Fishing Report for July 2nd, 2011 by Boots Allen

Yellowstone National Park

Lewis Lake is fishing very well with Clousers (olive or white), olive or yellow Mohair Leeches, silver Zonkers, and white or gray Bow River Buggers on Type VI and Type VIII sink tips in the transitional zones between the flats and the descent of the thermoclines to deeper water. We have notices that lake trout are beginning to feed in deeper water each day so it might be better to start fishing with T-11 or T-14 to reach the deeper feeding zones. Nonetheless, it is still possible to pick up cruising trout, particularly brown trout, on the flats in Brookie Bay and near the inlet in the morning hours between 8a. and 11 pm. There is even brown trout feeding on callibaetis and drake adults on the surface. When this event occurs, hit the flats with drake and quill imitations or strip a streamer on a intermediate tip or floating line through the feeding areas.

Yellowstone Lake is also fishing well in the vicinity of West Thumb. Some very big cutthroat are being taken on Fergus Strungout Leeches in olive-over-white and brown-over-white as well as CH Woolley Buggers in olive, white, and gray. These patterns are being fished on intermediate and floating lines close to shore and retrieved with a moderate strip.

The Firehole continues its up-and-down flows but is still fishing in a productive patterns at the tail-end on riffles, and tailouts with olive or cream Soft Hackles, Long Hackles Prince Nymphs, and Lightening Bugs.

Henry's Fork

Some of the best fishing in the region can still be found on the Henry's Fork. All sections from Railroad Ranch down to Chester are fishing productively and there is some decent dry fly action in the reaches of river from Lower Mesa down to Vernon. Golden Stone Fly patterns and PMD imitations have been the most successful surface flies fished in riffles, along structure, and a few feet off of banks. Dropper rigs still remain the best bet for size and number however when fished in the same water. Pat's Rubber Leg (size 6 to 8), Batmen (size 14 to 16), Bubble Back Pheasant Tails (size 12 to 16), and black or olive Copper Johns (size 14 to 18).

South Fork

Releases from Palisades Reservoir have dropped to 14,800 cfs and each day there is partial clearing on the South Fork. Fishing continues to pick up each few days on Double Nymph Rigs consisting of Pat's Rubber Legs and Parkins' Stone Nymph trailing San Juan Worms in pink, red, and brown or egg patterns in pink, chartruese, or yellow. A triple rig consisting of all three have been especially productive. This rigging is working at the down stream ends of riffles, tailouts, and seams where slower currents develop.

Streamers are also producing along banks and structure on intermediate and Type III sink tips with moderate to fast retrieves. Larger streamers - olive or black Sex Dungeons, tan Zoo Cougars, black over light olive Quad Bunnies, and black or silver Silvey Sculpins - have been the most successful baitfish patterns on the upper reach of the South Fork in Swan Valley and in the Canyon stretches.