it was an August to remember in Yellowstone National Park.
Salmon Fly Season
Salmon Fly Season
This year’s Salmon Fly Hatch on the Yellowstone River was fantastic. I was able to fish for several days, two of which you dream about. One of those days was with local guides Bryce Connery and Will Fenoglio. We had tons of action all day. We saw Golden Stones and Salmon Fly’s all day. When we stopped for lunch, we all looked up and it seemed like we were being attacked by thousands of Salmon Fly’s.
The second day was with my dad and Will again. I was on the oars all day and didn’t even fish. It was alright with me because I was having too much fun watching the old man get so worked up watching big Rainbow’s inhaling his Golden Stone.
The old man and I also spent two days on the Gallatin fishing Little Yellow Sallies. The Gallatin fished great with tons of action on the surface. Lightweight rods and feisty trout are a day I would take any time. Getting to take some time and fish with your friends and family is always something to forward to. What better time to make that happen than the Salmon fly hatch!
Summer is here…
…and so are the Big Flies!!
With summer officially here, the big bugs come, too! They are in Beartrap Canyon right now and with all the rain it doesn’t seem like they will be moving. With sunny and warm conditions, they should be popping out in Ennis by the weekend. They will be making their way to the river banks and so should you! Big Stonefly imitations like Rubber Legs, will be the ticket. Keep your eyes open for the big boys flying around and get them on the surface. You don’t know until you try! Don’t wait for tomorrow - there is no time like the present! If you see them flying around try the dries!
Spring Fishing
What can I say about spring in Montana? The weather is precarious so in the mornings it’s sunny and bright and by mid-afternoon a thunderstorm is brewing. But we need the moisture so no complaints here! It seems like all of our reservoirs are filling and that’s going to make for a fantastic summer. The wind has howled and the rain has poured almost each day I’ve been on the rivers. All the wind and rain can make for tough fishing conditions, but the fish have still seemed to cooperate nicely. Saturday, June 20th, showed us a weather reprieve with sunny skies. We were able to catch some good fish, with little or no crowds. My friend and client, Rob, stuck a real nice brown at the Warm Springs boat ramp on the Lower Madison. The Upper and Lower Madison both produced good fish. The Gallatin has been great, also. We have heard of the big bug, but have not yet seen them. I am sure with the warmer weather around the corner they will be making an appearance soon. Stay tuned…
Gallatin 6-16-09
The Gallatin is still high and off colored, but no longer resembles chocolate milk. It is fishing great, with about 1 – 1 ½ feet of visibility. The fish are holding in slower water and are on the banks. With that said, approach the water carefully because the fish are probably right below your feet. The river is still high so there is not a lot of need to wade, be careful! Because it is still off color, try dead drifting big flies, such as Wooley Buggers and San Juan worms. The Salmon Fly hatch is just around the corner so the nymphs should be making their way to the bank. Girdle bugs are a great bet right now!! These fish are hungry and are ready to eat! ‘Tis the season for afternoon rain showers so be prepared, but don’t worry - they are most likely short lived.
Mother’s Day Caddis Hatch
This has got to be my favorite hatch of the season. It was a long winter and the Missouri is fun, but watching the Yellowstone River boil with fish rising gets you pumped up! This year’s Caddis hatch was one of the best I have seen.The hatch didn’t come off in a wall of Caddis like in years past. They popped slow, steady and strong for about five days. There were even some March Browns in there. In years past the hatch has come off so strong that it seems like all the fish gorge themselves and stop feeding after a day or two. This year it was like every bug that touched the water got eaten. I got to fish one day with Zack from Zack’s Montana Kitchen in Livingston. I also got a day in with my good friend and local guide, Will Fenoglio, and his daughter, Ellie. It was a couple of days to rember, with nothing but action on the surface. What a week! I know there is a whole summer to come, but I have to say I can’t wait for next year!!
The MO.
Spring is here and it’s that special window before runoff! You just have to love the Missouri in spring!! While everything else is blown or starting to blow out, the Missouri is always there for you - with tons of big fish! What a way to start your season. The weather was beautiful, 60’s and 70’s on some days. Catching huge Rainbow’s with snow-covered hills behind you is something you can only get in spring on the Mo. Needless to say, my old friends and I got into a few big bruisers. The big one of the day was 24 ½”. The father and son clients landed a bunch of good sized doubles. What can I say - it was an amazing trip!
Long Winter…
After a long winter of tying bugs and waiting for good weather, the end is in sight. The Madison has been great, but cold. The Gallatin has also been great. I don’t think it gets any better than making some morning turns in fresh powder and then fishing in the afternoon. We’ve had some pretty nice spring skiing this March. Lots of snow and warm afternoons have brought fun days. Next up, the Missouri!!! There are trips coming up in April with old friends and it should be exciting. Those Missouri fish are big and I am sure hungry. So let’s see what happens…
Recent Blogs
Jelly-Stone Park
August 2009Jelly-Stone Park Hey boo, boo… what do you got in da pick-a-nick basket? This August I had the privilege of helping the outgoing outfitter of Spanish ...
Salmon Fly Season
July 2009Salmon Fly Season This year’s Salmon Fly Hatch on the Yellowstone River was fantastic. I was able to fish for several days, two of ...
Summer is here…
June 2009...and so are the Big Flies!! [nggallery id=10] With summer officially here, the big bugs come, too! They are in Beartrap Canyon right now and with all ...
Spring Fishing
June 2009What can I say about spring in Montana? The weather is precarious so in the mornings it’s sunny and bright and by mid-afternoon a thunderstorm ...