05-25-2004, 05:24 PM
FISHING: Fair
Stream Flow Information [[url "http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/current?type=flow&group_key=NONE&search_site_no_station_nm=yellowstone&format=html_table"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]
The Yellowstone went into runoff early last week, but a serious front rolled in a couple of days ago. We had rain and wet snow all day on Tuesday, and nighttime temperatures have dropped enough the last couple of nights to lock up the high elevation runoff again. The Yewllowstone has dropped and cleared very quickly—the river is now around 5000 cfs (a drop of 2000 cfs over the last 2 days). Visibility is now about a foot, and it may clear even more in the next day or so. Fishable conditions will disappear as soon as the weather warms again, but the weather is predicted to warm very slowly, so we should have a window of fishable conditions for a few days.
In marginal visibilty, most of the fishing will be will bigger nymphs and streamers—"junk" flies in the jargon of the local guides. Woolly Buggers, Yuk Bugs, Zonkers, and sculpin patterns all work well. Fish these in a size that you can cast accurately, but don't be afraid to fish big flies if you are using a heavier outfit.
We are ecstatic to see this cooler weather and moisture. Although our snowpack was in good shape at the beginning of March, a lack of moisture and warm temperatures depleted our snowpack rapidly very early in the spring. It is shaping up to be another low water year, so anglers should anticipate that the Yellowstone will clear at least or week or two earlier than normal. Of course, if we start to see significant rainfall (like we saw this week), that could change quickly. Be sure to stay in touch with us for updates on runoff and water conditions.
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Stream Flow Information [[url "http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/current?type=flow&group_key=NONE&search_site_no_station_nm=yellowstone&format=html_table"][#0000ff]click here[/#0000ff][/url]]
The Yellowstone went into runoff early last week, but a serious front rolled in a couple of days ago. We had rain and wet snow all day on Tuesday, and nighttime temperatures have dropped enough the last couple of nights to lock up the high elevation runoff again. The Yewllowstone has dropped and cleared very quickly—the river is now around 5000 cfs (a drop of 2000 cfs over the last 2 days). Visibility is now about a foot, and it may clear even more in the next day or so. Fishable conditions will disappear as soon as the weather warms again, but the weather is predicted to warm very slowly, so we should have a window of fishable conditions for a few days.
In marginal visibilty, most of the fishing will be will bigger nymphs and streamers—"junk" flies in the jargon of the local guides. Woolly Buggers, Yuk Bugs, Zonkers, and sculpin patterns all work well. Fish these in a size that you can cast accurately, but don't be afraid to fish big flies if you are using a heavier outfit.
We are ecstatic to see this cooler weather and moisture. Although our snowpack was in good shape at the beginning of March, a lack of moisture and warm temperatures depleted our snowpack rapidly very early in the spring. It is shaping up to be another low water year, so anglers should anticipate that the Yellowstone will clear at least or week or two earlier than normal. Of course, if we start to see significant rainfall (like we saw this week), that could change quickly. Be sure to stay in touch with us for updates on runoff and water conditions.
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