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.

Fly Fishing Report for June 22nd, 2011 by Boots Allen

Snake River
The runoff continues on the Snake River but the section of water running from Jackson Lake Dam to Pacific Creek has fishable clarity and continue to show signs of additional clearing each day. The standard double nymph rig consisting on large rubber leg stone nymphs (size 6 to 8) and red or pink San Juan Worms are picking up cutthroat along banks, structure and the tail end of riffles. Big browns ranging in size from 16 to 19 inches are also being taken at the tail end of riffles and along flats and inside seams. Streamer fishing has also been moderately productive with large sculpin and leech patterns on intermediate and TYPE III sink tips.

South Fork
Flows on the South Fork have been increased to 17,100 cfs and fishing remain really tough. One bright spot is that there is some clearing occurring although visibility remains limited. Heavily weighted nymph rigs that includes Pat's Rubber Legs with either San Juan Worms or Egg patterns are producing in bits and pieces on flats and in riffles on the Swan Valley section of river running from Palisades Reservoir down to Spring Creek Bridge.

Henry's Fork
With the opening of the Railroad Ranch section on June 15th, all reaches of the Henry's Fork are now available to fly fishing. Good reports are coming out of Henry's Lake with mid-sized streamers, including Clouser Minnows in olive-over-white, gray-over-white, and brown-over-white, and Lite Brite Zonkers in olive, black, and purple. Box Canyon is flowing at 1276 cfs. Anglers are having moderate success with double nymph rigs consisting of large stonefly nymph patterns trailing Prince Nymphs (size 14 to 16), Flashback Pheasant Tails (size 14), and Copper Johns (size 12 to 18) in olive, black, and red. Riverside to Hatchery Ford and Lower Mesa are fishing well with the same nymph rigs as in Box Canyon. There is also decent surface activity on March brown patterns (size 12 to 16) as well as old standbys like Parachute Adams (size 14 to 16), and Ausable Wulffs (size 12 to 16).

Yellowstone National Park
The Firehole recently rose to above 350 cfs but has now dropped to below 200 cfs and is fishing very well with yellow, cream, or olive Soft Hackles (size 12 to 16), Batmen (size 12 to 14), Glasshouse Caddis Nymphs (size 14), olive, black, and blue Copper Johns (size 14 to 18), and Biot Bugs (size 12 to 16). Riffles and undercut banks remain the hot targets.

Yellowstone Lake is ice free now and fishing very well with mid-sized sculpin and leech patterns. Ice is coming off Lewis Lake but access is still difficult with heavy snow still blocking the boat ramp.

Green, New Fork, and Salt Rivers
Still high and off-color. It will still be a few weeks before we can begin to fish these streams.

Fishing Report for June 11th, 2011 by Boots Allen

South Fork
Flows from Palisades Dam have been decreased to just over 16,000 cfs and the river is showing signs of clearing somewhat. It is tough fishing but by the end of the June this river should be in much better shape. The South Fork is heading in the right direction.

Henry's Fork
The Henry's Fork is still offering some of the best fishing in the area. Flows are variable on the different sections, but the big news to come out of the Henry's is the appearance of the salmon fly hatch, almost every part of the river has experienced this emergence thus far. Double nymph rigs with a Pat's Rubber Leg or a Bitch Creek Nymph has been producing very well. We are also getting action on the surface as well with size 10 and small size 8 attractors like Tara Xs, Will's Chocolate Ant, Chubby Chernobyls. Lower Mesa and Riverside down to Hatchery Ford are two of the hotter sections as of now.

Snake River
The only fishable section of the Snake is from Jackson Lake Dam down to Pacific Creek. The lake above has turned over and is causing a bit of dis-clarity on the river but it is far more clear than the rest of the river below Pacific Creek. Flows from Jackson Lake Dam have dropped to 3,100 cfs, making the fishing much better compared to the past two weeks. Pink or red San Juan Worms, Lightening Bugs (size 14 to 16), and Prince Nymphs (size 12 to 16) are doing well in riffles and along banks. We are seeing fish hit the surface, but not with enough consistency to warrant surface patterns yet.

Yellowstone National Park

The Firehole experienced a big peak over 450 cfs this past week but has receded to under 200 cfs and continues to fish as well as it has since opening day. Sporadic hatches of caddis, PMDs, and bwos are allowing anglers to go to the surface with dry flies. Nonetheless, nymphs are the best game in town. The standard double rig consisting of Green Beans (size 10 to 12), Long Hackle Prince Nymphs (size 10 to 12), black or olive Copper Johns (size 14 to 18), and Tungsten Midge Pupa (size 16) have been performing well, but the best pattern over the past two weeks have been blue Batmen (size 12 to 16). These are hammering Firehole trout in riffles and when swung along banks and structure.

Yellowstone Lake is mostly clear of ice and should be more than ready to go on June 15th (opening day).

Lewis Lake still has a lot of ice on it.