Fishing Report
Weekly Fishing Report 6/17
Jun
Welcome to this week’s fishing report. In-between the periodic storms we’ve been experiencing as of late the fishing has been really good on a lot of local waters.
Madison River
The Madison River in between the lakes has been fishing well these days and the clarity is great. Try using caddis emergers
and dries, split case PMD nymphs in size #16-#18 and black copper johns in size #14-#16.
Any smaller midge patterns and BWOs on top would be a good idea too though. Below Quake Lake, however, is another story. The water clarity at Reynolds and downstream is still pretty murky but the fish are definitely looking up for lighter-colored tan caddis and emergers along the shallow sections. Nymphing has definitely been the most consistent though with PMD nymphs size #16, San Juan worms, black Copper Johns in size #14-#16, prince nymphs and rubber legs in sizes #14 and pheasant tails in size #16. With the murkier water, however, either drifting under an indicator or twitching along the edges of runs and the banks with a black leech has also been fishing well. Be prepared for even murkier water below the West Fork, however.
Henry’s Fork
The Henry’s Fork Harriman Ranch section just opened this past Saturday and anglers are reporting good numbers of fish. For this section we recommend having tan Caddis flies in sizes #14-#18, March Brown dries in size #16 and some terrestrial ant and beetle patterns. For the rest of river any tan caddis patterns in the aforementioned sizes along with their emergers are a great idea in addition to PMDs and Green Drakes in the lower sections. For the Box canyon section look forward to seeing Golden Stone adults real soon along with the occasional Salmonfly still. In the deeper runs try nymphing with rubber legs size #14, zebra midges size #14-#16 and San Juan worm patterns. The flows are up a little higher and dirtier right now due to the large snowpack and water coming out of Island Park Dam but they should be dropping soon.
Yellowstone National Park
Firehole River
We’re happy to report that the Firehole River is continuing to give us some good fishing and is currently the best bet on fishing in the park; we’re hoping that it stays that way for as long as it can before the temperatures on the Firehole move the fish in search of cooler waters. Lately we’ve found that the best dry flies to use are going to be White Miller and regular tan Caddis in sizes #14 and #16, PMD dries in size #16-#18 and BWO dries in size #16-#18; CDC flies in the caddis patterns seem to be working particularly well but any regular tie has been fishing well also. In addition to this, #16-#18 PMD nymphs, caddis emergers and soft hackle flies in hairs ears, pheasant tails, orange and white miller caddis have also been working well when drifted or swung through some of the deeper runs and pockets in the water.
Madison River
The Madison River in Yellowstone is still running fairly high and off color so be careful wading out there but some of the softer sections have been starting to heat up. Try using White Miller Caddis size #14, PMDs size #16 and Griffiths Gnats size #16-#18 on top and Prince Nymphs size #14-#16, olive Ram Caddis nymphs size
#16, zebra midges size #16-#18 and PMD nymphs size #16 weighted down low towards the bottom on the edges and middle of deep runs. Don’t be afraid to throw some streamers around toward the edges of pools and right along deeper parts next to the bank through, we’d recommend semi-seal black leeches for this in size #14.
Henry’s Lake
Henry’s Lake continues to fish well with the cooler temps we’ve received from the past few storms. The best areas are going to be around the north shore, Henry’s Lake State Park and the Cliffs. Try using black semi seal leeches or wooly buggers in size #14, gold and California leeches both with and without beadheads for the go-to flies. However, a small scud or chironomid trailed either behind these flies or under and indicator is also an effective method too.
Hebgen Lake
Hebgen Lake has been fishing well lately too in a lot of different areas, However, the shore around Lonesomehurst and the Grayling arms have been the most consistent. Try using chironomid patterns under an indicator, pheasant tail nymphs size #16 and split case PMDs size #16-#18 trailed behind a black or gold leech. A really effective method as well though has been hitting the lake early in the morning and late in the afternoon out of the wind with a Griffiths gnat size #16-#18 casting after the rising fish.
That’s this week’s fishing report. As we continue to go in to these warmer summer months away from the storms and runoff season the fishing should continue to get better and start heating up in a lot of other locations. We hope to see you all out on the water. Tight lines!
Beau Davis
Yellowstone Fly Shop
