September is Here!

First, we want to thank everyone who came and fished with us in June, July, and August this year. What an amazing summer! September is here… and we could not be more excited as it is our favorite month to fish. September brings cooler temperatures, consistent hatches, fewer people on the river, and some great days on the water to look forward to. The Yellowstone River is currently flowing at about 1,900 CFS which is slightly below average, but a good flow for this time of year. The fish are still looking up for hoppers, especially in the afternoons. When you head out to the River, make sure you bring a good selection of small hoppers (yellow and pink) and size 12-18 Purple Hazes. Fish 5x. Make your drifts count!

Yellowstone River Fishing Report

Summer float trips will be back next year!

The hoppers are still out! We have been fishing a lot of smaller hoppers the past week or so. The fish seem to like yellow and pink the best; however, they really prefer a great presentation. The fish have seen a lot of flies over the summer; they are a little more warry than in July. Long casts and good drifts count this time of year!
If the dry-fly bite is slow, or it is really windy (possible), you can always throw some smaller streamers or nymphs under an indicator in the deeper riffles/pools.
Blue Wings are starting to come off on cooler days, so have your purple hazes ready!
If you want to steer around other anglers this Labor Day weekend, consider putting on early or late. There is plenty of water for all of us!
Other flies that have been catching fish include: Buzzballs, Griffiths Gnats, darker Chubbies, Copper Haze, and ants.
We expect the fishing to continue to be strong on the Yellowstone through October, so give us a call for any information or to book your Yellowstone fishing trip!

Yellowstone National Park Fishing Report

We have loved fishing in the Park this year. There seemed to be fewer people out there. With cooler days coming, wet wading season is almost over. Grab your waders, a can of bear spray, and your rod and head out on a backcountry fishing adventure for the day. Please be aware of the wild-life! There have been plenty of “bison encounter” videos on Youtube this year. Remember to keep a minimum of 25 yards away from all wildlife (hopefully, except the trout!) and 100 yards away from Bears, Wolves, and Mountain lions. Mainly, keep your distance from Bison, Elk, and Sheep. Make some noise when you are fishing and look up every so often. The Fall season is a great time to fish in Yellowstone:

The Firehole and Gibbon Rivers will start to fish again any day now. The colder weather brings water temperatures down and the fish come back from their summer tributaries. Honestly… the colder it is outside, the better the fishing. We are very excited to head back down to these shoulder season fisheries. Look for hatches of BWOs, Caddis, and Midges. If you like making long casts to rising fish, the Firehole is your River in mid-September through the end of the season!
The Lamar and Soda Butte Rivers are great Fall options if the water is clear. Check the gages before you head out to the Lamar or Soda Butte. A little bit of rain can turn these rivers into mud quickly. Fish small terrestrials, Drakes, and small attractor patterns.
Slough Creek has 4 meadows to fish. The lower meadow is the shortest hike, but has the most educated fish. WE think hiking into the second meadow (about 4.5 miles) is worth the trek. Bring your bear spray! These fish will be picky so switch out your flies and they will eat eventually. Take your time. The challenge is part of the reward, and don’t forget to look up at the scenery!
The Gardiner River is always a good bet in the Fall. The water is low, so move fast with dry/dropper rigs. You can spend more time in the deeper holes. The water below the Boiling River will start to fish with cooler temps.

COVID-19 and end of Season Update

Currently, there are 3 active cases of COVID-19 in PArk County, Montana. WE are very happy about our success through the summer months, and look forward to a safe and successful Fall season.
To create maximum social distancing while indoors, clients will continue to meet their guides at boat ramps. This creates more time outside on the water and less time in trucks/fly shops.
Guides are wearing masks in the truck, clients are welcome to.
We want to keep Montana in last place!
WE are sticking to our 14 day cancelation policy through the 2020 season to allow maximum flexibility for our guests.
We are actively taking reservations through September, October, and November. Give is a CAll!
We are also currently taking reservations for the 2021 season! Get your dates for next year lined up with our expert Yellowstone River Fishing guides!