Fishing Report, Scouting Report
Scouting Report 4/24/26
Apr
We couldn’t be more excited for the start of the 2026 Park season at Yellowstone Fly Shop. With western rivers opening early this year (May 1), anglers will have more opportunities than ever to fish some of our favorite water on this side of the park, and conditions are shaping up for an epic opener! If you’re planning to get out, now’s the time to reserve a trip with one of our guides, as dates are filling in quickly. That beingsaid, we spent the day scouting water around the park—here’s what we found:
Madison River
Clarity: 4/5
The Madison is running slightly below average for this time of year at around 470cfs compared to the average at 551cfs. This is still well above the record low which was 358cfs in 1941.
The water is mostly clear, with the Gibbon being the main source of sediment in the water column. Temperatures are varying with peaks in the mid 50°s on cooler days, and up to 60°s during the recent warm-ups. This is likely holding back many of the Baetis and White Miller hatches that are soon to come.
That being said, this may not be a bad backup option if you are struggling to find water during the opening day rush. Think winter/spring techniques, nymphing the slower and deeper runs with midges and stoneflies or attractors. Keep an eye out on the darker and wetter days for small Baetis hatches.
Firehole River
Clarity: 4.5/5
The Firehole is looking great for the opener, however it will likely be another short season here due to warm water yet again. We are fortunate to be able to fish it weeks early this year so don’t hesitate to get out there before it is too late!
Flows were definitely helped with this most recent winter weather. With the current level being 286cfs compared to the average of 343cfs. Furthermore, the water was very clear, but the real issue here are the temperatures. Recently we saw a spike where the river reached almost 70° on April 20th. Lately, it has only been reaching just about 60° at peak, but I expect that to get closer to 65° in the coming week.
While we were walking around, we witnessed a pretty great Baetis hatch around 1:30pm, with the occasional White Miller appearance. The fish were rising readily – both close to the banks, and also out in the deeper runs. Most of the BWO’s appeared to be in the size 20-22 range, with the occasional chunky 18 flying by. So keep those dries ready to go!
Gibbon River
Clarity: 3/5
The Gibbon will probably be a couple weeks before being a viable option, the water is cold and off-color as runoff takes hold. However, the water is a bit more clear once you get up higher toward the canyon as the substrate becomes less sandy and more rocky.
Flows were also helped with the most recent weather, with the current level at 145cfs compared to the average at 157cfs. While this sounds promising, the snow pack is light so this may only be temporary. I expect the summer levels to arrive earlier than usual, similar to last year. So we will more than likely see another short fishing window here. That being said, temperatures are looking nice and cool in the 50°s on cooler days and approaching 60° in the heat.
If you want to give the Gibbon a try, I would hit it similarly to the Madison, focusing on the slow and deep runs. Maybe chunking the occasional streamer to survey what’s around.
As we look ahead to what’s shaping up to be a memorable start to the season, we’re fired up not only about the fishing, but about what’s coming next for Yellowstone Fly Shop. We’ve been hard at work behind the scenes this offseason, dialing in some exciting new offerings that we can’t wait to share with you all. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for a few announcements, just in time to make an already epic season even better. In the meantime, we’ll see you on the water!
Chandler Hill – YFS Head Guide
I will be out there.