Yellowstone Fishing Report- Salmonflies Coming Soon!
Big Smiles!
We are very excited to start floating the Yellowstone after our Spring run-off! The flows have been dropping steadily, and the Yellowstone River is currently flowing at 8,390 CFS and looking greener in Gardiner! We were on the River yesterday and saw a few (2 to be exact) Salmonflies flying around…. so, the hatch is just around the corner! We expect the full Hatch to start this weekend or early next week. If you head out and do not see the Big Bugs, fish rubber legs under an indicator close to the bank. We have also seen Yellow Sallies, PMDs, and Caddis on the water this week. Get your casting in check, and get on THE water!
Yellowstone River FLows for the past 3 months
Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone has been cranking at or above 10,000 CFS since the end of April. As you can see above, we have had an pretty gradual run-off with the river peaking a little over 18,000 cfs at the end of May. It is still high, but the visibility is getting better everyday! After a completely GORGEOUS Spring, the last 2 weeks have been pretty cold and wet. The forecast for June 27-July 4 is looking ABSOLUTELY amazing. We should have warm days with afternoon showers to keep things green and cool. If you head out, make sure you bring a rain-jacket! We have been very pleased with the abundance of Yellowsallies, PMDs,and CAddis we have seen on the water as of late. This is the first full season after our historic flooding last June. If you are looking to get out on the water, give us a call!
Bridge collapse
You may have heard about the bridge collapse/train DERAILMENT on the Yellowstone River. This is an extremely horrific accident and a n ever evolving process. 6 train cars carrying asphalt and chemicals fell into the river when the bridge collapsed. This bridge is near Reed Point, Montana and is about 150 miles DOWNSTREAM from where we fish and Yellowstone National PArk, so it has no effect on our trips or where we will fish this summer. However,our hearts and prayers go out to folks, the fish, and the River downstream of the accident. Please read this article from the Montana Free Press regarding the event and the clean-up: Bridge Article.
Firehole River Bliss
Yellowstone NAtional PArk
The Park is fishing very good to Great right now. This is such a fun time of year to fish in the PArk because rivers are getting clearer and opening up to fish every day. The Gardiner River is moving fast, but is fishable with some big bugs flying around its banks. The best access right now to the Gardiner is walking up from the ENTRANCE gate. The Mammoth Campsite is supposed to open soon, but there has not been any official release about when that will happen. We expect it to open by the 4th of July weekend….. but, we will see. Once the campsite opens, access to the Gardiner River will be Much better with the LAva Creek Trail access. The Firehole River and Gibbon Rivers are fishing very well right now. Bring PMDs, Beatis, Miller caddis, and some soft hackles for the Firehole. The Gibbon is more of a free-stone river. Use attractor dries/droppers in the fast water! The Lamar Valley still has a few weeks until the flows drop and the water gets a little warmer. We expect Slough Creek to start to fish in the next week or so. If you are headed to Slough, bring you purple hazes and wolly buggers!
FYI- There is a lot of construction going on in Yellowstone this summer. Check out this page to get the most up-to-date information on construction delays: Construction in Yellowstone
Great Cutty from Yellowstone NAtional PArk!
Boulder River
The Boulder is a small tributary of the Yellowstone that has a short floatable window. We are in that window right now! The Boulder is a fast river and requires more advanced anglers. This is not a great “first-timer” river, but it is extremely scenic and a heck-of a fun time to Row.
Boulder River Bow!
Rafts and Life Jackets are a must on THE Boulder!
If you are coming to Yellowstone or Montana this summer, give us a call! We still have some AVAILABILITY in July, and good AVAILABILITY in August/September. This is going to be a very exciting year to fish! Our water levels are looking great. Let one of our world class fishing guides take you out for an unforgettable day of fishing, ADVENTURING, laughing, and learning. We love what we do, and we love this place. Also, give us a call with yany fishing/yellowstone questions. See you in Montana!
Tight Lines,
Yellowstone River Outfitters
Beautiful Brookie from Yellowstone!