09-26-2004, 04:35 PM
Yellowstone River - September 22nd, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=91,re"]Yellowstone Angler[/url]
FISHING: Good
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"]click here[/url]]
We had more rain in Yellowstone Park last week, and water conditions on the river have been variable all week. The river was off-color for a couple of days, but the river came back in shape this weekend. A cold front arrived yesterday afternoon, bringing heavy overcast and rain, and the streamer and Baetis fishing was very good. As always, be sure to call or e-mail us for updates on weather and water conditions.
Guide Brian Sienkowski and Tom Bailey with big Yellowstone rainbow As long as cool, cloudy conditions persist, streamer fishing will be one of the most effective techniques on the Yellowstone. Although it is still early in terms of the actual brown trout spawning period, the browns (along with the rainbows and cutts) will respond more aggressively to streamers, now that cloud cover will be more consistent. Sculpin patterns (like the Gander, Woolhead Sculpin, and the new Rag Sculpin), Zonkers, and any of the Woolly Bugger variations in #2-6 are some of the best fly choices.
Cool, showery days have also triggered the first of the fall Baetis hatches on the Yellowstone. Reports from the cloudy days this last week were very good. Bright conditions will minimize these hatches, but in the right conditions, these bugs will appear around 1-3:00 pm. Look for rising fish in foam pockets, backeddies, and on the inside of riffle corners. A Parachute Adams or Parachute Hare's Ear in #16-18 is usually as imitative as the fly needs to be on the Yellowstone, but a Baetis Sparkle Dun or the new Baetis Vis-A-Dun will do the trick if the fish are picky at all.
If we do see a return of brighter weather, anglers should try larger attractors in tandem with a small bead head nymph, the technique that has become a standard technique for most anglers on the Yellowstone. Most anglers have used a hopper or "hopperish" attractor as the top fly in the last several weeks, but the arrival of fall weather means a big Royal Trude or Royal Wulff may be a better choice. Pattern choice in the nymph is usually not critical. Popular choices include Princes, Pheasant Tails (including the variations with some extra flash in the body), Copper Johns, etc. Fish these in #14-16.
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=91,re"]Yellowstone Angler[/url]
FISHING: Good
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"]click here[/url]]
We had more rain in Yellowstone Park last week, and water conditions on the river have been variable all week. The river was off-color for a couple of days, but the river came back in shape this weekend. A cold front arrived yesterday afternoon, bringing heavy overcast and rain, and the streamer and Baetis fishing was very good. As always, be sure to call or e-mail us for updates on weather and water conditions.
Guide Brian Sienkowski and Tom Bailey with big Yellowstone rainbow As long as cool, cloudy conditions persist, streamer fishing will be one of the most effective techniques on the Yellowstone. Although it is still early in terms of the actual brown trout spawning period, the browns (along with the rainbows and cutts) will respond more aggressively to streamers, now that cloud cover will be more consistent. Sculpin patterns (like the Gander, Woolhead Sculpin, and the new Rag Sculpin), Zonkers, and any of the Woolly Bugger variations in #2-6 are some of the best fly choices.
Cool, showery days have also triggered the first of the fall Baetis hatches on the Yellowstone. Reports from the cloudy days this last week were very good. Bright conditions will minimize these hatches, but in the right conditions, these bugs will appear around 1-3:00 pm. Look for rising fish in foam pockets, backeddies, and on the inside of riffle corners. A Parachute Adams or Parachute Hare's Ear in #16-18 is usually as imitative as the fly needs to be on the Yellowstone, but a Baetis Sparkle Dun or the new Baetis Vis-A-Dun will do the trick if the fish are picky at all.
If we do see a return of brighter weather, anglers should try larger attractors in tandem with a small bead head nymph, the technique that has become a standard technique for most anglers on the Yellowstone. Most anglers have used a hopper or "hopperish" attractor as the top fly in the last several weeks, but the arrival of fall weather means a big Royal Trude or Royal Wulff may be a better choice. Pattern choice in the nymph is usually not critical. Popular choices include Princes, Pheasant Tails (including the variations with some extra flash in the body), Copper Johns, etc. Fish these in #14-16.